Red brass
| Gunmetal | |
|---|---|
 Color coordinates |
|
| Hex triplet | #536267 |
| sRGBB (r, g, b) | (83, 98, 103) |
| CMYKH (c, m, y, k) | (19, 5, 0, 60) |
| Source | [Unsourced] |
|
B: Normalized to [0–255] (byte) H: Normalized to [0–100] (hundred) |
|
Gunmetal, also known as red brass in the United States, is a type of bronze – an alloy of copper, tin and zinc. Proportions vary by source, but 88% copper, 8-10% tin and 2-4% zinc is an approximation. Originally used chiefly for making guns, it was eventually superseded in this department by steel. Gunmetal, which casts and machines well and is resistant to corrosion from steam and salt water, is used to make steam and hydraulic castings, valves, gears, statues and various small objects, such as buttons. It has a tensile strength of 221 to 310 MPa, a specific gravity of 8.7, a density 8,719 kg/m3, a Brinell hardness of 65 to 74, and a melting point of around 1000 degrees Celsius.
Gunmetal can also mean steel treated to simulate gunmetal bronze.Bushings made of this metal are used in machinery.
The Victoria Cross, Britain's highest award for military valour, is traditionally made using gunmetal from a cannon captured at the Siege of Sevastopol during the Crimean War.
The British Gwalior Star medal, awarded to the British participants in the 1843 campaign against the Scindias, is made from guns captured at the Battles of Maharajpur and Punniar, during the Gwalior Campaign.
Gun money, Irish late 17th century emergency coins, contain gunmetal, as worn and scrapped guns were used to make them; but also many other metals, in particular brass and bronze, as people donated pots and pans and other metal objects.
Gunmetal as a colour is entirely different to the reddish alloy of the same name described above. It is a shade of grey that has a bluish purplish tinge.
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Wikipedia