Cost uncertainty and competitive naval procurement

Elder and Company built Nelson's hull and engines at Glasgow before developing into Fairfield Shipbuilding. She was laid down in November 1874, launched in November 1876, and completed in July 1880. The quoted price varies from about £390,000 to £411,000, apparently because sources may not count the armament in the same way. The roughly £21,000 gap between the totals seems too small to account for four 10-inch guns, eight 9-inch guns, and six 20-pounders, although weapons already held in naval stores could alter the calculation. Export prices also do not directly show what a large repeat customer such as the Royal Navy paid. The Ordnance Board's influence could complicate procurement. High order volumes, in-house naval constructors, and competition among suppliers still gave the Admiralty leverage that a smaller buyer lacked.