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Old 04-10-2016, 11:33 AM
justa22 justa22 is offline
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1911 carbon steel or stainless steel 1911 carbon steel or stainless steel 1911 carbon steel or stainless steel 1911 carbon steel or stainless steel 1911 carbon steel or stainless steel  
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Default 1911 carbon steel or stainless steel

Purchased a used S&W 1911 mod. 108299 sn#jfr5015, melonite coated, ambidextrous safeties, adjustable sights, wood grips with S&W medallions. I have been researching to try and find out what I have. I have seen that these pistols were made in carbon steel, and stainless steel, and melonite coated, is there any way to tell by the above information if I have carbon or stainless steel. Thanks for your help.
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Old 04-10-2016, 11:45 AM
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1911 carbon steel or stainless steel 1911 carbon steel or stainless steel 1911 carbon steel or stainless steel 1911 carbon steel or stainless steel 1911 carbon steel or stainless steel  
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Here's some info.
Product: ARCHIVE: Model SW1911
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Old 04-10-2016, 02:25 PM
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1911 carbon steel or stainless steel 1911 carbon steel or stainless steel 1911 carbon steel or stainless steel 1911 carbon steel or stainless steel 1911 carbon steel or stainless steel  
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A magnet will stick to carbon steel but not stainless
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Old 04-10-2016, 02:33 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Graywolf586 View Post
A magnet will stick to carbon steel but not stainless
Wrong! While some stainless alloys are non-magnetic or only slightly, firearms grade stainless steels are magnetic.
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Last edited by Alk8944; 04-10-2016 at 02:35 PM.
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Old 04-10-2016, 03:01 PM
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300-grade stainless contains no carbon and being non-ferrous, is not magnetic. The stainless used in firearms is 400-grade, most often 416, which contains some carbon as a hardener and does attract a magnet.

Ed
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Old 04-11-2016, 04:37 AM
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Graywolf586 Graywolf586 is offline
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Thanks for correcting me.
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Old 04-11-2016, 09:37 AM
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A lot of gun owners harbor the misconception that their stainless steel guns cannot rust. But if they don't remove a handgun's grips or a rifle's barreled action from its stock for cleaning on an occasional basis, they might be surprised what they find when they do and its a result of the carbon in 400 stainless.

Ed
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Old 04-11-2016, 09:39 AM
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If there's a worn and hidden spot on the rails that exposes the steel,put a drop of cold blue on it.If it takes,it's carbon.
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Old 04-11-2016, 09:44 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AveragEd View Post
A lot of gun owners harbor the misconception that their stainless steel guns cannot rust. But if they don't remove a handgun's grips or a rifle's barreled action from its stock for cleaning on an occasional basis, they might be surprised what they find when they do and its a result of the carbon in 400 stainless.

Ed
A sure fired test would be to throw the gun into a vat of acid,,,
If it rusts a LOT, it was steel
If it rusts a LITTLE,, it was stainless steel,,,



All kidding aside,, put Renaissance Wax on the gun,, and enjoy it!!
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