I think stainless is great for rust resistance (except in LoonWulf’s case)......So is proper maintenance of your firearm. The current trend of tactical firearms has drifted the manufacturers to promoting dark, flat colors. But there are still plenty of firearms made of stainless.
Where have Stainless Steel Guns Gone?
- Thread starter ChanceMcCall
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chicharrones
needs more ammo
Not very out here lol!
I appreciate the rust resistant finishes. I've said a few times that I'll only ever buy stainless guns anymore. Then I see a pretty blued steel and wood rifle and buy that.
Even stainless guns rust pretty quick out here, so I've been coating everything I get now.
Too bad manufacturers don't make a hurricane resistant gun.
Jeb Stuart
member
I will buy as much stainless steel on a gun as much as possible other than the grip which I do not mind in Polymer. Kinda beats the aluminum in durability. Rust or stain prevention is not the only think I am looking for. You want a aluminum chassis on a gun, that is fine, I will go stainless steel all day long.
BSA1
member
I don't understand your question. The list you posted shows that there a lot of stainless steel firearms being made.
I surmise that possible reasons are;
1. Due to regional differences dealers stock fewer stainless steel firearms.
2. You do not visit gun shops to see what they have in stock. (I stopped in at a LGS earlier this week for some powder and they have a lot of stainless steel new handguns in the display case).
3. You have not contacted dealers and wholesalers to see what sales of stainless steel firearms are.
4. You are ignoring your own data and are trolling.
MidRoad
Member
My boss (owner of our dealership) is there on a vacation . He didn't want to go,his wife kinda booked it and told him he was going. Not much choice in the matter! I'm sure when he heard there was a cat 5 on it's way toward him the pucker factor kicked in lol. Hopefully it continues to diminish and everything ends up ok. loonwulf included!Too bad manufacturers don't make a hurricane resistant gun.
The OP made the statement that "now most of them seem to have disappeared", and yet a very brief peek through a couple of manufacturers websites or simply googleing "stainless steel rifle" or "stainless steel handgun" reveals dozens of options. If someone claims a certain type of product has mostly "disappeared" and yet 20 seconds of web browsing reveals that there are plenty of options of that particular type of product available, a case could be made that that is indeed a stupid question, or at least a lazy one.
theotherwaldo
Member
Since my preference is for guns that are at least fifty years old, stainless steel is not my preferred material.
I have a number of stainless or stainless/plastic guns, mostly from Ruger and S&W.
I like them well enough, they are good little power tools. They do the job, sometimes better than the classics.
They just don't have the panache.
I have a number of stainless or stainless/plastic guns, mostly from Ruger and S&W.
I like them well enough, they are good little power tools. They do the job, sometimes better than the classics.
They just don't have the panache.
There is a converse to internet searches--information on the internet may or may not reflect what people are seeing in stores. Just as in the old catalog days, just because it is listed, does not mean it is really available nor is it very popular. Regarding the PX4 Storm, I haven't seen the Inox slide version in the various gun stores around. I am sure that perhaps Davidson's or some of the other distributors may list it in the books--but is may be special order, allocated, limited runs, etc. so in effect is "unavailable". Marlin in particular may list all of those in their online catalog but exactly how many are shipping? You can find elsewhere on the THR, some posters' frustrations that it is listed but no one has them.
In my case, I have been doing an AR build recently and looked through an number of suppliers barrels to do so, I found anecdotally fewer stainless steel barrels that were available for the build that was interested in compared with a few years ago, I did find many more nitrocarburized (melonite etc.), fewer chrome lined, and the regular parkerized chrome moly being sold as the cheapest but generally available everywhere. Would that reflect everyone's experience, possibly not. Does their experience reflect mine, probably not. Would the internet answer this question, maybe, maybe not. Probably, it would be the same for other types of firearms as well.
During the catalog years, it was and is still common to check these for firearm history to determine whether a firearm was produced by the mfg (listed in the catalog) and then whether the used gun's modifications occurred at the factory, was a factory special order or overrun from a special lot, or modifications were done by someone else either an amateur or professional gunsmith. I have a pre-model 15 made in the transition year of 1957, it has a 5 inch barrel. Now through Supica, I found out that the serial number matched for a series made specially for the Illinois State Police with just that barrel but mine has no police markings nor any sign that these were obliterated (firearm appears to have its original finish). Thus, I conclude that it was sold as an overrun of that special order to my satisfaction (probably need to get the factory letter one of these days though).
It is possible that the 1957 catalog of S&W listed the 5 inch barrel as an option--don't have one so I don't know. But, if the 5 inch barrel used to be regularly made and it disappeared as a generally available option (this is a hypothetical--S&W collectors count the number of screws and such things and probably know the answer). I might have asked in 1957 in a letter to Gun Digest or G&A, "Where have all of the 5 inch barrels gone?"
Generally speaking, people post on THR because they want knowledge, want to talk about something they've observed, or are just being social. A good rule of thumb is pass by threads that you are not interested in or in your mind think have already been answered. I have no interest in caliber wars--whether you carry a 9mm, .40, .357, etc. I don't care. I might comment on my personal use of a caliber but try to not believe nor imply that reflects reality for everyone. Likewise, my interest and knowledge in extreme long range shooting is low--but if I did decide to take it up, I would probably start by making what some would term stupid or ignorant questions on the THR.
Live and let live, love thy fellow THR poster as thy does oneself, and keep your words sweet as you might have to eat them later, are good maxims that apply here. Nuff said as I always run long on posts.
In my case, I have been doing an AR build recently and looked through an number of suppliers barrels to do so, I found anecdotally fewer stainless steel barrels that were available for the build that was interested in compared with a few years ago, I did find many more nitrocarburized (melonite etc.), fewer chrome lined, and the regular parkerized chrome moly being sold as the cheapest but generally available everywhere. Would that reflect everyone's experience, possibly not. Does their experience reflect mine, probably not. Would the internet answer this question, maybe, maybe not. Probably, it would be the same for other types of firearms as well.
During the catalog years, it was and is still common to check these for firearm history to determine whether a firearm was produced by the mfg (listed in the catalog) and then whether the used gun's modifications occurred at the factory, was a factory special order or overrun from a special lot, or modifications were done by someone else either an amateur or professional gunsmith. I have a pre-model 15 made in the transition year of 1957, it has a 5 inch barrel. Now through Supica, I found out that the serial number matched for a series made specially for the Illinois State Police with just that barrel but mine has no police markings nor any sign that these were obliterated (firearm appears to have its original finish). Thus, I conclude that it was sold as an overrun of that special order to my satisfaction (probably need to get the factory letter one of these days though).
It is possible that the 1957 catalog of S&W listed the 5 inch barrel as an option--don't have one so I don't know. But, if the 5 inch barrel used to be regularly made and it disappeared as a generally available option (this is a hypothetical--S&W collectors count the number of screws and such things and probably know the answer). I might have asked in 1957 in a letter to Gun Digest or G&A, "Where have all of the 5 inch barrels gone?"
Generally speaking, people post on THR because they want knowledge, want to talk about something they've observed, or are just being social. A good rule of thumb is pass by threads that you are not interested in or in your mind think have already been answered. I have no interest in caliber wars--whether you carry a 9mm, .40, .357, etc. I don't care. I might comment on my personal use of a caliber but try to not believe nor imply that reflects reality for everyone. Likewise, my interest and knowledge in extreme long range shooting is low--but if I did decide to take it up, I would probably start by making what some would term stupid or ignorant questions on the THR.
Live and let live, love thy fellow THR poster as thy does oneself, and keep your words sweet as you might have to eat them later, are good maxims that apply here. Nuff said as I always run long on posts.
John Joseph
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IMHO, stainless steel is like hair.
It's way over rated.
But it is useful in some situations.
It's way over rated.
But it is useful in some situations.
The only reason I want my hair back is sunburn on my scalp sucks.
somethingbenign
Member
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When I was looking to buy my first handgun I took a friend with me who used to be a cop. When I got excited about a stainless slide with poly grip he cringed. For some reason he associates the dual tone with Saturday night specials. Wonder if that sentiment is more common than you'd think. I do know that my step dad won't buy anymore hunting guns that aren't stainless or very well coated since he gets lazy with maintenance sometimes.
Interesting post on the police perception of two toned firearms, I think that I read somewhere that visual perception can treat chrome/stainless firearms as more threatening/bigger/etc. than the classic black/bluing. Sorry about no cite but it was in one or the other books that I've read--perhaps something by Patrick Sweeney who used to work at a gunshop popular with Detroit metro area police.
Criminals may prefer gaudy and noticeable firearms while Average Joe (leaving out BBQ guns of course which almost resemble jewelry in their craftsmanship) does not. Can any LEO's present or former comment on this?
beag_nut
Member
" Now most of them seem to have disappeared"
MOST of them have disappeared? I think not. Previous posters have shown that SS is still around and kicking. However, machining SS is a great deal more difficult than regular carbon steel. I know that from my years making surgical instruments. Perhaps the makers are making a (feeble) attempt to de-emphasize SS (expensive) in favor of the much easier to achieve process of coating in something. I also see plenty of new SS firearms available, at the increased (justifiable) cost.
MOST of them have disappeared? I think not. Previous posters have shown that SS is still around and kicking. However, machining SS is a great deal more difficult than regular carbon steel. I know that from my years making surgical instruments. Perhaps the makers are making a (feeble) attempt to de-emphasize SS (expensive) in favor of the much easier to achieve process of coating in something. I also see plenty of new SS firearms available, at the increased (justifiable) cost.
ChanceMcCall
Member
I already posted a biased comment (#9)
It is more than a bit easier. Try shooting mounted cowboy events with "media blanks" and you will find out why Ruger makes so many stainless steel single action revolvers.
Jeb Stuart
member
I would thing there is a reason why Ruger for instance the 38 frame Monolithic frame is made from aerospace-grade, 7000 series aluminum vs 357 and 9mm ------------Monolithic frame is made from 400 series stainless steel.
This thread has lost me on the stainless steel issue. Are we just talking about finish? By the way this is stainless steel.
This thread has lost me on the stainless steel issue. Are we just talking about finish? By the way this is stainless steel.
Mn Fats
Member
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- Jan 23, 2017
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So they haven't gone anywhere.
.308 Norma
Member
Sorry, deleted because I misread another post.
ChanceMcCall
Member
I get the greater cost. For me, and perhaps others, that is not the issue. And yes, there are many stainless steel handguns out there. I guess I just want all types of guns including rifles and shotguns to be available in stainless steel.
ChanceMcCall
Member
No but plenty of other have. Browning no longer makes SS trap guns as they once did. Marlin has eliminate several SS lever actions. Ruger made (I think) a Red Label in SS. Stoeger made a Luger type of 9mm in stainless. Of course Colt made many SS handguns but that is a different issue because we no longer have Pythons, Anacondas, etc even in blue.
OK. I give up.
Im actually surprised there isnt an AR for that....Too bad manufacturers don't make a hurricane resistant gun.
oh wait
https://www.personaldefenseworld.com/2012/10/stag-arms-5-56-executive-survival-kit/
I've always liked the look of shiny stainless with black over blued and wood. I remember back in the '90s when stainless rifles started showing up and Shooting Times magazine did an article called, "The Stampede to Stainless".
theotherwaldo
Member
Hurricane Proof?
I thought that that was the AK-47, or at least the Mosin-Nagant.
I thought that that was the AK-47, or at least the Mosin-Nagant.
jamesjames
Member
I like stainless for EDC and many niche applications. I carry a smith 642 on my ankle and don't worry about rust. I carry a Rossi 92SS 20 inch .357 magnum levergun as a truck gun. I've got a Marlin 1895ss guidegun as a brush gun. Sig Sauer P229 in .40 is milled stainless Nitron blackened slide. Smith 629 Trailboss .44 magnum. Stainless has it uses and fits into my lifestyle very well.
Rossi quit making their leverguns in stainless a couple of years ago. I sure wish they would resume production. I want a 92 in .44 magnum.
Rossi quit making their leverguns in stainless a couple of years ago. I sure wish they would resume production. I want a 92 in .44 magnum.
.308 Norma
Member
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I prefer dull, bead-blasted stainless and granite-grey synthetic stocks, brunettes, and red pickup-trucks.
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