Where have Stainless Steel Guns Gone?

[ChanceMcCall]

I like stainless steel guns. I own quite a few. It used to be that many manufacturers offered handguns and rifles and a few shotguns. Now most of them seem to have disappeared except for 1911s, S&W revolvers and 10-22s and some high end hunting rifles.

Why?

What do you think? Would you be more likely to buy guns in stainless steel?

 

[chicharrones]

Ruger still offers a good variety of stainless guns and not just 10/22s.

Overall, it seems cerakote/marinecote finished steel guns are cheaper to buy and less shiny than stainless guns. Sometimes shiny isn't wanted and price is always a consideration.

 

[boom boom]

A)new surface hardening like Tennifer and Melonite
B)better paint technology--Cerakote, etc.
C) better corrosion resistance chemical and alloys

I personally do not dislike stainless steel and have some firearms in them but won't pay much of a premium for one either. My interest also is in military surplus rifles and self defense pistosl where stainless steel is not necessarily a virtue.

 

[ChanceMcCall]

A)new surface hardening like Tennifer and Melonite
B)better paint technology--Cerakote, etc.
C) better corrosion resistance chemical and alloys

I personally do not dislike stainless steel and have some firearms in them but won't pay much of a premium for one either. My interest also is in military surplus rifles and self defense pistosl where stainless steel is not necessarily a virtue.

It isn't done often, but there is a process for dark, matt finish, stainless.

 

[boom boom]

It isn't done often, but there is a process for dark, matt finish, stainless.

Thanks for reminding me about that, saw a couple of AR barrels like that but my my the cost was high.

From what I've seen on recent AR builds, the stainless barrels are getting crowded at by the melonite type nitro carburizing at mid range and by regular chrome moly at the low end. Melonite (and its rivals) seems to be undercutting the whole chrome lined barrel stuff as well. In marksmanship type rifles, stainless steel appears to be holding its appeal.

 

[RETG]

SIG offers a few i belileve, for sure a P226 all stainless also a P229, but not sure if any other models.
Believe CZ makes a model or two?
Blackhawk Kimber SS?
I know Beretta makes some models in the FS line with stainless steel slides, barrels and other misc internal parts; however, the frames are aluminum alloy. The PX4 has a stainless slide offered. Beretta call stainless INOX which is just another word for it.
There are probably more, and maybe more than you think.

 

[MidRoad]

I think alot of fire arms still sport stainless steel. However coating firearms, especially tactical one is the trend . Not that that's a bad thing by any means.So you may not even realize they are stainless steel. For example S&W MP 2.0 handguns have a stainless slide and barrel. But they are coated. I didn't find out they were stainless untill recently. Learn something new every day.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I'm really not inclined to be an A hole but if you spent even 15 minutes looking at a few manufacturer's websites you'd see many stainless guns. Yeah, some don't offer stainless variants, but a lot do.

Guess I don't understand the basis of the thread.

 

[Mn Fats]

Who cares. Long live blued steel and walnut!

 

[moondoggy]

just joined the high road . Henry fire Arms actually produces quite a bit of steel and at a reasonable cost and beauty

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

I'm with 460, I'm always perusing guns for sale online and see plenty of SS offerings.

 

[boom boom]

just joined the high road . Henry fire Arms actually produces quite a bit of steel and at a reasonable cost and beauty

Welcome.

 

[MedWheeler]

Ruger makes plenty of SS revolvers, many of which are single-action, such as the Single-Six/Ten series, the Single-Seven (.327 Magnum), and the Vaquero..

Just what came to mind before I finished reading the opening post (maybe because I've been eyeing the Vaquero..)

I'm pretty sure the Ruger Ranch/Mini rifles are available in stainless, too.

I have several SS guns, but the only ones I have that are models still in production are my Remington R1 (admittedly, a 1911), a NAA .22 revolver, and a Taurus 85 (though an older and discontinued version sporting a 3-inch barrel.)

 

[Walkalong]

A good question, although I haven't really kept up with this, but if SS offerings are indeed down, why is an excellent and interesting question.

 

[moondoggy]

Thanks boom boom. And hello good ol'boy

 

[ChanceMcCall]

I'm really not inclined to be an A hole but if you spent even 15 minutes looking at a few manufacturer's websites you'd see many stainless guns. Yeah, some don't offer stainless variants, but a lot do.

Guess I don't understand the basis of the thread.

I guess I hoped there would be more stainless guns over the years. Certainly Ruger and S&W are still holding up their end of it. And there are many high end rifle manufacturers offering the option. Not so many stainless lever guns however, nor many shotguns. There used to be several shotguns including a couple of trap shotguns but no more. Even Taurus used to offer a stainless steel lever gun, but no more.

Yes I know that some manufacturers do offer limited stainless and that NAA only offers stainless in their revolvers. I own a .22 short, a .22LR, a sidewinder with both cylinders, I've got a Ranger II on order. My love of stainless goes back to S&W's Model 60 as a backup in SE Asia. I've added a Model 66 and a 629. In Colt, I bought every snake gun they made in stainless. Add a couple of Detonics and a variety of other guns, but I've never understood why Marlin stopped making their .44 magnum in stainless and why they never made their iconic 39 in stainless. I guess I'm greedy.

What I really don't get is why every gun manufacturer isn't offering most of their guns in stainless and/or dark stainless. It is so practical for guns that spend their life outside in the elements.

 

[bearcreek]

I'm really not inclined to be an A hole but if you spent even 15 minutes looking at a few manufacturer's websites you'd see many stainless guns. Yeah, some don't offer stainless variants, but a lot do.

Guess I don't understand the basis of the thread.

I've found that there are a surprisingly large number of people who frequent online forums who seem to have a very difficult time with basic web browsing and using online search engines.

 

[JTHunter]

One caveat - "coatings" can wear off. "Stainless" is not a "coating". Finis.

 

[ontarget]

I've found that there are a surprisingly large number of people who frequent online forums who seem to have a very difficult time with basic web browsing and using online search engines.

Or maybe they are using this resource we call THR to do some research. I recently posted a question about a specific rifle here and got some great responses. I could have browsed the web and found all the info myself but I enjoy hearing from my fellow members here. No question is a stupid question.

 

[Wisco]

Almost every decent manufacture offers something stainless.

From a two second search:

Revolvers
Smith & Wesson
Colt
Ruger
Kimber
Taurus
Rossi

Semiautos
Kimber
Kahr
Colt
Taurus
Beretta
Walther
Glock
Sig
Star
Ruger
Smith & Wesson
Remington
Dan Wesson
Wilson Combat
Ed Brown
Etc
Etc
Etc

 

[ChanceMcCall]

I've found that there are a surprisingly large number of people who frequent online forums who seem to have a very difficult time with basic web browsing and using online search engines.

Marlin:
1895 GS
1895SBL
1895 Trapper
336XLR
336SS

S&W:
22 Victory
1911
317
686
460
500
60
64
66
67
69
617
625
629
642
986
686
637

Ruger:
SP 101
Single Six
Blackhawk
Super Blackhawk
Vaquero
5134
Mark IV
1911
77
7204
10-22
6821
6822
6825
6829
Mini 14

Taurus:
92
1911
Model 2 (lots of models)

Seecamp
All models

North American Arms
All models

There are many others, but given my lack of search engine skills, I could not find any manufacturer of 100% stainless steel shotguns.

Again, the real point of my original post was the question: Why did mfrs stop making as many ss guns as they used to and why isn't there a real demand for ss guns.

 

[Wisco]

Why did mfrs stop making as many ss guns as they used to and why isn't there a real demand for ss guns.

I think they make more than they ever have and do so because there is plenty of demand.

 

[Mn Fats]

Would you be more likely to buy guns in stainless steel?

I already posted a biased comment (#9) But to answer your question, no I wouldn't be more likely to buy a stainless steel firearm. In reality they have little to no advantage over a blued firearm. After all, it's the INSIDE of the barrel/gun that counts. And SS isn't totally weather proof. I clean my blued and SS guns after every use. Take care of your firearm, and it's a wash. Cleaning may be a bit easier on SS. But really more a matter of taste imo.

 

[LoonWulf]

Who cares. Long live blued steel and walnut!

Not very out here lol!

I appreciate the rust resistant finishes. I've said a few times that I'll only ever buy stainless guns anymore. Then I see a pretty blued steel and wood rifle and buy that.

Even stainless guns rust pretty quick out here, so I've been coating everything I get now.

 

[TheSquire]

The only gun I would actively seek to buy in SS is a Ruger Old Army for BP cowboy action shooting but then again I not going to spend over £600 on a BP pistol (even if i had the cash!).