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

I think there will always be a market for a few good steel/alloy guns. It's hard to imagine a plastic 1911 and that continues to be one of the most popular platforms. I also can't imagine something like a Beretta 92 or the CZ75B in poly either and I chose a Cougar over a PX4 because although they are essentially the same gun, the Cougar has an alloy frame vs the poly PX4. Poly will continue to dominate but I doubt the steel/alloy frames will dis-appear completely. There will always be that segment that will pay a premium for the 'better' feel and that will mean that steel guns, although more expensive to manufacture, also will have a higher margin on them (and that will make them desirable to manufacture).
 
... whilst that same person may have several .38s, 9mm, .40 .45 etc, all of which could be polymer.
Could be, but aren't ... not in my drawer :D. I only have 1 poly framed gun (the Ruger KP345), and looking at my list of wants, it will probably be the only one, at least for a long time. There are maybe 1 or 2 poly's that could creep in but everything else on my list is either steel or alloy. I have a simple rule ... no more than 10% plastic content in my gun drawers - hehe.
 
Worldwide, I suspect that the private owner is rather small fry.

Probably so, since many, if not most, developed countries severely restrict, if not completely outlaw, private ownership of handguns...... not only that, the UN is still pushing it's ban on "Small Arms Trade" ..... not only is that market small, but it's future is uncertain.
 
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Governments buy from the lowest bidder. The pistols do have to meet minimum standards. This doesn't make one gun better than another. Also, when governments buy them civilian sales follow suit. It helps when the prices are low. Plastic and aluminum guns are less expensive to manufacture than steel guns. It doesn't make one better other than they are lighter than a steel gun. This is a plus for military and law enforcement use and conceal carry. Most target guns are steel and somewhat heavy compared to a ccw gun. I'd carry a steel 1911 or a 686 if it weren't for the weight.
 
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