annealing of longrifle hardware

[freddiej]

How do you anneal German silver castings such as trigger guards and butt plates. I usually anneal brass in the furnace at 850F and it will be so soft that it will not ring. Not so with German silver. I called a metals foundry and they told me to heat to 930F. This butt plate still rings like a bell. Any suggestions? Freddiej

[deepcreekdale]

That is an interesting question. I have always treated G.S just like brass, ie heat to dull red with a torch and quench in water with good results but I will be interested to see how others approach it.

[Mark Elliott]

My reference book says copper/nickel alloys are annealed at between 800-1400F depending on the alloy.    I would start at a dull red, let it go black and then quench.   That is how I anneal brass and silver.    I am told that there are charts showing the hardness curves by temperature for each alloy, but I don't have one of those.    Maybe someone else does.   One thing I did learn is that you can harden silver by overheating it.   I learned that in a jewelry making class.    I am assuming that could apply to a number of alloys.   

[JCKelly]

"Ringing like a bell" doesn't necessarily have anything to do with hardness

One example is silver, which has a beautiful ring.
(once-common) Example being US coinage, when it was real 90%silver 10%copper.
Until L. Johnson made got rid of actual silver money. in 1965