Forge

Part of this gallery represents a blacksmiths forge. Many of the earliest guns were made of wrought iron using traditional blacksmithing skills.

Barrels were made of long strips of iron, like the staves of a wooden barrel, held together tightly by hoops and bands put on hot, tightening into place when cooled. As casting techniques developed, wrought-iron guns went out of use.

During the mid-19th century, the use of wrought iron was revived to make coiled tubes for the new rifled guns. Once reliable steel became available, this was used exclusively for gunmaking, rendering cast-iron, cast bronze and wrought iron obsolete.

Heavy forging techniques were mastered in order to make the largest guns. These techniques are still in use today.