Should I bead blast it or not?

[.38SuperMan]

Do you have a picture of that satin nickel 15? I would like to see it. I have a Buckmark that is satin nickel, that finish looks great and holds up well.

Like I mentioned it’s been a long time since I had this done. I believe this was electroless nickel over bead blasted steel with a copper under coat . Anyway it’s been through some hard use in and out of the holster during competition for years and through the dirt.

It’s really a nice satin finish and inspecting it closely it shows no oticable wear. It’s worn as well as my hard chrome 1911.

 

[wood714]

I'm not a fan of the bead blast finish at all.

I un bead blasted this 65-5 with zero regrets.

 

[ABPOS]

I really cant stand the bead blasted finish. It disappoints me that some models are only offered in this finish.
It like having a sandpaper finish that holds in more grime, creates lint from your cleaning cloth when wiping down the gun , more friction sliding into a holster, and shows wear faster.
If wanting to reduce shine, just use a fine 3m scotch brite pad and slightly scuff up the surface. Go back and forth in one direction to give it a brushed finish.

I'm in this camp. I don't think it necessarily looks bad, but it is annoying to me for these reasons above. Although admittedly, I don't have one. But some of the guns I have painted feel like this until they get some oil soaked in and I don't like that matte feel. Something weird about it to me.

 

[DS-10-SPEED]

Like I mentioned it’s been a long time since I had this done. I believe this was electroless nickel over bead blasted steel with a copper under coat . Anyway it’s been through some hard use in and out of the holster during competition for years and through the dirt.

It’s really a nice satin finish and inspecting it closely it shows no oticable wear. It’s worn as well as my hard chrome 1911.

That looks good, I like the nickel over bead blast. I would think that would hold up better than just bead blast and be easier to clean.