Question About Finishes

[okie john]

After too many years of exposure to darkroom chemicals and gun-cleaning solvents, my lungs and skin are now very reactive to any kind of solvent or cleaning solution.

A recent thread on the 1961-1980 forum had a picture of a Model 76 submachine gun that had been Armoloyed because the owner used it near saltwater. The current owner said that it was a snap to clean up, and that got me thinking…

I want to refinish several of my favorite firearms to make them easier to clean, and I’m looking for suggestions. I know about hard chrome and Armoloy, but which others should I consider?

Considerations (in order of importance) are ease of cleaning, durability, and avoiding a pimp-like appearance.


Thanks,


Okie John

 

[okie john]

Anyone?


Okie John

 

[Crazy K38]

I have heard great things about a finish called Hard Hat, look it up and see what you think!

 

[Beachcomber]

Check out RoBar... I've heard they do excellent work.

Robar Premium Finishing & Firearms Home Page


-Rick

 

[dfariswheel]

Most of the gun finishers offer hard chrome under a number of brand names, but it's all basically just hard chrome.
There's Armoloy, Metaloy, Metalife, and others, but it's all hard chrome.

As far as gun finishes go, hard chrome is "probably" still the best all around finish. It's very corrosion resistant, VERY hard and tough, proof against any solvent or chemical you might commonly come across, and is one of the very few gun finishes that's considered to be a true life time finish.

In appearance, it can be applied in final finishes ranging from the original matte pearl-gray, to a brushed stainless steel look, to a full mirror polish. How the final finish looks depends on the prep before the finish is applied.
All the services offer a variety of options and prices, several will also plate the inside of the barrel and chambers.

The hard chrome is easier to clean because fouling doesn't adhere to the "slick" hard chrome and fouling is easier to see.
The hardness and "slippery" chrome also improves the trigger pull and reduces the amount of lubricant needed.
The chrome makes the gun far more rust resistant for close carry in sweaty conditions.

While there's always some new "miracle finish" appearing, most gun makers and custom gunsmiths use hard chrome as their preferred rough duty finish.

Here's the top platers:

New Page 1
(Possibly the best of them all).

Ford's Custom Gun Refinishing - Ford's Desert Eagle Sights

Firearms Applications

Metaloy, Industries - Professional Gun Finishing - hard chrome, blue and polymer finish

Welcome to TechPlate, Inc. Firearms retail plating price list

Elite Custom Plating --  Re-Finishing, Custom Work, Competition Guns

Hard Chrome Plating & Electroless Nickel Plating, Armalloy & Gun Bluing by Mahovsky's Metalife

 

[judge]

I can't speak for all the finishes, however I will highly recommend Armoloy. Have used this on several guns, and was totally satisfied. Top quality & lasts forever. Built a custom Browning Hi-Power years ago, all Armoloy below the slide, top end was matt blue with S&W adjustable K frame sight assy. A complete 2 tone finish job which is common now but was something new 30 years ago. The Browning was the hardest gun to get that refined trigger job completed. It can be done, but it's not easy.

 

[okie john]

Wow! Thanks for all the information. Now I've gotta get my research hat on...


Okie John