Stainless and galling question

[valnar]

Is there a particular cutoff year where most manufacturers stopped having galling problems with stainless steel?

I've read that "in the past" there has been binding and galling problems because of the way SS was made, but that is "not a problem these days".

So when was that? I am looking at the used gun boards every now and then and want to know how far I can go back on the S&W stainless revolvers.

-Robert

 

[mete]

I don't know about changes in the steel but there are lubes specifically designed for stainless steel and high pressure uses (shotgun hinge pins) such as RIG + P, that will avoid the problem.

 

[AndABeer]

galling is typically a problem with autos where the slide and the rails contact each other

it shouldn't be an issue for revolvers

 

[dfariswheel]

The galling problem was pretty much confined to early, cheap, cast stainless 1911-type autos.

Early guns like the Crown City, AMT, Essex, and the Vega all had problems relating to too soft metal, and simular-alloy galling.

By the time the big gun companies like Colt and S&W got into the market, the problems were better understood, and had been solved.

Primarily, the "fix" was better heat treating, and using different alloys for slide and frame.

There were very few non-S&W stainless revolvers back then, and revolvers didn't have much of a galling problem to start with.

 

[valnar]

Thanks. The revolver in question I am considering buying is a model 60 Chief's Special from circa 1970. I just wanted to be sure.


-Robert

 

[CWL]

Lubing a ss auto with a good grease will significantly reduce galling. White lithium grease will do the same.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Definitely a problem with the very first stainless guns (up until about '83-'84). It happens when stainless parts of the same hardness rubs against each other. Lubrication works, but the better solution was to use two different types of stainless and voila! Problem gone. S&W learned it with their early guns and Randall (circa '81-'84) was the first (in my opinion) to produce a stainless 45 that was of high caliber.

 

[dfariswheel]

valnar:

You will have no trouble from a S&W Model 60.

The very early S&W stainless steel guns did use stainless hammers and triggers, but most of them had carbon hammers and triggers that were hard chrome plated. The more recent guns have un-plated color case hardened parts.

In any case, the S&W 60 will have no galling problems.

 

[valnar]

The S&W in question is from around 1971 though.

Robert

 

[dfariswheel]

A 1971 S&W stainless will have the hard chrome plated, carbon steel hammer and trigger.

The plated parts will have a subtly difference in color from the stainless of the rest of the gun. The plated hammer and trigger Will be a somewhat dull, pearl gray color.

S&W decided that their guns worked better with the carbon steel hammer and trigger, so they plated the parts so they would match the rest of the gun.

Only the VERY early guns had true stainless hammers and triggers. As a cost cutting move, S&W eliminated the plating on the latest guns from around the late 90's or so.

So, you're gun will almost certainly have plated parts, and no galling problems at all.