steel gas tube

I have sorted through a lot of gas tubes and only found one "steel" full length gas tube. It has to kind of rare? other parts in the photo with the gas tube are original.

My question, has anyone else found these steel gas tubes ?Attachment 56588

I thought all AR gas tubes were made of stainless steel. What other material was used?

I thought they were stainless too...right from the start...?

First I've heard of any material other than stainless steel. This doesn't surprise me in the slightest that you have it. You have a little bit of everything known and not known to man ;)

As always, thank you so much for sharing all the really cool stuff you have.

I knew about these before - but from the AR-15 forum:

Carbon Steel gas tubes used in Armalite, AR-15 and M16/XM16E1

changed to stainless steel in mid 60's with a different bend

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bill Hollinger

This doesn't surprise me in the slightest that you have it.

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No kiddin'... I'll bet this also went hand in hand with the corrosion they first experienced.

I did check both a three and four digit Colt SP1 and they both had the stainless steel gas tubes - the change from carbon steel could have been in the 1963-64 period ?

The early gas tube bend continued into the stainless steel gas tube on some variations
as shown on this Colt Model 606 upper with a 1x12 twist barrelAttachment 56669Attachment 56668Attachment 56667