Internal parts of stainless guns

[Cal44]

Are the internal parts of stainless steel guns like the M60 made of stainless steel?

Or are they subject to rust if the gun gets wet -- like falling into a stream or just being carried in rainy weather for several days?

What about aluminum/stainless guns like the 642?

 

[muddocktor]

AFAIK, the internals in stainless steel guns are the same as the carbon steel guns, which is a combination of forged steel and MIM parts. In other words, they will rust if you drop it into water or being carried in rainy weather. That's what water displacement sprays are for; to displace the water and dry out moisture. Or you can take the sideplate off and dry out the internals at the end of a hard wet day too as it's not hard to remove the stocks and the sideplate to do so with the appropriate hollow ground screwdriver.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

The lock work is carbon steel. The metallurgical properties of stainless makes it less than ideal for a number of reason. Even silver looking hammers and triggers are really carbon steel with a "flash chrome" surface coating.

Even so, with a modicum of care the parts are not prone to rabid corrosion.

 

[murphydog]

The very first model 60s were 'all' stainless, down to the stock screw and stock medallions. Soon afterward the hammer and trigger were hard chromed forged carbon steel; not sure when the other parts changed.

And yes, "stainless" will rust and pit just like carbon steel. Should be called "stain-resistant" but "stain-less" would be OK too .

 

[k22fan]

The original question was well answered. Presumably to cut down on parts inventory S&W discontinued flash chromed hammers and triggers and started using the case hardened ones in all revolvers about 1993. MIM hammers and triggers replaced forged ones about four years later. There have been exceptions in Performance Center revolvers.

Unfortunately, stain-less [I like murphydog's word] S&W revolvers with rusty MIM hammers and triggers are common. Apparently their owners took "stainless" too literally. The culprit is sweat. Rain is not so bad. Most of us that have sweat that does not rust steel fast learn the hard way which of our friend's sweat rusts blued guns overnight.

 

[shouldazagged]

I'm amused when this comes up. I know a local police officer (now long retired) who told me once that whenever he bought a stainless steel Smith revolver the first thing he would do was change out the stainless internal parts with carbon steel so that they would operate more smoothly. It would be less amusing if he found a smith who would do the switcfh without telling him.

 

[Cal44]

On the guns that come with flash chrome on the trigger and the hammer, are the internal parts you can't see also chromed?

I assume flash chrome gives some degree of rust resistance -- or is it just cosmetic?

 

[Breakaway500]

The only revolvers I've ever seen with rust in the innards were antiques or guns that went swimming. I think the tuning is more important than what the parts are made of,as long as they are durable. If you really want a rust free gun,plastic is the way to go. But then..you will sacrifice the feel of steel!

 

[k22fan]

On the guns that come with flash chrome on the trigger and the hammer, are the internal parts you can't see also chromed?

I assume flash chrome gives some degree of rust resistance -- or is it just cosmetic?

I have taken quite a few stainless revolver apart and, while I'm not certain, I do not think any of the other internal parts were ever chrome plated.

Chrome does not rust. Think about all those old bright chrome car bumpers. They only show rust where the plating was breached.

 

[Breakaway500]

I swear I took apart a 20s-30s vintage S&W revolver recently and most of the working inner parts were actually chrome plated.Many said no..but...I'm not convinced. It also has one of the smooothest double actions I have ever felt.

 

[NCBeagle]

I posted this photo in my new Model 64-3 thread last night. Might as well recycle it here. This Model 64-3 was nasty inside. All clean now.

 

[Cal44]

I just checked, and a couple of my older (80's) revolvers have flash chromed hammers and triggers.

Of my newer guns, the 2010 627 Performance Center snub has chromed parts.

And, my 2014 625JM also has chromed trigger and hammer.