HPJeep
Member
So we have handgun frames in steel, aluminum, scandium, brass, zamak and plastic. Why not bronze? Yeah it's not lighter but it's a nice looking material from an aesthetic perspective. Just wondering why it has not been used before.
Beryllium Copper? Now that's a tough enough metal alloy that could surely look good as a gun frame. I know PING irons made of it look good in my golf bag.
In 1932, Springfield Armory tried a bronze alloy known as Brastil for 1911 frame and slide; steel working parts. It didn't go far.
https://www.guns.com/news/2013/01/02/sheet-steel-brass-and-polymer-1911s-7-pics
And frames "in Scandium" are aluminum alloy with bare trace amounts of scandium.
But, to your question, while a bronze alloy might be suitable for a number of low pressure cartridges, the cost of tooling for a redesigning for bronze options, combined with consumer perceptions of weakness, likely render it unprofitable. Having said that, the "brass" black powder revolvers are actually bronze alloys.
I have a Glock 19C with a bronze cerakoted slide.
What's the max amount of rounds you've been able to shoot in a range session? Bronze has that faster wear factor thank steel and other used gun metals.
Machining and breathing the dust or welding and breathing the fumes from beryllium metals can be nasty for sure. Once the end product is done I don’t know if the metal itself is hazardous to touch. The golf clubs are still out thereI try to stay away from anything using beryllium. Consumer product made with Be? No, just no.
BSW
Machining and breathing the dust or welding and breathing the fumes from beryllium metals can be nasty for sure. Once the end product is done I don’t know if the metal itself is hazardous to touch. The golf clubs are still out there
Stay safe.
Sure, that makes sense. I was thinking more a revolver grip frame, 1911 frame or slide or a lever gun frame...I was thinking revolver frame made with Be and the flame cutting revolvers experience.
I know they don’t vaporize a lot of frame material with each shot but still...
BSW