The role of Thomas Firth and Sons of Sheffield in the manufcature of heavy armaments.

What is it about?

Thomas Firth and Sons were one of a number of well-known Sheffield steel makers who helped push the boundaries of heavy armaments development and manufacture. This article briefly examines the steel making processes in use in the mid 19th century and the challenges presented in making the large masses of steel needed as guns became bigger. It looks at Firth's own gun and projectile making activites and their role in developing armour piercing projectiles to supercede 'round shot' following the creation of armoured warships. Their later use of chromium steel for this purpose ultimately led to the development of stainless steel in a search for a better steel for rifle barrels.

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Why is it important?

It was the steel makers who pioneered the use of steel in place of wrought iron or cast iron and bronze for large guns. Firth's made the first all steel forged gun around 1850, years ahead of it becoming an accepted material by the Board of Ordnance. In many ways it was the increasing use of steel in and the growing size of heavy armaments that drove the development of the first bulk steel making processes and the equipment to process and manipulate masses of steel weighing many tons and these are reflected in the activities of Thomas Firth and Sons.