Here is something you don't see any day: Forging die for Mauser M1914/34 frame

mrerick · 07-03-2016, 04:05 AM

The forging process leaves you with a roughly shaped chunk of metal.

Gerben's third picture gives you a good idea of the amount of metal removed in the milling and shaping reduction processes.

Forgings are quite strong, but end up wasting quite a bit of metal in the finishing processes. A later process makes blanks that are much closer in size and volume to the finished part. This is what Ruger does through a technology called "Investment Casting". In some ways, investment cast blanks are stronger and more uniform than forgings.

It's interesting to note that the US manufactured Walther PPK and PPK/S frames made by Ranger manufacturing in Alabama were actually produced from blanks made by Ruger's Pine Tree Castings subsidiary.

The most modern way of making precision parts is called Metal Injection Molding. This technology is similar to casting plastic parts, but starts with uniform powdered metal. This creates blanks that are very close to the final part dimensions and only require minimal machining and surface finishing. This technology creates the most uniform and strongest metal matrix.

It's quite unusual to see a forging die like Gerben's. This gives you an idea of the massive scale involved in production metalwork at the turn of the 20th century. This one is heavy and rather impressive!

Marc

07-03-2016, 04:05 AM	#8
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,920 Thanks: 1,377 Thanked 3,135 Times in 1,518 Posts	The forging process leaves you with a roughly shaped chunk of metal. Gerben's third picture gives you a good idea of the amount of metal removed in the milling and shaping reduction processes. Forgings are quite strong, but end up wasting quite a bit of metal in the finishing processes. A later process makes blanks that are much closer in size and volume to the finished part. This is what Ruger does through a technology called "Investment Casting". In some ways, investment cast blanks are stronger and more uniform than forgings. It's interesting to note that the US manufactured Walther PPK and PPK/S frames made by Ranger manufacturing in Alabama were actually produced from blanks made by Ruger's Pine Tree Castings subsidiary. The most modern way of making precision parts is called Metal Injection Molding. This technology is similar to casting plastic parts, but starts with uniform powdered metal. This creates blanks that are very close to the final part dimensions and only require minimal machining and surface finishing. This technology creates the most uniform and strongest metal matrix. It's quite unusual to see a forging die like Gerben's. This gives you an idea of the massive scale involved in production metalwork at the turn of the 20th century. This one is heavy and rather impressive! Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war.