Hammer Forging
Knight’s Armament employs a hammer-forging process on a
number of our barrels and chambers, which serves to increase the quality of their
interior finish, as well as increasing the durability and life of the barrel. These
barrels are then Chrome-lined to further the lifespan of the barrel and increase its
resistance to fouling and corrosion.
The first step is to take a drilled barrel and hone the interior to a fine,
clean finish. The barrel is then placed onto a mandrel with the rifling pattern
ground in relief across it. This setup is then placed between opposing power hammers
which literally hammer the barrel onto the pattern found on the mandrel. The barrel
setup is rotated and the hammers continue to forge the barrel into its final shape.
Once they complete this process, the barrels are heat treated in order to relieve
the inherent stress created during this process.
The Chroming process is applied after the Hammer Forging. At this point the interior
of the barrel is basically lined with a layer of chrome and bonded to the forged
steel. Chrome is approximately twice as hard as standard 4150 steel and also resists
the lead and powder that bare steel will normally absorb into its pores. This allows
the barrel to be exposed to the higher temperatures and pressures of high firing
schedules while still maintaining accuracy, durability and reliability. The end
result is a denser, stronger barrel that will endure a higher round life than a
Standard Stainless Steel or Chrome Moly barrel.