Posted: 3/14/2010 7:26:08 AM EDT
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Are Rock Islands now investment cast?
If so I believe that would leave Sprinfield Armory as the only production 1911 with forged frame and slide, no firing pin block and external extractor. |
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To the best of my knowledge, the Rock Island Armorys have always had investment cast franes,
I looked at several Springfield Armory pistols a couple of weeks ago, and all of them had internal extractors. Norincos still have forged frame and slides, but are not imported any more. Not too sure about the Turkish .45, I saw one on the same table as the Springfields, it was more cosmetically challenged than the RIAs. Unless you are wanting a pretty finish, I wouldn't worry about the cast frame versus the forged frame thing at all. |
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Investment cast steel is not as strong as forged. Cast suffers from porosity and a lack of molecular strengh.
For a few $ more, get a Springfield. Look up 'Forging' and 'Investment cast' on Wikipedia for more info. BTW, I still have an old AMT .45. Never shoot it anymore. Never work right. Suffered from galling using a variety of lubes. If you look closely, the pores and other metalurgical faults are apparent. |
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Investment cast steel is not as strong as forged. Cast suffers from porosity and a lack of molecular strengh.
It is not as simple as that. A well cast receiver is going to be stronger than a poorly forged one. The steel used matters also. Today's cast Caspian is definitely going to be a better, stronger frame than one forged in pre WWI Hartford. Metallurgy has improved quite a bit over the years. Colt even experimented with a die cast frame back in the 1930s. It didn't go anywhere, but lack of strength was not its problem. Now a forged frame will be prettier, cosmetically, they win hands down. This is because of the porosity issues mentioned. I usually park and Gun-Kote mine, so this doesn't matter to me. I never lost a minute's sleep worrying about an investment cast frame. It is plenty strong to do its job. If a forged frame is stronger, its immaterial, as it is strength that is not necessary. Sturm Ruger, Caspian, RIA, and Springfield, when you count the M1a, all agree. |