Stainless guns

[Timberland]

Why do guns already made of stainless steel cost more in stainless? I want a 1911 in stainless, but that version costs about $100 more than the same gun in black. Can I just buy the black version and then strip it to metal, or is there more of a process?

[-hanko]

Why do guns already made of stainless steel cost more in stainless? I want a 1911 in stainless, but that version costs about $100 more than the same gun in black. Can I just buy the black version and then strip it to metal, or is there more of a process?

The raw material cost is more than non-stainless and stainless is more difficult to machine...=higher production costs.

If you strip the 'black version' it's likely to be non-stainless underneath the black coating (bluing).

Other coatings (a bunch) are available to refinish a gun...try a little google

-hanko

[bwiese]

The raw material cost is more than non-stainless and stainless is more difficult to machine...=higher production costs.

I was talking to the engineering guy at Charco (Charter Arms) back at the 2002 NRA show. I saw identical SS/blued pricing and asked him about it.

He tells me that modern mass-pro tooling wear etc is not appreciably different, and that they're was no appreciable difference in stainless vs nonstainless for them.

[dfletcher]

I tend to believe the Charco fellow - any increased stainless costs are off set by the need to finish/blue carbon steel. Most of the cost differences I've seen are only a few $$$ against the stainless.

[What Just Happened?]

Maybe demand? That or maybe the actual process involved for finishing costs more.

On the other hand, I don't think stainless steel would be used if it were to be covered. Many other steels would suffice if you would just coat them.

[SJshooter]

Blued guns are made of carbon steel, not stainless steel. Leave your blue gun in a humid garage and you can come home to find it rusting. That won't happen with stainless.

[Timberland]

Well for example, isnt the kimber custom II stainless underneath the black finish? Yet the custom stainless is about $100 more. Why does painting a gun black cost less than just polishing it.

[tophatjones]

I just checked out their website. Under specifications, Kimber lists the Custom II as steel, while the Stainless II is listed as stainless steel. I think that there may have been a time when they just used stainless for both models, but that was probably in the past and only for a while. It was probably a rumor. Good luck in your choice!

[Fjold]

Because people will pay more for stainless steel.

[ar15barrels]

isnt the kimber custom II stainless underneath the black finish?

NO.

[Timberland]

NO.

Then how come they weigh the same? Shouldnd SS weigh more?

[ar15barrels]

Then how come they weigh the same? Shouldnd SS weigh more?

Stainless and chromoly alloys are so close that it's not going to show up on a scale.
Perhaps they actually weigh a couple tenths of an ounce different.
Did you actually weigh them, or are you just relying on specs from the maker?
It would not be beyond them to just print the same weight for both versions of the gun rather than weighing them individually...

[Timberland]

Stainless and chromoly alloys are so close that it's not going to show up on a scale.
Perhaps they actually weigh a couple tenths of an ounce different.
Did you actually weigh them, or are you just relying on specs from the maker?
It would not be beyond them to just print the same weight for both versions of the gun rather than weighing them individually...

Ok I was under the impression that ss had a large diffrence over regular steel. I was just generalizing with kimber, but I have noted that silver colored guns just seem to cost more.

[ar15barrels]

Ok I was under the impression that ss had a large diffrence over regular steel.
I was just generalizing with kimber, but I have noted that silver colored guns just seem to cost more.

Silver colored (stainless) guns DO cost more, but not because of the materials.
They cost more mostly because people have a perception that they are worth more.

[bruss01]

Carbon steel rusts easily. The black coating (bluing) that is used on carbon steel is a mild form of corrosion protection that will hold up with reasonable care but is not impervious to the salts in your sweat and skin oils. It is a "high maintenance" finish over regular carbon steel.

Stainless steel contains chromium and sometimes other expensive materials that help give the steel corrosion resistance. There are different grades of stainless depending on the application, some are more "resistant" than others. Stainless steel cannot be blued because the bluing itself is a form of controlled oxidation (rust) that the stainless is designed by it's very nature to resist. Stainless CAN be coated with finishes that resemble bluing.

A stainless gun can be more expensive for many reasons. Cost of raw materials is somewhat higher, tooling is different or needs to be replaced more frequently. One might speculate that the stainless guns will last longer due to their resistance to the elements and/or less stringent maintenance requirements and there is perceived additional "value" in the mind of the buyer because of this. Additional value to buyer means increased price to the seller. Supply and demand. Not to mention appearance - a more desireable appearance = higher price. That aspect is stictly about marketing. Sure, a Chevy and a GMC are the same truck, but the GMC LOOKS better because of a higher trim package, therefore it sells for more money.