Joined
Feb 13, 2013 · 34 Posts
Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Feb 17, 2013 Can anyone tell me what process does Armscor use for making their 1911s? On their web site it says the frames are investment cast and the slides are forged, but I have read on different web sites that the gun is all investment castings. Thank you Joined
Sep 25, 2004 · 5,392 Posts
This is taken right from the www.rockislandarmory.com web site!! I hope this helps LAPD!! Question: What are your frames and slides made out of? Answer: Our 1911 Frames are Cast 4140 Carbon Steel and our Slides are Forged 4140 Steel. Joined
Jun 28, 2009 · 137 Posts Joined Jan 19, 2013 · 377 Posts
Thanks for the links. I had the same question on a Citadel which I assume is the essentially same pistol. Joined Feb 13, 2013 · 34 Posts
Discussion Starter · #5 ·
Feb 17, 2013 Thank you about the info on the RIA 1911 Thank you gentlemen about the info on the RIA 1911. Joined Aug 15, 2012 · 2,289 Posts
Now some will argue that no "decent" gunmaker would ever use a cast-steel frame hence the Rocks are thereby "inferior" to their more costly cousins. Guess that makes Ruger and a whole lot of other famous names just a bunch of junk! Joined
Mar 14, 2000 · 22,278 Posts
Ruger's guns were all engineered with investment casting in mind, so you'd expect them to be good, cast guns. When the gun was never intended to be cast, then there might be a question about adapting the design to the process. Joined Jan 25, 2008 · 35
Posts
Caspians are also cast (by Ruger, if memory serves), and are as highly regarded as 1911 components come. Joined
Aug 17, 2005 · 5,214 Posts
Springfield armory, norinco and Colt are the only having a forged frame and slide in there 1911's. I have no problem owning an investment casted 4140 frame 1911 too. My new Auto-Ordnance Army WW2 copy with its 4140 investment casted frame has over 500rds thru it now with no looseness or frame rail wear yet. I lube all my guns with moly. I'm looking at the
new RIA 1911a1 in its nickel finish next. Joined
Aug 8, 2004 · 739 Posts
Not all caspian frames are cast. They have a cast and forged line. Both are great to work with. If I'm not mikstaken the only downside if you won't to call it that is that supposedly you can't get as fine of a polish on the cast ones. Joined Oct 27, 2008 · 1,501
Posts
Caspian USED to have the barstock available. None for quite a while now.
LAPD
Truth be told whether cast or forged the raw frame is nothing more than a barely recognizable shape. It is the
machining, fitting and finishing processes that follow that make the thing work. The frame of a 1911 is just that: a frame. It is the foundation that all the other parts use as a base for their actions. It should be stable and hold the other parts in proper position and assure that their paths are properly controlled. The elemental questions are: (1.) does it fulfill that purpose? and (2.) can it do so for a long time? As long as those two questions are answered in the affirmative it doesn't
matter if the frame was cast, forged or whittled out of a block of steel with a laser (which I would personally like to see!).
| #15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 26, 2005 Location: The Bluegrass Posts: 9,117 | I have read about it and there is absolutely nothing to indicate RIA uses a forged slide. In fact, the extrusions Armscor used as of 2008 were definitely NOT forgings. As you know, Armscor also makes the STI Spartan using some STI parts but with Armscor making the slide, frame, and barrel. Ivan, from RIA, had indicated they used extruded slides. Having just purchased an STI Spartan, I wrote to STI in 2010 and asked what type of metal was used in the extruded slides. Here is the response I received: Quote: From: Chris <[email protected]> Spartan slide is made from forged 4140 material. It used to be from extrusion but we shifted to forging around two years ago, for quality improvement in terms of toughness and durability. Chris Schirmer STI Customer Service Quality Control 114 Halmar Cove Georgetown, Tx. 78628 Ph: 512-819-0656 Fax: 512-819-0465 Email: [email protected] Now, this is pretty good evidence that Armscor was not using forged steel in their extruded slides at that time. I have never seen RIA claim their slide was forged. So, I have concluded they are not forged. This may or may not be important to folks. My question is why do you say Armscor is using forged steel in their extrusion process for RIAs? |
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