Rolling mills and methods of rolling

A rolling mill for rolling of bars and wire from stock having a rectangular, oval or similar elongate cross-sectional shape, the ratio of the lengths of the principal axes of the cross section of said stock being larger than approximately 1:2, comprising a plurality of roll stands arranged closely one behind the other to define a line of sizing passes, said roll stands having (a) a first entry sizing pass stand formed by two rolls whose roll axis is substantially transverse to the principal axis of the stock being rolled and receiving the stock to be rolled, (b) the cross-sectional shape of the said first sizing pass being one of an exact circle, a regular polygon having an even number of sides and a like but somewhat elongated geometrical figure, (c) the ratio of the lengths of whose principal axes does not exceed approximately 1:2, and (d) at least one three roll stand immediately following said two roll stand receiving the rolled stock from said first stand, the first stand of said three roll stands adjacent the two roll stand having one roll axis extending parallel to the longer principal axis of the first sizing pass cross section, in the case wherein the latter is somewhat elongated, all roll stands following the first stand being three roll stands.