> Check out the hardness of hammered bronze Jane. Remember that the
best cannons were bronze, not iron for the longest time.
That was for resilience and manufacturing purposes, not strength - effective manufacturing of iron cannon took quite some time. Iron cannon are lighter for the same throw weight and purpose.
> Iron (not steel) is not very useful for armouring purposes.
Iron was what was used for armour, as steel cost too much for the difference in efectiveness over iron until very late - too late to use it as armour. Even now, commercial all-metal armour is either beryllium bronze or high-quality steel, depending on purpose.
Paul
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