Am trying to decide which of these two products will offer the greatest resistance to holster wear. Anyone have long-term first-hand experience with either product they could share?

I have had excellent luck with Walter Birdsong Black (T) On numerous pistols...If it is good enough for the front end of a submarine I guess it is pretty good.

I couldn't find any mention of Black T being used on submarines..not even on their website. Do you have a reference for this? I think S&W used this finish for some PC models.

I don't know much about Cerakote, but I've seen good results with Duracoat and Wilson's Armor-Tuff. You may want to consider either of this.

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Un-Reconstructed Southerner

"snorkel sets for submarines"

W.E. BIRDSONG INC- PROTECTIVE COATINGS FOR FIREARMS AND METAL

It doesn't say it is in use in that application. I didn't see anything saying "currently in use with US Navy".......or any navy for that matter.

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Un-Reconstructed Southerner

Funny that this comes up today...just mailed one of my ex duty pistol SIG229's out to get cerakoted.

I have seen Black T on several handguns and at times it seemed a bit heavy..almost runny. The cerakote is thin and looks very evenly applied. One of my AR's is cerakoted and even on the sharp edges of the rails it's held up well.

Frankly there are so many good finishes out there that it's probably tough to go wrong.

FN in MT

Here are a couple pics of my CCO, when it was finished in all Black-T. It seems to hold up OK on the steel parts, but I was disappointed in how quickly it wore from the aluminum. The frame has since been refinished in electroless nickel.

Bob Cogan is really good!


Welcome to Accurate Plating & Weaponry, The Cogan Custom Shop. | APWCOGAN

I had three guns IonBonded. Went through Springer Precision. good product, very thin and durable.

I have an 1187 shotgun that I have shot in 3-Gun that has Black-T. Walter Birdsong told be their finish is actually thinner than blueing and that they do every pin and even the smallest springs. All of the internals, that is what sold me on it. It has held up very well. Still like new. Had it done about 11 or 12 years ago.

I have a couple of 1911s done at Accurate Plating & Weaponary and they also do a great job on hard chrome.

Good Luck,
Bill

Has anyone tried MetaLife? It's a super durable hard chrome. Although it is thin enough to not affect thread dimensions, and follows contours well enough to use with engraving, they guarantee it in salt steam spray for multiple days. A good friend has it on the receiver of a favorite rifle, and I'm thinking of using it on an old I-frame for the truck.

Froggie

Robar NP3 for the Win ! i have been using NP3 on all my guns since 1984 Incredible stuff and minimal holster wear even after 20 years on my 4506

thanks to all who posted for your comments. considered many options, wound up sending it back to S&W for re-blue. will provide feedback on that decision when it comes back. thanks again.