hi i was doing a little history project on guns. i was just wondering if anyone could help me find out what material was used before steel and why this material wasnt as good as steel ( its faults)thanks for your help
Gunmetal is a specific type of brass
The most common was bronze, which was the strongest material that could be cast, at least until the industrial revolution. Until that time, furnaces which could reach temperatures hot enough to melt steel did not exist. The only way to work with steel would have been forging, which means hammering it into shape while red-rot. Obviously, this is not a very practical method for making large thick-walled cannons (though it was done on occasion. Small arms such as pistols and muskets could be easily made of steel by hand forging.) The most practical way to make cannons was pouring molten bronze which melts at significantly lower temperature than steel. Cast iron was also used. Note that Cast Iron contains 3%-7% carbon, compared to steel which only contains between 2% to 0.2% carbon. Due to the excessive carbon content of cast iron, it's melting point is about 500 degrees lower than steel enabling it to be melted with pre-industrial furnaces. Unfortunately, cast iron is also brittle, unlike steel or bronze. This means that a defective or cracked casting could easily explode, sending iron shrapnel everywhere. (Also, maiming and killing the gun crew, an experienced gun crew was as valuable as the cannon itself!) For this reason. Cast iron cannon were usually considered a cheap, risky alternative to expensive but durable bronze.
