Flame cutting (firearms)

{{Short description|Destructive firearms phenomenon}}Flame cutting is a destructive phenomenon that occurs in some firearms (usually revolvers) as a result of hot gases under high pressure.

The most common manifestation is on the underside of a revolver top strap, where the hot, high-velocity gases released when a round is fired begin to cut through just above and in front of the cylinder.{{Cite web |last=Association |first=National Rifle |title=An NRA Shooting Sports Journal {{!}} How To Avoid Revolver Forcing Cone Failure |url=https://www.ssusa.org/content/how-to-avoid-revolver-forcing-cone-failure/ |access-date=2022-06-10 |website=An NRA Shooting Sports Journal |language=en}} In most cases, this is self-limiting; eventually, the depth of the cut will place the undamaged material far enough away that the heat and pressure of the gas will have dissipated to harmless levels.{{Cite web |last=Kokalis |first=Peter G. |date=2016-08-19 |title=Era of the Classic Snubnose Revolver |url=https://www.firearmsnews.com/editorial/the-era-of-the-classic-snubnose-revolver/77828 |access-date=2022-06-10 |website=Firearms News |language=en}} This limiting tends to occur before structural integrity is compromised.