So I just purchased a Citadel 1911 Compact. Those guns are "parkerized." I have no idea how to clean it without ruining the finish. I do own a SD40 that I love and is easy to clean. I know this is a S&W forum, but you guys always help me and give the best advice. So if anyone can give me advice on how to properly clean it, I would really appreciate it. Thank everyone!
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OKFC05
Member
A proper Parkerized finish is tough and was the finish of choice on the old GI 1911s. You clean it with ordinary gun solvents and lubricants. The Parkerized finish is not know for its appearance, and is never going to look as good as your SD.
I have no idea about the quality of the finish on your "Citadel."
I have no idea about the quality of the finish on your "Citadel."
These guns (Rock Island Armory and Citadel, which are both made by Armscor) usually come dripping in oil. (At least the couple that I owned did.) You can strip it and soak it in mineral spirits to remove all that excess, and then clean and lube it as normal. I've also read where some have used non-chlorinated brake cleaner to do the same, as well as Gun Scrubber. Here is the video from Rock Island Armory:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4fpmkoV9PI
I would remove the grips first, though...but then, I pitched the grips that come on these guns in the trash, so I guess it couldn't hurt.
You can use any solvent to clean and any oil to lube. There are lots and lots of products made to clean and lubricate guns, and you'll get lots of different opinions....personally, I like Hoppe's Elite to clean, and Weapon Shield to lube. I also like to put a bit of grease on the slide rails of my 1911s, rather than just oil.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4fpmkoV9PI
I would remove the grips first, though...but then, I pitched the grips that come on these guns in the trash, so I guess it couldn't hurt.
You can use any solvent to clean and any oil to lube. There are lots and lots of products made to clean and lubricate guns, and you'll get lots of different opinions....personally, I like Hoppe's Elite to clean, and Weapon Shield to lube. I also like to put a bit of grease on the slide rails of my 1911s, rather than just oil.
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jaykellogg
Absent Comrade
You can clean it with WD-40 or CLP. You didn't say, but I assume it was relatively clean when you got it. Phosphte finish (Parkerizing) is porous and it needs a coat of oil.
Field strip it,use some clp spray inside and out,wipe off any excess.
Faulkner
Member
I use Breakfree on my parkerized guns, but I agree that you leaving a light film of thin oil is the norm for a parkerized finish.
What I've done after cleaning is wipe down the external (slide, frame) with an oil-treated rag, and then store it in a silicone gun sock. The oil will soak into the pistol, as mentioned. It is a very durable finish, but it's never going to look polished and smooth...because it isn't. It does look good when freshly oiled, though!
I have taken all metal guns like a 1911 and after a good cleaning of the bore and reciever have removed the grips, taken them into my shop and sprayed them liberally with carb cleaner, then take them over the air compressor and sprayed them until no residue comes off, then given them a good spraying with WD-40 and again spray with air to remove excess, run a clean patch down the barrel and gone back to the range for more shooting, done and back in business in less than 15 minutes. Never had any finish problems except when I tried to do a quick clean on an AK I had bought to watch the "squid ink" desolve and run off the bolt. You need to test the finish of whatever you are cleaning with this method. I use it exclusively on pistols that are not easy to disassemble as I like to keep firearms as clean as the day I bought them.
I believe Citadel is made by the Armscore group that also makes The Rock Island Armory models. I have an RIA compact in a parkerized finish, and it is very tough and rugged. Originally I treated it like any good handgun, I disassembled it and sprayed it out with brake & parts cleaner and blew it out with my compressor. Then I lubricate it with a light CLP such as breakfree. It runs great and no problems after 7 years.
A parkerized finish is quite durable, especially if treated correctly. Clean the gun as with any other gun, then spread a light coat of oil on the parkerized finish. It won't take too long to appear dry, then you need to spread another light coat on the finish, let it "dry," and repeat several times. The entire point of parkerization is to hold oil, thereby protecting the gun from corrosion. When you first get a parkerized gun, it is best to repeatedly oil it in order to "cure" the finish. After that, cleaning normally after shooting and applying a thin coat of oil to the finish should keep it in fine shape for many years to come.
