Are all steel guns soon to be a thing of the past?

K

kcub

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Every new model is another plastic fantastic.

Also, will this make all steel guns the next milled vs. stamped type argument?
 
I will say that generally they're a LOT more expensive and probably have a lower profit margin. I like em much better though.
 
I think a decent if imperfect analogy is the transition from mechanical to digital watches (forget about the accuracy part - just talking materials and labor cost and pride of ownership). A low-build-cost gun will serve the needs of those who are on a tight budget or just want something that shoots acceptably well. Others, myself included, would rather look longer and harder for a well-crafted steel gun, whether new or "pre-owned."
 
I think polymer frames are the new standard, yes. Polymer gets better and stronger every year, and reduces costs substantially.

Modern plastics are not weak or low quality when made properly.
 
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I mentioned in another thread that for more than half the life of the Colt .45 automatic, it has been available with an alloy frame, now even in the full size model. I guess it's still controversial, not being all-steel.
 
More than likely. As with the watch analogy, it won't be total extinction for "all-steel" but it will be a dwindling, niche market.

Polymers are cheaper to acquire and manipulate and more than likely their properties will continue to be honed and expanded to provide more and more qualities to the firearms made from them...

Corrosion resistance and weight are the two that spring to mind, but what else can industrial chemists get out of them?

Self-lubrication with super slick mating surfaces?
Recoil absorbtion through flex, rather than weight?
Hydrophilic grips to stop the grip slipping in a sweaty, adrenalised palm?
Funky transparent guns?
Quite exciting, really...

On top of that, I think that steel (already a strategic resource) will become harder to get, also...
 
Eventually, yes. This is going to take some time though. It's hard to blame any manufacturer of these polymer pistols, thats how business goes. Look at how automobiles have evolved over the years. Use to have giant metal buckets on wheels cruising around, not so much any more.
 
Plastic is going to be the norm for almost all new designs. There will always a demand for the classic steel framed guns though. It is the aluminum alloy guns that are goners. I believe that in my lifetime I will see the day when none are in current production.

Aluminum has never had any real appeal to me, there are no true classics made of aluminum that would be missed. It was always used as a less expensive, lighter option to steel, but aluminum framed guns have never come close to steel in long term durability. Plastic has solved that. The new plastic guns are outlasting aluminum by a wide margin, are even lighter, and less expensive.
 
More than likely. As with the watch analogy, it won't be total extinction for "all-steel" but it will be a dwindling, niche market.
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The mechanical watch analogy is excellent. Polymers (quartz watches) might be the standard, but all steel (mechanical watches) guns will never fade away completely.

There is a certain cache that a polymer pistol will never capture the way an all steel gun does.
 
No, there are a lot of guys like me, in the Baby Boomer generation, that won't ever embrace polymer anything ....and we will keep buying Steel and Stainless Steel guns exclusively.

.....and we'll continue to Indoctrinate our adult kids ...and our grandkids ...that "Steel is Superior" in all respects.:D
 
There are already some aluminum alloy pistols that are now real classics that are long out of production, the S&W Model 39, for instance. Our taste in classics may vary, however.
 
As a former metal yo-yo collector. Plastic is good for mass productions. A lot of money goes into the manufactuing of the mold. Aluminum is good for small producton runs. Lets see if guns follow suite.
 
More than likely. As with the watch analogy, it won't be total extinction for "all-steel" but it will be a dwindling, niche market.
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I'd agree with that. They'll get harder to find, and more expensive perhaps, but there will some demand for them for a long while yet.
 
As long as steel holds out for another 20 to 30 years, I will be fine. I'll let others worry about it after that.

I believe steel will keep getting harder to find, but it will still have a market for a long time.
 
Every new model is another plastic fantastic.
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I dunno 'bout that: Ruger rolled out their SR1911 ........ Steel.

And their new .22 sp101. Steel. They are sellin' all they make......

I have to wait and see if there are any polymer guns still in good shape after 100 years and 100K+ rounds .....

It may well end up being like the watch industry: you will still be able to buy a finely crafted timepeice, but most of the dumb masses will be just as happy with a $5 digital disposable piece of plastic with a chip in it.
 
On top of that, I think that steel (already a strategic resource) will become harder to get, also...
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This does not take into account that plastics primarily come from oil products...steel and other metals can be recycled and reused almost infinitely as long as the resources are recollected. Your old car could become steel and aluminum frames for pistols. But all that gas your car used is essentially lost forever.

Granted there are strides being made in polymers from non-oil sources and renewable oil(veggie oil) sources, but those will take some time to catch up in versatility of properties.
 
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