What is it about?
This is an insight into the supply of steel by a noted Sheffield steelmaker for the manufacture of the Enfield Patterm 1853 rifle and bayonet by the Enfield factory and private contractors. These same steelmakers also supplied Sam Colt (see 'Sam Colt 1814-1862 Commemorating a legend'; Rampant Colt, journal of the Colt Collectors Association Inc., Winter 2014/Spring 2015). It helps the understanding of which contractors were using steel in the making which items.
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Why is it important?
It was at a time when most gunmakers were averse to steel for most things except springs and blades, despite its superior qualities over wrought iron. It shows its gradual acceptance and use for a variety or components. It also indicates Sheffield's steelmakers' close involvement with the manufacturers of smallarms ahead of their almost monopoly in the manufacture and supply of heavy armaments. During the second half of the 19th century, certain companies - Vickers, Brown's, Cammell's, Hadfields, Bessemer's and Firths - grew to giant proportions, with products ranging from projectiles and armour plate to heavy guns and, ultimately, some even built complete warships for the British and foreign governments. By the early years of the 20th century, Sheffield had become known as The Arsenal of the World. Firth's involvement in this will be covered in a subsequent article.
Perspectives
This reflects my interest in arms and armour which goes beyond the object and into how it was made and what it was made from. These aspects are often ignored in published studies of arms and armour. It also reflects an interest in Sheffield's industrial history, carried over from a time when I was Industrial History curator there. Again, Sheffield's involvement with arms and armour of all forms is often ignored and focus is placed on 'benign' products. For those who might wish to sweep armaments in all their forms under the carpet of acceptability, it might be worth remembering that that material which finds universal application in almost every commercial and dometstic environment - Stainless Steel - resulted from a Sheffield metallurgist, Harry Brearley, searching for a better steel for rifle barrels in the Firth-Brown research labs.
Mr Peter G Smithurst
Royal Armouries
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Thomas Firth and Sons — Steelmakers to the Arms Industry Part 1 — Smallarms — Enfield, Government Contractors and Others, Arms & Armour, July 2016, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/17416124.2016.1234122.
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