Now here is some extra-ordinary wear and tear that is solely because this was a duty gun which I carried and used in inclement weather. As you can see it is primarily on the sideplate (maybe it wasn't finished as well due to not being able to be heated as much during bluing as the other major parts to avoid warping?? - Purely my speculation.). Before anyone condemns the Midnight Black finish, note that the right side of the hammer also has more corrosion on it than the left side or the remainder of the gun, and it was finished in case hardening - I'm not sure if the hammer is stainless or if they used a carbon steel one on it, since it was case-hardened, I'm thinking the latter. (I'm right handed and carried in a Jordan holster, so the rear sight, backstrap, hammer, recoil shield, and sideplate were exposed out of the holster, and hence subject to the elements the most.)
Now, here's a good picture to really argue against the Midnight Black finish being "weak." As you can see in the previous shots, by the drag marks on the cylinder and wear on backstrap and sideplate, this gun was carried a LOT AND USED a LOT. As a duty weapon, this included literally thousands of presentations from the holster (in addition to range time, being a "gun-guy," I spent a lot of time practicing at home too). Even so, check out the lack of muzzle wear on this barrel! Now, this was only 4-5 years of wear (because we then switched to autos), but I would have thought the wear would be much worse if the finish is so easily rubbed away.
Overall, I'm very happy with the way this revolver held up. I also wish I'd have just carried a silver one and kept this one nicer... But, this is also the gun that I shot two back-to-back perfect qualification scores with (when I was younger and had better eyesight), a fete which has never been repeated on that department, and it rode a LOT of miles and was out of the holster a few times on duty, so the sentimental value of the wear and tear on this Midnight Black looks fine to me!
