In order to provide an economical method for producing a weapon barrel, in which a considerable plasticisation of the barrel inner wall and thus of the twist profile is avoided when armour-piercing ammunition is shot, in particular in the case of an intense firing sequence, it is proposed not to introduce the twist profile of the weapon barrel into a barrel blank, the material of which has its end strength already as a result of hardening and tempering, but has a lower strength level (approximately 800-1000 MPa). Only once the twist profile has been formed by extrusion or hammering is the steel hardened and tempered to a predefined strength value >1000 MPa, and is the barrel blank that is provided with the twist profile mechanically processed further.

In order to provide an economical method for producing a weapon barrel, in which a considerable plasticisation of the barrel inner wall and thus of the twist profile is avoided when armour-piercing ammunition is shot, in particular in the case of an intense firing sequence, it is proposed not to introduce the twist profile of the weapon barrel into a barrel blank, the material of which has its end strength already as a result of hardening and tempering, but has a lower strength level (approximately 800-1000 MPa). Only once the twist profile has been formed by extrusion or hammering is the steel hardened and tempered to a predefined strength value >1000 MPa, and is the barrel blank that is provided with the twist profile mechanically processed further.

A method and apparatus for producing gun barrels having a grooved or ribbed inner surface with straight or helical grooves or ribs, by providing a metallic hollow cylindrical pre-form, placing the pre-form on a core mandrel being part of a flow forming machine having a main machine axis, the core mandrel having a structured outer surface comprising ribs and/or grooves extending straightly parallel to and/or helically around the main axis; and applying forming rollers, in a roller arrangement, to the outside surface of the pre-form so as to apply radial pressure on the pre-form such that its material begins to flow. As the rollers apply force upon the pre-form, a relative motion between the pre-form and the rollers is performed by moving the pre-form in axially parallel to the main axis through the roller arrangement or by moving the roller arrangement alongside the pre-form.

An apparatus and method for manufacturing a pipe assembly having an inner pipe and an outer jacket may include a support member, a pair of lance assemblies and a pair of caps. The support member supports the outer jacket of the pipe assembly and is drivable between a first position and a second position. The pair of lance assemblies are configured to be inserted into opposing ends of the inner pipe such that the pair of lance assemblies engage an inner wall of the inner pipe. One of the outer jacket and the inner pipes moves relative to the other of the outer jacket and the inner pipe to center the inner pipe within the outer jacket when the support member is driven from the first position to the second position. Insulation is inserted through at least one cap into a space between the inner pipe and outer jacket.

A method of forming a gun barrel is disclosed that includes cold gas-dynamic spraying one or more coatings onto a mandrel. The method may also include heat treating the coating layer(s), contouring the outer coating layer, applying a ceramic top coating to the contoured outer coating layer of the gun barrel, and/or sealing the gun barrel with a liquid metal sealer. The method may also include removing the mandrel.

An apparatus and method for manufacturing a pipe assembly having an inner pipe and an outer jacket may include a support member, a pair of lance assemblies and a pair of caps. The support member supports the outer jacket of the pipe assembly and is drivable between a first position and a second position. The pair of lance assemblies are configured to be inserted into opposing ends of the inner pipe such that the pair of lance assemblies engage an inner wall of the inner pipe. One of the outer jacket and the inner pipes moves relative to the other of the outer jacket and the inner pipe to center the inner pipe within the outer jacket when the support member is driven from the first position to the second position. Insulation is inserted through at least one cap into a space between the inner pipe and outer jacket.

A method and apparatus for producing gun barrels having a grooved or ribbed inner surface with straight or helical grooves or ribs, by providing a metallic hollow cylindrical pre-form, placing the pre-form on a core mandrel being part of a flow forming machine having a main machine axis, the core mandrel having a structured outer surface comprising ribs and/or grooves extending straightly parallel to and/or helically around the main axis; and applying forming rollers, in a roller arrangement, to the outside surface of the pre-form so as to apply radial pressure on the pre-form such that its material begins to flow. As the rollers apply force upon the pre-form, a relative motion between the pre-form and the rollers is performed by moving the pre-form in axially parallel to the main axis through the roller arrangement or by moving the roller arrangement alongside the pre-form.

A method of forming a gun barrel is disclosed that includes applying one or more coatings to the gun barrel such as just a top coating, or a bond coating and then a top coating. The method may also include (before applying one or more coatings): threading an outer surface of the gun barrel proximate a first end of the gun barrel; threadedly coupling the first end of the gun barrel to a gun chamber; fixedly coupling the gun barrel to the gun chamber. The method may also include heat treating the coating layer(s), contouring the outer coating layer, applying a ceramic top coating to the contoured outer coating layer of the gun barrel, and/or sealing the gun barrel with a liquid metal sealer.

A method for producing a gun barrel with an integrally adjoining housing for at least one breech head includes the steps of providing a cylindrical blank having a through-bore corresponding to the breech head diameter; hammering a first longitudinal portion of the blank on a part of a first hammering mandrel corresponding to the inner profile of the barrel while the first hammering mandrel is guided through the through-bore; and hammering a second longitudinal portion of the blank on a second hammering mandrel corresponding to the inner profile of the housing while the second hammering mandrel is inserted into the through-bore.