Why Stainless??
 

Topic line sez it all, why are the current Lugers manufactured in stainless steel rather than...um, I guess, regular steel...does anybody have a real answer?

--Dwight

I have often wondered the same thing, and have come up with a couple of guesses. First, stainless saves the cost of blueing. Secondly, these stainless guns are made with investment castings and CNC machines, and it may be that stainless is easier to work with using these procedures. Maybe one of our machinist or metallurgical engineer types can shed some light on this.

Guns are made of stainless because the owners do not take care of their guns. Stainless requires less maintenance.

Stainless is generally more difficult to machine. Note that in the case of a Smith & Wesson or Ruger where you can get essentially the same model in either stainless or blue, the stainless always costs a tad more. A lot of the early stainless revolvers had problems with tool chatter. My guess is that the AIMCO's are stainless simply because it's the current fashion. My distant second guess might be that stainless lends itself better to casting.

As an additional point, I think a large percentage of the cost of a current model firearm these days is the liability premiums the manufacturer gets stuck with.

Dwight If you like I will ask Mr Romo of AIMCO. I hope tosee him at a gun Show Oct. 4

DuaneD, of course, information from The Source would be illuminating. Also, I'm sure we'd all be interested in an update on the .45 .

Heck, I'd be interested in generally chatting him up about making and selling Lugers in the 21st century. It would seem to be such a marginal activity, and yet there seems to be the will and determination to do it. I'm fascinated to find out what is behind this dedication.

--Dwight