cryo tempering a handgun

Joe Portale · November 9, 2000, 09:33 PM

I recently picked up a Llama 1911 clone to mess around with. I have heard stories that some of these fellows were made from soft steel. I haven't checked the serial number to see if I can find out the production date, so I don't know if this is one of the softies or not. I was wondering if this is one of the pistols made from the softer steel, could it be cryo hardened to correct this flaw? I found instructions for an at home cryo setup that can use either liquid nitrogen or dry ice. What do you guys think?

Thanks,

Joe

M1911 · November 10, 2000, 04:08 PM

Cryo supposedly makes barrels more accurate (though that is up to debate), but I've never heard of cryo making steel stronger. That is typically done with heat treatments, which I don't think is something you can do at home.

M1911

November 9, 2000, 09:33 PM	#1
Joe Portale Senior Member Join Date: June 8, 1999 Location: Tucson, Arizona Territory Posts: 715	I recently picked up a Llama 1911 clone to mess around with. I have heard stories that some of these fellows were made from soft steel. I haven't checked the serial number to see if I can find out the production date, so I don't know if this is one of the softies or not. I was wondering if this is one of the pistols made from the softer steel, could it be cryo hardened to correct this flaw? I found instructions for an at home cryo setup that can use either liquid nitrogen or dry ice. What do you guys think? Thanks, Joe

November 10, 2000, 04:08 PM	#2
M1911 Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 2000 Posts: 4,055	Cryo supposedly makes barrels more accurate (though that is up to debate), but I've never heard of cryo making steel stronger. That is typically done with heat treatments, which I don't think is something you can do at home. M1911