Katana VentraIP

Barbed wire

Barbed wire, also known as barb wire, is a type of steel fencing wire constructed with sharp edges or points arranged at intervals along the strands. Its primary use is the construction of inexpensive fences, and it is also used as a security measure atop walls surrounding property. As a wire obstacle, it is a major feature of the fortifications in trench warfare.

"Barb wire" redirects here. For other uses, see Barb wire (disambiguation).

A person or animal trying to pass through or over barbed wire will suffer discomfort and possibly injury. Barbed wire fencing requires only fence posts, wire, and fixing devices such as staples. It is simple to construct and quick to erect, even by an unskilled person.


The first patent in the United States for barbed wire[1] was issued in 1867 to Lucien B. Smith of Kent, Ohio, who is regarded as the inventor.[2][3] Joseph F. Glidden of DeKalb, Illinois, received a patent for the modern invention[4] in 1874 after he made his own modifications to previous versions.


Wire fences are cheaper and easier to erect than their alternatives (one such alternative is Osage orange, a thorny bush that is time-consuming to transplant and grow).[5] When wire fences became widely available in the United States in the late 19th century, it became more affordable to fence much larger areas than before, and intensive animal husbandry was made practical on a much larger scale.


An example of the costs of fencing with lumber immediately prior to the invention of barbed wire can be found with the first farmers in the Fresno, California, area, who spent nearly $4,000 (equivalent to $102,000 in 2023) to have wood for fencing delivered and erected to protect 2,500 acres (1,000 ha) of wheat crop from free-ranging livestock in 1872.[6]

Zinc-coated steel wire. Galvanized steel wire is the most widely used steel wire during barbed wire production. It has commercial type, Class 1 type and Class 3 type. Or it is also well known as electric galvanized steel wire and hot dipped galvanized steel wire.

Zinc-aluminum alloy coated steel wire. Barbed wire is available with zinc, 5% or 10% aluminum alloy and steel wire, which is also known as Galfan wire.[7]

mischmetal

Polymer-coated steel wire. Zinc steel wire or zinc-aluminum steel wire with PVC, PE or other organic polymer coating.

Stainless steel wire. It is available with SAE 304, 316 and other materials.

History[edit]

Before 1865[edit]

Fencing consisting of flat and thin wire was first proposed in France, by Leonce Eugene Grassin-Baledans in 1860. His design consisted of bristling points, creating a fence that was painful to cross. In April 1865 Louis François Janin proposed a double wire with diamond-shaped metal barbs; Francois was granted a patent. Michael Kelly from New York had a similar idea, and proposed that the fencing should be used specifically for deterring animals.[8]


More patents followed, and in 1867 alone there were six patents issued for barbed wire. Only two of them addressed livestock deterrence, one of which was from American Lucien B. Smith of Ohio.[9] Before 1870, westward movement in the United States was largely across the plains with little or no settlement occurring. After the American Civil War the plains were extensively settled, consolidating America's dominance over them.[10]


Ranchers moved out on the plains, and needed to fence their land in against encroaching farmers and other ranchers. The railroads throughout the growing West needed to keep livestock off their tracks, and farmers needed to keep stray cattle from trampling their crops.[11] Traditional fence materials used in the Eastern U.S., like wood and stone, were expensive to use in the large open spaces of the plains, and hedging was not reliable in the rocky, clay-based and rain-starved dusty soils. A cost-effective alternative was needed to make cattle operations profitable.[12]

Hand-knotting. The wire is wrapped around the corner post and knotted by hand. This is the most common method of attaching wire to a corner post. A timber hitch works well as it stays better with wire than with rope.

Crimp sleeves. The wire is wrapped around the corner post and bound to the incoming wire using metal sleeves which are crimped using lock cutters. This method should be avoided because while sleeves can work well on repairs in the middle of the fence where there is not enough wire for hand knotting, they tend to slip when under tension.

Wire vise. The wire is passed through a hole drilled into the corner post and is anchored on the far side.

Wire wrap. The wire is wrapped around the corner post and wrapped onto a special, gritted helical wire which also wraps around the incoming wire, with friction holding it in place.

Bangalore torpedo

Barbed Wire Act 1893

Concertina wire

Isaac L. Ellwood

Jacob Haish

Kansas Barbed Wire Museum

Razor wire

Wire obstacle

Archived February 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine in McLean, Texas

Website of the Devils Rope Museum

in La Crosse, Kansas is the only museum in the world dedicated solely to barbed wire and the history of fencing."History of the invention of barbed wire". Archived from the original on July 21, 2010. Retrieved July 21, 2010.

The Kansas Barbed Wire Museum

Wire Fence and the Dіffеrent Styles They Come In

at University of Virginia accessed March 29, 2006

Development and Rise of Barbed Wire

also at UVA, from Agricultural History, Volume 13, October 1939, accessed September 20, 2006

Barbed Wire Fencing - Its Rise and Influence

accessed March 29, 2006

Glidden's patent for barbed wire

accessed September 21, 2006

Antique Barbed Wire Society

Barbed Wire in Texas

Barbed wire changes life on the American Great Plains

About.com

The History of Barbed Wire

The Wildlife Friendly Fencing project

Papers, 1878-1938, of Texas rancher and co-inventor Isaac L. Ellwood in Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library at Texas Tech University

. Archived from the original on December 7, 2008. Retrieved September 21, 2006. accessed September 21, 2006

"Patent history"

– Lucien Smith, Kent, Ohio, Wire fence – "rotary spools with projecting spurs" (June 1867)

U.S. patent 66,182

– William Hunt, Scott, New York, Improvement in Fences – "sharpened spur wheels" (July 1867)

U.S. patent 67,117

– Michael Kelly, New York City (!), Improvement in Fences – "thorny fence" (1868)

U.S. patent 74,379

– Joshua Rappleye, Seneca County, New York, Improvement in Constructing Wire fence – tensioner for fence with palings (pickets) (1871)

U.S. patent 116,755

– Henry Rose, DeKalb County, Illinois, Improvement in Wire-fences – "strips provided with metal points" (1873)

U.S. patent 138,763

– Isaac Ellwood, DeKalb, Illinois Improvement in Barbed Fences – "single piece of metal with four points, attached to a flat rail" (February, 1874)

U.S. patent 147,756

– Joseph Glidden, DeKalb, Illinois, Improvement in Wire-fences – twisted fence wires with short spur coiled around one of the strands (November, 1874) This became the most popular patent.

U.S. patent 157,124

– Jacob Haish, DeKalb, Illinois, Improvement in Wire-fence Barbs – "single piece of wire bent into the form of the letter S" so that both strands are clasped (1875)

U.S. patent 167,240

– John Nelson, Creston, Illinois, Improvement in Wire-fence Barbs – barb installable on existing fence wire, (1876)

U.S. patent 185,346