Titanium 1911 Frame??

[dexter9659]

We are currently working on building 1911 frames and slides. Any metalurgists out there know if Titanium (which we work on) would be a suitable material for a 1911 frame?

Currently Bears, Wilsons, and Kimbers frames are being scanned with a ruby laser for tolerances. This info will then be used to help with prototypes. Initial prototype will be steel.

[thai562]

I am not a metallurgist, but I do love having titanium stuff. I have looking at Caspian Titanium 1911 frame for a while. So in term of suitable, I guess, yes.

[wash]

Rather than scanning 1911s, why not buy the Kunhansen manuals and get the ordinance drawing dimensions?

As far as material, it should be stronger than aluminum and that can work for frames.

I'm not 100% sure but I think you will have a galling problem between the slide and frame if they are both Titanium.

[xibunkrlilkidsx]

Ti6Al4V, Ti-6AL-4V or simply Ti 6-4. Grade 5 is used extensively in Aerospace, Medical, Marine, and Chemical Processing.

Company was making an Ar lower with that material. dont see why it wouldnt be suitable for 1911....

[kcstott]

6AL 4 would work no problem other then on the tooling. Tough stuff but since you guys work on it you already have made the investment in tooling and machines. That's the biggest hurdle.

[MA2]

Titanium would be a very hard sell for 1911's???
The metal (weight and hardness) sits between aluminum/alloy and steel, but don't think the price will be.

Please post a finished slide, I would like one, in carbon or stainless steel. If you can custom cut the serrations to my liking, even better

[kcstott]

You'd be surprised how many people would jump at the chance to have a Ti frame 1911. They would not be a hot seller but for the money more then a few would buy it an not bat an eye.

[adamsreeftank]

Put me down for one. I'd buy a Titanium 1911 in a heart beat.
If you made a Government size and Commander size, I'd probably buy both. Please consider checkering the front strap with 25 LPI.

[savs2k]

Machining ti isn't the easiest thing to do. The only reason why people don't do it is that the final product ends up costing way too much. Price of metal,the time to machine,and after your markup I would rather take that money and buy a complete 1911. It would be awesome to have but its not on my list until I have way too much money to spend

[r3dn3ck]

a Ti slide would be so light you'd have to have a whole lot of work done to slow the slide down or you'll rip the lugs off the barrel. If you can figure out a way to slow down the slide (I have a few thoughts on the matter that don't involve springs) with a Ti slide then a Ti slide and frame would make for a pretty hard kicking but very very light 1911 that I'd be happy to shell out for.

A Ti frame doesn't seem as big a problem to me as the slide. Fitment between the slide and frame is going to have to be awesome for the galling reasons specified already. If you just changed some of the parts to Ti (mainspring housing, guide rods, levers, releases, FCG parts, etc... Could also fit steel rails into a Ti handle and solve some of the problems of Ti at the expense of more intensive machining and some serious fitting costs.

[couch]

Prints and .igs files are available for download on cncguns.com

[Sicarius]

gonna be a 1000 dollar receiver...
Kevin

[kcstott]

gonna be a 1000 dollar receiver...
Kevin

Maybe at a production level.

More like $2000

[disturbed1]

titanium is not that much harder to machine than steel. I use to be a programmer/machinist. Just use the four flute carbide endmills for the rough cut and finish off with a five flute. Should save you some money on endmills. We use to cut aerospace parts and the toughest was tungsten and inconel, that stuff wore out my tooling quick!

[CRTguns]

titanium is not that much harder to machine than steel. I use to be a programmer/machinist. Just use the four flute carbide endmills for the rough cut and finish off with a five flute. Should save you some money on endmills. We use to cut aerospace parts and the toughest was tungsten and inconel, that stuff wore out my tooling quick!

It's "used to." Attention to detail is important in the machine biz.

You just dont use a 4 flute. You can use any number of flutes, just need to be high helix.

Won't save $$ on endmills. They are expensive. Lookup: micrograin, high RPM, High helix C5 or better... the stuff that will last in titanium alloys is very, very, spendy.


Ti is only a 35-40% weight savings over steel. The real saving in pounds comes cause you have to use much less to make the same strength. BUT if tio uyhave to keep things the same size to make it fit common parts... not much weight savings.

It does sell great- I think cause the first Terminator was titanium. That's why it has sellability. We are all from that generation... we were young and impressionable when the terminator came out.