Any guesses as to what this belongs to?

GunNut

Found it about 10 feel in front of the firing line at the range.  Obviously catastrophic failure...  but of what?  

Any ideas as to what pistol this belongs to?

zorba

Wow. Looks like pot metal.

earlyagain

It looks like a weighted muzzle piece for a competition 1911 race gun?

I found these in the mud at the range monday.


They were just so cute. I couldn't resist bringing them home.

tennmike

It's the front of a slide of a semiauto pistol that fatigued out and let go. I can't remember what pistol it was, but there's one out there that has that slide cracking problem at the front. That one definitely let go!

Elk creek

Looks like a smith of some ilk 4506 ect....

Spk

Walther P-22 had that problem.

Also, my brother's Sig Sauer Mosquito suffered a complete failure in the same place. The metal did look like pot metal. It reminded me of those Hot Wheels pot metal.

I'm guessing a small caliber pistol that just gave up the ghost like Mike said.

tennmike

There's a fairly newly introduced pistol (as in last couple of years) that had that problem early on. And for the life of me I can't find the article on it. Most cracked on only one side instead of completely letting go. And best I can remember, it wasn't a cheapo, but one from a high quality manufacturer.

Bigslug

Pretty sure it's a Lorcin.  Look up the various images - pretty close.

Not likely to be any kind of decent gun with a front sight cast as part of the slide.

GunNut

Doesn't look or feel like pot metal.  Definitely a cast slide but heavy.  Is pot metal magnetic?  I think it’s too big for a Lorcin.  Seems like at least a .380.

zorba

GunNut said:

Is pot metal magnetic?

Nope.

earlyagain

Pot metal is a zinc alloy. Some may be magnetic?  Some not?

Castings can fail. Since I've been reading and researching vintage autos, Ive discovered car companies had failures and successes with it.

Sintering is another metal forming process. From what I've read, it can make very strong components.

GunNut

Some measurements and it’s “slightly” magnetic if that makes any sense?

GunNut

Bigslug said:

Pretty sure it's a Lorcin.  Look up the various images - pretty close.

Not likely to be any kind of decent gun with a front sight cast as part of the slide.

Looked at some pics.  Forgot Lorcin makes a .380 so I think you’re right!

zorba

"Slightly Magnetic"? Maybe stainless. Stainlesses run the gamut from "very" magnetic to "not in the slightest" with everything in between.

10canyon53

zorba said:

"Slightly Magnetic"? Maybe stainless. Stainlesses run the gamut from "very" magnetic to "not in the slightest" with everything in between.

This is true, it depends on how much nickel was used.  The highest grade stainless is surgical grade and is not magnetic at all.

zorba

Do you know what the "number" is for "surgical grade", just outta curiosity? I'm most familiar with 316 - we used a LOT of it at my old job.

jaywapti

I have lots of hemostats, surgical clamps, etc, all are highly magnetic Im sure there made of 400 series stainless, most likely 420, or 440 a,b, or c

JAY

10canyon53

zorba said:

Do you know what the "number" is for "surgical grade", just outta curiosity? I'm most familiar with 316 - we used a LOT of it at my old job.

316 is one of them that is considered (or at least promoted as) surgical grade.  A couple others are 440 and 420.

zorba

We never touched 400 series - it would rust too easily. We had to treat 316 with a special process (Passivating and polishing), or it would rust too! Sea water is HIGHLY corrosive.

GunNut

zorba said:

We never touched 400 series - it would rust too easily. We had to treat 316 with a special process (Passivating and polishing), or it would rust too! Sea water is HIGHLY corrosive.

SCUBA diving knives are pretty much all made out of 316 or Titanium (better but more expensive).  I have a vintage 440 knife that takes a wicked edge but I have to take it apart and rinse it in fresh water as SOON as I get back from a dive.  If not by next day there is some surface freckling.

GunNut

For some reason I think most stainless guns are made out of 416, but don't ask where I picked up that tidbit of info.  I really don't remember.

zorba

GunNut said:

For some reason I think most stainless guns are made out of 416, but don't ask where I picked up that tidbit of info.  I really don't remember.

That sounds abut right.

zorba

GunNut said:

zorba said:

We never touched 400 series - it would rust too easily. We had to treat 316 with a special process (Passivating and polishing), or it would rust too! Sea water is HIGHLY corrosive.

SCUBA diving knives are pretty much all made out of 316 or Titanium (better but more expensive).  I have a vintage 440 knife that takes a wicked edge but I have to take it apart and rinse it in fresh water as SOON as I get back from a dive.  If not by next day there is some surface freckling.

We made lotsa stuff outa Titanium too, and there was some experimentation going on with carbon fiber instrument housings as well. Didn't know you were a SCUBA guy!

GunNut

zorba said:

GunNut said:

zorba said:

We never touched 400 series - it would rust too easily. We had to treat 316 with a special process (Passivating and polishing), or it would rust too! Sea water is HIGHLY corrosive.

SCUBA diving knives are pretty much all made out of 316 or Titanium (better but more expensive).  I have a vintage 440 knife that takes a wicked edge but I have to take it apart and rinse it in fresh water as SOON as I get back from a dive.  If not by next day there is some surface freckling.

We made lotsa stuff outa Titanium too, and there was some experimentation going on with carbon fiber instrument housings as well. Didn't know you were a SCUBA guy!

My whole life.  Island boy.  It’s in my blood.

10canyon53

GunNut said:

My whole life.  Island boy.  It’s in my blood.

Alright, now you've gotta start a thread on your spear gun collection.  You like guns, you're a SCUBA guy, surely you have spear guns.....

Gene L

Got a dozen titanium arrow heads that were given to me by a wood bow buddy.  I never tried to sharpen them and wrap them on an arrow.  I heard they were difficult to sharpen but I haven't tried.  Very lightweight.

Diver43

10canyon53 said:

GunNut said:

My whole life.  Island boy.  It’s in my blood.

Alright, now you've gotta start a thread on your spear gun collection.  You like guns, you're a SCUBA guy, surely you have spear guns.....

I need to dig mine out. I have a vintage ScubaPro two band 36" gun.  Bought it new in San Pedro, Ca. back in 1989.

Thanks for the reminder

10canyon53

Pics or I don't believe you.  😎