Author Topic: Aluminum bronze (Read 604 times)

maddmaxx · « **on:** May 13, 2004, 06:35:51 AM »

Have a piece of this and it would make a fine looking blunderbuss bbl. Will it shatter? Is it any good for anything but bearings? I would prefer 9:1 copper/ tin alloy, but I've got this. Since it's solid, I'd have to drill it out, then bore the taper. If I need something else, I'll go w/ dom tubing. But that's another trade, so more hassel either way. Main thing is, if it won't explode, I won't have to worry about the "G-men" hauling me off in irons for making a destructive device; albeit leg-irons, since handcuffs might not apply. Anybody know metals?

Black Jaque Janaviac · « **Reply #1 on:** May 14, 2004, 05:36:45 AM »

I don't know metals, but I don't think your idea is crazy.

I know Pedersoli offers a brass pistol barrel. There are lots of miniature cannons available with brass, or nickel plated brass, barrels. And CVA put out a blunderbuss with a brass barrel.

BP is pretty forgiving. There is likely some charge that is safe for your material. It's just a question of whether that would be stout enough to satisfy you. But I'm guessing this is more of a curio than a practical tool.

MOGorilla · « **Reply #2 on:** May 14, 2004, 07:01:06 AM »

I would check with a true Metalurgist. Aluminum can be very brittle to work with (more so than tin if I remember). I am not sure if the softness of the copper is enough to compensate.

Ramrod · « **Reply #3 on:** May 14, 2004, 02:53:45 PM »

I'm no metalurgist, but I am a CNC machinist, and I can tell you this about aluminum bronze, it is TOUGH STUFF. Hard on tools, and somewhat ductile, not unlike the old naval bronze. It should make a decent cannon. But, blunderbusses were brass, bored straight, and then mechanically flared, I don't think this would work with bronze.

powder und ball · « **Reply #4 on:** August 04, 2004, 11:30:49 AM »

use 4140 grade steel hollow bar

xnmr53 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 04, 2004, 12:49:56 PM »

maddmaxx,

Sorry, but this is the best lead that I can give you. When I used to do Rendezvous in northern California, there was an older fellow who used to hit a number of them, including Railroad Flats. He had been in black powder for years. He had a blunderbuss that he made from, IIRC, a bronze propellor shaft. He called it "Miss Piggy". It was a beautiful piece, very well made, and HEAVY.

If you get on some of the mountain man boards, you may be able to track this guy down and get some first hand information.