Another cosmetic-related question for the 3rd Gen experts: Why does the color of the bright aluminum frames I'm seeing on used 3rd Gens vary so much?

Background: As my 3rd Gen addiction worsens, I'm now up to my 9th 3rd Gen and have my eye on a possible number 10. I much prefer the look and maintainability of the all-stainless guns but I like the lower weight of the aluminum-framed versions. As I shop around, I'm noticing that the aluminum frames sometimes come very close to matching their attached stainless slides and other times there is a huge color mismatch. Some have turned yellowish, some have a golden tint to them and still others are almost bleached out. Some small mismatch is perfectly normal, but some of these used guns look just plain odd.

So the question is this: What causes the 3rd Gen aluminum frames to discolor like that? It's not all of them by a long shot, but enough of them for me to take notice. Is it just age? Heat or sunlight? Cleaners and/or lubricants used? Plain old-fashioned dirt or wear? Refinishing in some cases? All of the above?

I turned down a possible number 10 last week just because the aluminum frame was crazy mismatched to the stainless slide... almost like it was painted off-white. The gun didn't even look real. Too bad because it was a model I don't own yet.

Any thoughts on this? Or is my 3rd Gen addiction starting to cause me to lose it.

I have several 2nd and 3rd gens, including a (somewhat rare) 6926. I also did metal fabrication for 7 years in a custom shop, including grinding/polishing of stainless steel and aluminum.

My 6926 looked to be barely used when I acquired it, but the frame does look drastically different from the stainless slide. I would imagine it has something to do with whatever product S&W used to protect the frame. I would also assume that there were some variations to that product over the years and through the different models. Could also be the type of aluminum itself. But also, like you said, any number of other factors could have changed the appearance over the years: chemical cleaners, dirt, wear and tear...

I don't require the two different metals to match and you might be passing up some good guns if you do.

TTSH , maybe I'm missing something about what you call a mismatch . I will say that S&W didn't spend any extra money on there anodizing which is poor when compared the alloy frame of a Sig, Here is a picture of one of mine, is this what you call a mismatch ?

Attached Images

4003tsw 002.JPG (147.9 KB, 86 views)

I don't notice any real difference in looks from frame to slide. If you scrutinize it I'm sure you can tell the difference. I just never bothered. The 3rd gens LOOK COOL no matter what they are made out of. See my Avatar.

Ok, the slide's a little darker. Big deal. I like it.

__________________
"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Thanks for the reply. To clarify, I don't expect the stainless slide and aluminum frame to ever match exactly. That's pretty unrealistic. However, in my opinion, the closer they look to each other the better. I believe that would have been (or should have been) S&W's original design and manufacturing intent.

But that is not my concern. My concern is the fairly wide variation in the aluminum frame colors (or, more accurately, "tints") that I've been encountering lately and why that is so. Just another little mystery that I'm trying to solve as I continue to collect these addictive things.

In particular, I'm wondering if certain chemicals used to clean or lube the guns over all those years could have had an effect on the anodized aluminum frame. I'm also wondering about changes S&W might have made over the years to the aluminum frame finishing process. Lately, I'd like to be able to identify a refinish job vs. an original finish.

Again, it's just minor mystery I'm trying to solve. No more, no less.

There is a definite color difference between the slide and the frame on that gun. Perhaps I shouldn't use the term "mismatch" as it implies some sort of flaw or defect, which it is not. But the colors or "tints" are certainly different.

My 6906 frame is different but most people would look and think it was a shadow.

In this picture the 5906 looks to be more different than the 6906 and the 5906 has a stainless frame - - - I just think they both look good to me.

The stainless steel slides and frames vary a lot due to dirt, aging and cleaning... but I've found that can usually be brought back to a fairly uniform (gun-to-gun) finish without too much effort. The exception is some of the later laser-marked guns which sometimes have a darker or more yellowish tint... but I wouldn't want to mess with them too much for fear of removing the laser markings.

As long as the aluminum frame is not badly used and abused or unusually yellowed, I am generally interested if the gun is on my 3rd Gen Want List. The gun I turned down the other day had an aluminum frame that almost looked like it had been painted (cerakoted?) or otherwise refinished. Sometimes you just have to walk away if you have a bad feeling that something isn't right.

Nothing out of the ordinary with either of them. They look pretty good to me too.

I have noticed of what you speak on various 3913LS/NL pistols that I have seen. Not many seem to match as closely as my 3913NL.

Not the best picture, but my CS40 has a golden hue to it.



And the gold color does not cover the whole frame, the area under the grip is lighter.

Very interesting. Thanks for posting! Any ideas what turned the exposed part a bit more gold than the rest of the frame?

my 6906 looks exactly like skjos.
Even worse...
only the left side ???
The right side is nice and even and silver!!!

So what is the explanation? Ultraviolet light? Chemicals used for cleaning and lube? Holster oils?

Someone must know.

The frame/slide on my 3913 are pretty close, though the fact that one is stainless steel and the other is anodized aluminum prevents them from being a perfect match.

The only alloy framed 3rd Gen I've seen that had a frame that nearly matched the slide was a 3913 IIRC on one of the auction sites were the owner had polished both the slide and the frame.

By doing so, he'd removed all the anodizing from the frame.

Oh Lordy!!! Not good.

This is a little off topic, but check your Model 39s with alloy frames. All the ones I've seen are somewhat "mismatched" to the slides. And on top of that you might even have a plum colored decocker and slide stop. However, you still have what I consider one of the most beautiful semi autos ever made. And IMHO the black anodizing on the frame is gorgeous.

Also, as noted above, on my 3rd gens., I've seen some differences in coloration under the stocks when compared to the rest of the frame. Nothing dramatic but certainly different.

Same here.

That right there would be my bet. And the following sentence as well...
as S&W might have found a better or less expensive mix...

On the upside, you just reminded me that they're Aluminium alloy,
which means Anodizing in Colors is pretty darn easy
Which makes my thoughts on OD Green rather intent right now...

__________________
Marlin & Calico Specialist

The original single-stack 4013s often have a weird (?) color to the frame, somewhat yellowed, and it is a bit disconcerting the first time you see it, but after you see a number of them go by with all sorts of shades, eventually it doesn't matter.

But then, if they are blued/black, you'll have all sorts of mis-matches there too! The purple frames come to mind

Just buy all-steel guns Or two-tone versions.