Hard Chrome... Anyone still do this? **Photos added of the 19 in question **

[Erocksmash]

Howdy,

Looking at a beat ol model 19 snub may be abile to pick it for a song.

I recall reading some time ago about a process called hard chrome, I've talked to some gun brothers about it briefly and I haven't gotten the slightest idea... a quick search reveled some older threads but with the new um.... "era" is this process still practiced?!?!

Who does it? How strong is it? How weather proof is it?

Any help, updates,suggestions are greatly appreciated....

I may just leave the ol girl just the way she is??? But why not give her a face lift

Thanks
Erik

[murphydog]

The process is still being used. I recall hearing positive reviews about Metaloy and Metalife and there are probably others. Done properly it is supposed to protect the metal better than "stain-less" steel, which is resistant but not immune from rust.

[BloodyThumb]

I have a couple of 1911s that were done in Metaloy at Wilson's in the early 90s, and a very early Nighthawk 1911 from '05. The oldest Wilson has a ton of carry time and has held up as well as any finish I have ever used.

[SuperMan]

Can only say that Accurate Plating does an EXCELLENT job at hard chrome. My carry gun was made in 2006 and started carrying it daily in 2007...it still looks like new and it is carried just about daily.

A friend wanted to make up a 1911 carry gun for the outdoors in .45 Super after trying a 10mm G29 and hating it... He liked the looks of mine and sent a blue Colt Combat Commander down to Accurate to have some parts fited and then hard chrome finish...came out beautiful and 100% reliable...

Bob

[stansdds]

Hard chrome and nickle plating used to be really popular finishes, but I think the plethora of stainless firearms put a damper on the number of firearms getting a plating job. Plenty of shops out there still doing plating and it is a good option for carbon steel firearms when it comes to corrosion resistance.

[Erocksmash]

Some friends have told me, weather it be luck or the Hard Chrome finish, that have dropped or had a gun dropped with no injury to the gun....

I've had stainless guns rust before for sure...

What im wondering if I get the gun or a gun plated how durable is it really, tool box gun durable? Boat gun durable?

I'm simply implying hard use in all weather conditions will it stand up to years of abuse... not saying I'm going to do that but I'm curious...

How is Accurates work? Whats the cost of a Hard Chrome plate?

[ladder13]

Ron Mahovsky’s Metalife or APWCogan are phenomenal.

[Erocksmash]

Originally Posted by ladder13

Ron Mahovsky’s Metalife or APWCogan are phenomenal.

Metalife Hard Chrome is that a different process or plating ? I checked out Ron's page and looks fantastic....

[ladder13]

Originally Posted by Erocksmash

Metalife Hard Chrome is that a different process or plating ? I checked out Ron's page and looks fantastic....

Just a different name as far as I know.
Ron has been doing hard chrome for years. His prices include disassembly as well, which is a great deal.

I have used Bob Cogan, he’s in AL so may save you on shipping, though he charges $50 up for disassembly.

Either gent is top notch.

[reddogs]

Friend of mine had a colt 1911 hard chromed.The gun has been reliable and durable for over 10 years now.Thing that surprised me is the chrome did not fill in the roll marks or type.I have a electroless nickle factory colt that has a gold tint to it a matte finish.It is 40+ years old and looks new.You can't go wrong with these if you like the look.

[colt_saa]

Accurate Plating and Weaponry has done all m hard chrome jobs for the last 30 or 40 years now.

My most recent is a SIG P239 that I wanted to be as resistant to the salt air here in Cocoa Beach

[Seamus O'Caiside]

APWCogan, formerly known as Accurate Plating & Weaponry, did a shotgun receiver for me a few years ago and it was perfect.

If you have a skin condition known as "rusty fingers" Bluing will rust and wear off no matter how careful you are with it, and Nickel will tarnish, but nothing will touch Chrome. It is the most durable gun finish there is.

Within the next few days I will be sending a S&W to APW Cogan to get their brushed chrome finish.

[ContinentalOp]

Hard chrome is definitely a strong, durable, corrosion-resistant finish. The frame of my Series 70 Gold Cup was hard-chromed some 25 years ago and shows no signs of wear, compared to the blued slide.



By comparison, this is my blued Govt Model, which was purchased around the same time. Note the finish wear on the front strap and thumb safety in particular.



If you want a silvery finish, hard chrome is definitely a good option.

[Green Frog]

Originally Posted by ladder13

Ron Mahovsky’s Metalife or APWCogan are phenomenal.

Just for fun we even had a set of Lyman 45-70 bullet moulds done with this stuff... and it worked! There’s no such thing as indestructible, but this stuff comes pretty close.

I’m finishing up a Para Ord build that will hopefully have its steel receiver done by Mahovsky in the not-too-distant future. I’ll blue the slide because I really like two tone semi-autos.

Another nice application was a friend’s custom engraved single shot rifle. Silvery receiver with the rest of the metal blued and nice walnut for the stock? Just WOW!

Froggie

[ladder13]

You guys made me go into my safe. Since CZ never made a stainless compact what do you think about doing this one up in hard chrome? or

[reddogs]

Ladder13 can that polycoat be removed

[GaryHK]

Is that company that did "NP3" still around? I forget the name.

Maybe that is an option.

[BloodyThumb]

Robar? If so, then yes.

[diyj98]

Originally Posted by ladder13

You guys made me go into my safe. Since CZ never made a stainless compact what do you think about doing this one up in hard chrome? or

Actually they did import some stainless compact guns. I had a Rami P in stainless steel. They're fairly uncommon though.

[GaryHK]

Originally Posted by BloodyThumb

Robar? If so, then yes.

Yes that's the company. NP3 is very attractive and maybe an alternative to hard chrome. May want to look into it.

[BSA1]

Originally Posted by colt_saa

Accurate Plating and Weaponry has done all m hard chrome jobs for the last 30 or 40 years now.

My most recent is a SIG P239 that I wanted to be as resistant to the salt air here in Cocoa Beach

Dude that gun looks great. I have felt for a long time that stainless steel that has been hard chromed is as close to rust proof gun a person can get.

[ContinentalOp]

Originally Posted by GaryHK

Is that company that did "NP3" still around? I forget the name.

Maybe that is an option.

Originally Posted by BloodyThumb

Robar? If so, then yes.

Unfortunately, Robar closed back in 2019. However, Wright Armory took over NP3 finishing from Robar.

[Erocksmash]

Is the NP3 the "salt bath" kinda stuffs? This Metalife Hard Chrome is really interesting, kinda like taking a carbon steel gun to a whole different level... may send my python off as well, it has seen better days...

[GaryHK]

Originally Posted by Erocksmash

Is the NP3 the "salt bath" kinda stuffs? This Metalife Hard Chrome is really interesting, kinda like taking a carbon steel gun to a whole different level... may send my python off as well, it has seen better days...

Electroless plating IIRC, heard it's extremely durable/tough

Here's an example (not my gun)...Just another option to consider.

[BloodyThumb]

Originally Posted by ContinentalOp

Unfortunately, Robar closed back in 2019. However, Wright Armory took over NP3 finishing from Robar.

Really? Wow. I did not know that. I must have been one of their last customers!

Thanks for the update!

[ContinentalOp]

Originally Posted by Erocksmash

Is the NP3 the "salt bath" kinda stuffs? This Metalife Hard Chrome is really interesting, kinda like taking a carbon steel gun to a whole different level... may send my python off as well, it has seen better days...

It's electroless nickel with teflon incorporated into the finish. It has more of a matte gray color than the typical silver electroless nickel finish. It's essentially a self-lubricating finish, though that wouldn't keep me from continuing to oil the gun properly. It does make for a nice option for internals on guns, particularly revolvers, IMO.

[windypoint]

I have had good luck with Ford in Crystal River, FL.

[colt_saa]

Originally Posted by BSA1

Dude that gun looks great. I have felt for a long time that stainless steel that has been hard chromed is as close to rust proof gun a person can get.

The P220 in the lower right corner of this image was hard chrome plated by APW back in the 70s

While I no longer shoot it (I wanted night sites) I do still own it and it has kept it looks for more than 40 years

The pistol above it is a Factory all stainless P220

I like the Hard Chrome look better

[GaryHK]

Originally Posted by colt_saa

I like the Hard Chrome look better

Agreed. The hard chromed trigger is also better than the black.

[ladder13]

Originally Posted by reddogs

Ladder13 can that polycoat be removed

I have no idea.

[minconrevo]

Hard chrome is a decades old electro-chemical finish applied to steel that has been prepped. It cannot be applied to aluminum or other materials. It bonds the chromium directly to the steel. In a handgun the finish is normally around 2/10,000 inch thick. It can be applied a little thicker. Surface hardness of Rc 70 will wear very well. It is best applied to a new firearm in the manufacturing process. The finish tends to build up on sharp edges and needs to be carefully removed.

Years back (about 20) Ford's could be counted on to do an excellent job.

[BillBro]

Originally Posted by ladder13

You guys made me go into my safe. Since CZ never made a stainless compact what do you think about doing this one up in hard chrome? or

I knew somebody would bust out a hard chromed CZ, nothing sexier than that.

Oops, just saw the CZ and thought it was HCed, it just looks kinds light colored for the half a second I looked at it but yes, you should have it hard chromed, nothing sexier than a hard chromed CZ.

[zipty6]

I sent this 10-7 to Mahovsky's for their Metalife hard chrome in 2019. I couldn't be happier with their service.

[ladder13]

Another example of Mahovsky’s work.

[WR Moore]

SFAIK, there's still a process trade marked Armoloy. They had/have shops all over the US, not all do firearms. I used to be a couple miles from a place that did do firearms and had a bunch of stuff done. I also saw some of the stuff they did for industry, like plating nuclear control rods.

The comments that follow are specifically from Armoloy, but I expect the basics apply to all the various varieties of the industrial hard chrome process. The various brand names may only differ in very, very slight changes in the metallurgical mix of the plating.

The plating achieves a molecular bond with the base metal, there is no underlayer. As a result, it will not chip, crack or peel. Thickness is typically about 0.0001 inch, very little chance of causing tolerance interference, hardness in the 70+ Rockwell C range. It's extremely rust resistant but nothing ferric is entirely rust proof.

[tom2]

Just be aware that there are some kinds of cleaners/solvents that ought not be used on a nickel gun. Pretty sure chrome does not care. I would go with the chrome unless I was restoring a vintage gun that could have been nickel or was nickel at the time it was made, before chrome plate.

[Seamus O'Caiside]

Originally Posted by tom2

Just be aware that there are some kinds of cleaners/solvents that ought not be used on a nickel gun. Pretty sure chrome does not care. I would go with the chrome unless I was restoring a vintage gun that could have been nickel or was nickel at the time it was made, before chrome plate.

I didn't know that some solvents would do that, but it figures...
I do know that the chemicals in some people's skin (mine, for example) will cause nickel to tarnish, but not chrome.

[stansdds]

Solvents containing ammonia should not be used on anything that was plated in a process that uses a copper plating as an intermediary layer between the steel and the nickel plating. If there is a nick or break in the nickel plating, ammonia will contact the copper and begin to dissolve the copper plating, then the nickel peels and flakes off of the firearm. S&W has stated they never used a copper plating, so ammonia containing solvents will not harm a S&W factory plating. I understand that Colt used the copper under nickle method on their high polished nickel finishes, but not under their satin, Coltguard e-nickel finish.

Since hard chrome makes a molecular bond to the underlying steel, it is impervious to solvents.

[max]

Several years ago I had CCR do their CPII finish on my Gold Cup frame. I have been very pleased. It also tightened up the slide to frame fit a bit.

Cummings Custom Refinishing

[ContinentalOp]

Originally Posted by max

Several years ago I had CCR do their CPII finish on my Gold Cup frame. I have been very pleased. It also tightened up the slide to frame fit a bit.

Cummings Custom Refinishing

FWIW, while not hard chrome, CCR is probably at the top of my list of places I'd send my gun for refinishing.

[saemetric]

Ron Mahovsky did my Python back in 1985. Still looks new.

[K Frame Keith]

I used Armaloy of Ft. Worth Texas years ago for a carry gun and the finish is still perfect. Internet check shows they are still in business.

[Erocksmash]

Originally Posted by saemetric

Ron Mahovsky did my Python back in 1985. Still looks new.

Now this is amazing... my nickel plated python is showing its use and I was on the fence about this.... thats georgus!!

[dfariswheel]

These are the best suppliers of hard chrome for guns.

Each has different pricing and some offer different appearances from the original satin pearl-gray, brushed stainless, or a few do full mirror polish.
The final appearance depends on the treatment before plating. Once plated it can't be polished or changed.
Hard chrome is still the most used finish by custom gunsmiths due to it being a true life-time finish...........

Cogan is probably the best of them all.

Accurate Plating & Weaponry | Gunsmith In Newville, Alabama

Ford's is good but may have "issues" with their current bluing work. Plating is excellent.

Ford's Custom Gun Refinishing | Crystal River, FL

Armoloy has been doing it for many years and was the first to offer it to the general public.
They offer plating of the bore and chambers, but another expert doubts it's very good.

Protect your firearm with Armoloy(R) TDC - Armoloy of Fort Worth, Texas

Techplate is also big in industry and aerospace work.

Tech Plate

Mahovsky has been doing it a long time and usually is cheaper then any of the top platers.
There have been some possible issues lately, and his communication often leaves something to be desired.

Firearm Plating -Mahovsky's Metalife

[Tanners Owner]

Originally Posted by ladder13

You guys made me go into my safe. Since CZ never made a stainless compact what do you think about doing this one up in hard chrome? or

I had mycZ PCR hard chromed when I sent it in to CGW for their pro package. Am very pleased with the end result. One of my favorites

[Erocksmash]

Originally Posted by dfariswheel

These are the best suppliers of hard chrome for guns.

Each has different pricing and some offer different appearances from the original satin pearl-gray, brushed stainless, or a few do full mirror polish.
The final appearance depends on the treatment before plating. Once plated it can't be polished or changed.
Hard chrome is still the most used finish by custom gunsmiths due to it being a true life-time finish...........

Cogan is probably the best of them all.

Accurate Plating & Weaponry | Gunsmith In Newville, Alabama

Ford's is good but may have "issues" with their current bluing work. Plating is excellent.

Ford's Custom Gun Refinishing | Crystal River, FL

Armoloy has been doing it for many years and was the first to offer it to the general public.
They offer plating of the bore and chambers, but another expert doubts it's very good.

Protect your firearm with Armoloy(R) TDC - Armoloy of Fort Worth, Texas

Techplate is also big in industry and aerospace work.

Tech Plate

Mahovsky has been doing it a long time and usually is cheaper then any of the top platers.
There have been some possible issues lately, and his communication often leaves something to be desired.

Firearm Plating -Mahovsky's Metalife

Well the armoloy seems interesting, never thought of that as a player in my decision....

[ContinentalOp]

Originally Posted by dfariswheel

Once plated it can't be polished or changed.
Hard chrome is still the most used finish by custom gunsmiths due to it being a true life-time finish...........

This is an important point. Make sure you don't want to do any custom work, or have all the work completed, before sending it off for plating.

[sigp220.45]

I had my Model 36 done in NP3 in the early 90s. I was carrying it in an ankle holster when I got dragged by a car for a few blocks until I sorted the driver out with my belt-carried Sig. I didn’t know I’d lost it til later. One of the other units parked on top of it, then peeled out and launched it into a lady’s yard. I finally got it back and it was a sorry sight indeed. The grips were toast and it had some big gouges in the metal, but the NP3 held and that thing never did rust. Good stuff.

[.38SuperMan]

When I had my 1911 built about 30 years ago I requested brushed hard chrome. I’ve not sit it a lot in the past few years but it’s been in and out of a holster a few thousand times I’d guess and in rain many times with no signs of wear. Unfortunately I can’t remember who did the plating. Actually I prefer hard chrome over stainless. One it’s more durable and I think it looks better.

The second photo is my model 15 I had electroless nickel plated. It too has held up for thirty years with many draws from a holster with no signs of wear.

[Erocksmash]

Very nice....

A quick search reveals some communication issues with APW could just be a couple instances... more than I like to read about....

Who has had the most recent work done by anybody what were/ are the results...