Why don't you just call Duracoat? I met the officers of this company at the last SHOT show and they seemed to be very helpful. I had a Model 3913 slide Duracoated about 3 years ago by a friend that was getting into this process. I was traveling when he did the job so didn't see how he treated the stainless steel slide before the coating. I carry this handgun everyday concealed. It is just now starting to show a little wear on the muzzle and a couple of other sharp shoulders. ....... Big Cholla