Current 442 finish?

[DUNTOV]

The box lists it as blued, but it looks like a dull black, is it paint or bluing, and how durable is it? thanks

 

[DUNTOV]

no one knows???

 

[ADP3]

You will get some edge wear after some months of pocket carry but I have yet to see one that needed a complete refinish. The finish on mine are holding up well. You will see some quick wear on the face of the recoil shield but it's nothing to worry about.

Best Regards,
ADP3

 

[large_orange_drink]

I think the frame is black anodized and the cylinder and barrel are matte blued.

 

[-db-]

S&W probably has a proprietary name for it but it appears to be powder coating.

 

[aterry33]

My understanding is that the frame is hard coat anodized, and the steel parts, the cylinder and the barrel, are coated with some sort of ion bond finish.

 

[Gearhead Jim]

My 340PD has a similar looking frame finish, I believe it's called ion bond. It starts out as a matte black but my backstrap and other areas that get rubbed a lot have become a very nice semi-gloss black.

It is FAR more durable than the anodizing on my older Airweights.

 

[socktyr]

The box lists it as blued, but it looks like a dull black, is it paint or bluing, and how durable is it? thanks

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1980-present/126175-s-w-442-cylinder-scatch-marks-2.html

The pics on page 2 of this thread are of my 442. Aside from the cylinder face, a line quickly formed around its circumference from the cylinder stop. Neither strike me as a factor in reliability so I do not worry about them. However, I am disappointed how fragile the finish on the cylinder is. Ultimately it is a tool not a showpiece, and a very good one at that.

 

[aterry33]

My 340PD has a similar looking frame finish, I believe it's called ion bond. It starts out as a matte black but my backstrap and other areas that get rubbed a lot have become a very nice semi-gloss black.

It is FAR more durable than the anodizing on my older Airweights.

I am pretty sure that is anodizing--I don't think they can put ion bond on aluminum or the aluminum/scandium alloy frames.

 

[photoman]

I know Smith & Wesson does Melonite some gun parts but I don't know if that's what they use on the 442 or not.