| Stainless Steel is more than just steel that doesn't | | | | Brearley realised that this new mix would be ideal for |
| stain! It is an umbrella term that covers various types | | | | a much wider range of products than just rifles, |
| of steel that are resistant to corrosion. There are at | | | | especially goods where staining and corrosion were |
| least two claims to the title of inventor, one from | | | | big problems. One such product area was cutlery. At |
| the UK and one from Sweden. The most likely | | | | first Harry's bosses did not see the potential, in fact, |
| inventor is Harry Brearley, the son of a steel melter. | | | | not until he personally arranged for a cutler, R.F. |
| Harry, who was born in Sheffield in 1871, studied the | | | | Mosley, to produce some knives. The manager of |
| properties of steel and the effects that various | | | | Mosley, Ernest Stuart, referred to the knives as |
| production processes had on it. | | | | "stainless" and the term has stuck ever since. Up until |
| In 1908, two large steel firms set up a research | | | | the introduction of stainless steel, cutlery and other |
| company called Brown Firth Laboratories and asked | | | | steel products had to be constantly cleaned and dried |
| Harry to head it up. It's job would be to improve | | | | thoroughly in order prevent rust corrosion. |
| production processes. One of the problems he was | | | | Ever since, stainless steel has stood for robustness, |
| asked to solve was the erosion of rifle barrels | | | | longevity and hygiene. A good example is the SE22 |
| through the effects of heat and discharge gasses. | | | | Insectocutor fly killer machine. The stainless steel |
| Brearley's experiments centred on the addition of | | | | construction represents high quality and is particularly |
| chromium and carbon. Steels with chromium as an | | | | appropriate to such a top range product as this. |
| ingredient tended to have a higher melting point and | | | | Insectocutor has led the way in fly killing technology |
| this suggested that chromium may also produce a | | | | since the 60's. Inferior plastic products have come |
| more robust and corrosion-resistant steel. After | | | | and gone but the solid steel machines of |
| some trial and error, in 1913 he produced a steel with | | | | Insectocutor have always proved to be supremely |
| a 12.8% chromium content along with 0.24% carbon. | | | | robust and reliable. The use of stainless steel for |
| He subjected the samples that were produced to | | | | models such as the SE22 further distinguishes the |
| various chemicals, including acid that would corrode | | | | Insectocutor offer compared to the plastic |
| standard steel along with vinegar and citrus juice. The | | | | alternatives, such is the quality of stainless steel. |
| results were spectacular. Not only was the steel | | | | Thank you Harry! |
| resistant to corrosion, it did not even stain. | | | | |