1851 Great Exhibition: Official Catalogue: Class VIII.: Wilkinson and Sons
200. WILKINSON and SON, 27 Pall Mall — Manufacturers.
1. A large stanchion, or punt gun, with gun-metal stock and spiral recoil spring, for wild-fowl shooting, on improved principles, with loading rods and apparatus, and a moveable butt to admit of greater elevation in the boat.
2. A pair of best double-barrelled fowling pieces, made to reverse (i. e. either pair of barrels to fit either stocks) with case and apparatus complete.
3. A patent rifle with the lock on the under side; the whole mechanism of lock, guard, trigger, and trigger-plate, consisting of only four pieces. Invented and manufactured by the exhibitor.
4. A series of illustrations, showing the different stages of the manufacture of gun-barrels:-
(A.) Horse-shoe nails, or stubs.
(B.) Old coach-springs, cut up by means of shears.
(C.) Scrap stub-iron.
(D.) A gun-barrel in its various stages, made of a mixture of stubs and steel (A. and D.), first twisted into a spiral, then partially welded by jumping, then completely welded, and the figure of the iron brought out by acids.
(E.) A bar of iron made from scrap (c), for Damascus twist.
(F.) A bar of steel, made from scrap (D.), for Damascus twist.
(G.) Twenty-one bars of iron and steel (E. and E.), packed alternately for welding
(H.) Twenty-one bars (G.) welded together.
(I.) A square rod made by drawing out the mass (H.) between rollers.
(J.) The square rod (i.) twisted round its own axis, and then flattened, showing the figure produced.
(K.) Specimen to show the manner in which the figure called Damascus twist is produced; two bars or rods (I.), are first twisted round their axis the whole length, the one to the right and the other to the left, then flattened and welded together, then twisted spirally to form the barrel as in (D.), partially welded by jumping, and the welding completed, filed at the end, and the figure produced.
(L.) A similar specimen, finer; composed of two bars of 48 alternations of iron and steel.
(M.) A similar specimen, composed of three smaller bars of 21 alternations.
(N.) A similar specimen, called "chain twist."
(O.) A similar specimen, called "steel Damascus."
(P.) A finished barrel, composed of seven different kinds of twist.
5. Presentation cimeter, of arabesque pattern, standard silver richly chased and gilt, ornamented with 104 precious stones, consisting of emeralds, rubies, turquoises, jacynths, topazes, amethysts, chrysolites, carbuncles, garnets, moonstones, etc. The blade made of temper equal to those of Damascus or Toledo, combines embossing with engraving on tempered steel, bluing and gilding, so as to form two elevations of ornamental pattern above the dead gold groundwork. Also, a gold sword-knot. The whole in mahogany case, lined with crimson velvet. purple and gold cord waist-belt, of oriental patterns with chased clasp, ornamented with precious stones, emeralds, jacynths, and large amethysts. (See figure.)
6. A series of all the regulation swords in use in the British army and navy, as originally submitted to the Commander-in-Chief and to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, by the exhibitor, and approved and adopted by general orders:-
(a.) Regulation Infantry sword, as by general order dated March 10, 1845.
(b.) Regulation sword for Royal Engineers.
(c.) Light Cavalry and Royal Artillery sword.
(d.) Heavy Cavalry sword.
(e.) 1st Life Guards' sword.
(f.) 2nd Life Guards' sword.
(g.) Royal Horse Guards' (Blues) sword.
(h.) Regulation Highland claymore.
(i.) General officers' cimeter.
(k.) Admiral's dress cimeter.
(l.) Regulation sword for Royal Navy, as per Admiralty order, dated November 23, 1847.
7. A sword worn by some of the Irregular Cavalry in India; the hilt of steel, electro-plated with silver; the scabbard of German silver.
8. A coat of chain mail, of tempered steel, electro-plated with silver; also a pair of gauntlets, bridle, etc., of the same material, as worn by some of the Irregular Cavalry in India.
9. Two helmets, covered with electro-plated steel chain mail, in gold and silver, to be used without a plume.
10. A Highland claymore, copied from an old one by Andrea Ferrara.
11. Regulation and other sword belts.
12. A Highland dirk, as designed and manufactured by the exhibitor, for Her Majesty's 74th Highlanders.
13. A series of illustrations, showing the different stages of the manufacture of sword-blades: —
(a.) Swedish bar iron.
(b.) Blistered steel.
(c.) Ingot of cast-steel.
(d.) Bar, tilted down from ingot (c.)
(e.) Double sword mould, tilted down from bar (d.)
(f.) One sword mould, or (e) broken in two.
(g.) Sword mould, partly forged and prepared to receive the iron tang (h).
(h.) Iron tang.
(i.) Iron tang welded to blade (g.)
(k.) Forging of blade completed.
(l.) Blade hardened.
(m.) Blade tempered.
(n.) Blade ground.
(o.) Blade polished.
(p.) Blade embossed and finished.
(q.) Sword hilts, scabbards, etc., in various stages of manufacture.
[The weapon so long celebrated under the name of Andrea Ferrara, was an excellent description of broadsword used chiefly in Scotland. This name is found engraved on all the Scottish broadswords considered of peculiar excellence. The name and the works of this celebrated maker form the sole record of his existence. His manufactory, and even the period when he flourished, are buried in oblivion. It has been supposed he was a Spanish or Italian artificer, brought over by James IV. or James V., to instruct the Scots in the manufacture of sword-blades. When genuine, the blades were always marked with a crown.
The material for swords is obtained from Sheffield, in the form of a piece of steel sufficient for two swords, and technically called a "mould." This is first beaten out to the proper length by the forger; it is then hardened and tempered by alternate heating and dipping in cold water; after this the blade is ground by a millstone driven by steam-power. The blade is subsequently proved by striking it on the flat side, with all the force of a powerful man, against a stone, and in other ways. The sword is then polished, ornamented, and mounted.]