Quote Originally Posted by Raygun View Post
Be a bit awkward testing the AA cylinders after 10 years, or any time period.

They deform if overfilled and would not take the test pressure. What other manufacturers test to I don't know. If all cylinders are tested (not just samples) I can't recall seeing any stampings for any manufacturer. Some cylinders do have it etched on but would that be good enough ?

Do the "Bottle" rifles have tested/stamped bottles ?

ATB
Ray
as far as i know the bottles are all tested and stamped, made by luxfor in the uk.

as you say certain cylinders would deform, but they get round that by boring out the end where the o ring seals, if its then overfilled the end of the tube bulges and the o ring extrudes out releaseing all the pressure, which also ruins the cylinder, also frightens the life out of you when it happens, but i surpose thats better than the complete valve coming out

when i first started to make my rifles 20 years ago, i made the cylinder, and submited it to Lloyds british to have it tested and to see if the way i had constructed it was correct, even though i tested it myself, its always best to get it checked by people who specialise it that field, and get there oppinion.

i can only presume other manufactures have done the same, but i was once asked by a big manufacturer how i tested my cylinders, and could i make them the the same type of testing gear i use, when i asked how had they been testing them, there answer was, they did'nt when i questioned them regarding testing they had not got a clue, frightning, i can only hope they have advanced somewhat.

regarding testing the cylinders after 10 years, i know they reccomend buying a new bottle after 10 years, on the bottle rifles, but they are made off aluminium , much the same as most of the german made guns, i know alloy can degrade over time, what the life of alloy cylinders is, i dont know, but i know this when they fail its catastrophic, unlike steel which just splits.

i have checked many steel cylinders over the years, many of them 20 years old, and have never come across any internaly pitted cylinders, yet

but whos to say when a gun is scrap, especially some of the older alloy one piece tube rifles, which i doubt you could get a new cylinder for. i have only herd of two cylinders failing over the years, and both had alloy cylinders