An historic trade classification for refined iron that has been rolled or hammered into standard bars, rods or flats ready for sale to blacksmiths and manufacturers. It represents a finished commodity product, distinct from raw pig iron or intermediate puddle bars, and is graded by its purity and the number of times it has been reheated and rolled.
Heard on the job
The blacksmith ordered two tons of merchant iron to forge the new gate hardware.
Also heard as
- merchant bar