Smith & Wesson Corporation

Thomas C Stall

Kevin Richard Fleury

Norman W Spencer

Jeffrey Luty

Brett Curry

Craig Albert Mariani

Michael J Poulin

Firearms having scandium containing aluminum alloy components having alloying elements including light weight metals, such as magnesium, chromium, copper and zinc, heavier metals, such as zirconium, and other rare earth metals. The components have yield strengths of 82 to 100 KSI, tensile strengths of 88 to 106 KSI, 12 to 19% elongation's, and 7 to 10% reduction areas, and a method for heat treating the scandium containing aluminum alloy. The alloy is composed of 0.05% to 0.15% scandium, 7.5% to 8.3% zinc, 1.6% to 2.2% magnesium, 1.6% to 2.0% copper, 0.02% to 0.04% chromium, 0.05% to 0.15% zirconium, and 87 to 90% aluminum. A method for making the components involves exposure to solution heat treatment of 875&deg; F. for an hours or two, followed by water quench, natural aging at ambient temperature for 24 to 72 hours, artificial aging at 250&deg; F. for 24 hours, and allowed to air cool.

Scandium containing aluminum alloy firearm

A method for treating metal workpieces, including non-ferrous metal workpieces such as Titanium. The metal workpieces are heat soaked for a predetermined amount of time in a furnace at a predetermined temperature. An interstitial element is introduced into the area adjacent to the surface of the metal workpieces until a predetermined concentration of the interstitial element exists in the area adjacent to the metal workpieces. The treated metal workpieces are then cooled, resulting in the metal workpieces having a diffusion region formed which extends into the body of the metal workpieces. The region has a gradient of the interstitial element formed therein.

Process for treating metal workpieces

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North Grosvenordale, CT, United States of America

Thomas C Stall