These guys tested the firing pins from the Llama, a Colt 1911, and an AR15 firing pin that was rattling around in my car. They go on and on about RC hardness curves and ASTM specs and blah, blah, blah. I am impressed that the subject of metallurgy and heat treatment is very deep, and that kitchen table gunsmiths like me should stay on the porch...
Bottom line on a firing pin seems to be that real gun manufacturers do heat treat firing pins, and this is essential for a proper service life. That said, they used some kind of steel that was pretty hard, and said that it will work fine but will eventually deform with much use.
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