Gun Finishes Poll

[CDR]

The balance between durability and concealability (dark versus shiny finish) becomes an issue when deciding a carry gun finish.  Blue wears quickly so would a hard chrome option or stainless option be better for carry even though it is more noticeable?  People say the baked on finishes wear fairly quickly as well when carrying everyday, but as it is not as quick as a blued finish, perhaps this is a good compromise between the most durable and concealable?

What do you guys think?  Opinions appreciated.

[STJ]

Stainless on a new gun...if offered.  On my hi-power, hard chrome.  The gun is for concealed carry and therefor the 'flash' of stainless or HC is not a concern.  Too much is put on being 'tactical' when most people will not ever be in a tactical situation...I don't plan on sneaking through a field and having to worry about sunlight glinting off my piece and being seen 

The nice thing about stainless is it shows the same no matter how much wear is on the gun.

Now polished chrome or nickle is a bit much and I could see how bright light/flash could casue an issue 

[2HOW]

I dont like shiny guns for carry, great looking but not very tacticle. My 1911 has "dura-coat" and its great.

[Dakotaranger]

Stainless.  I'm not going to do a John MaClain immatation ever.   Remember concealed means concealed.

[IDPAshooter]

I have to vote stainless also.  Sweat, lint, grime and the like. you want it to be ready and go bang.  nice to take it out of the holster empty out spray some air and back in the holster.  But just my thought!  For the record my Keltec is blued, has worn but just cosmetics at the end of the day.

[Sponsor]

[jaybet]

I am partial to the Sig Nitron finish (whatever it's made of) but I'm in NJ and can't carry, so I wouldn't know how it wears in constant holstering.

[Michael Bane]

Sort of depends...I like a flat finish/dark finish on a carry gun. My current one is nitroned and that works great. Stainless guns that I'm actually going to use in the field or for carry usually end up bead-blasted for a flat grey finish. When I was a hardcore IPSC competitor, I always hard-chromes at least the frame (Accurate Plating & Weaponry)...at first for the appearance, then for the fact that hard-chrome is an extremely durable finish.

I like Dura-coat/Bear-coat on rifles...I think I'm going to get one of the handguns Dura-coated and see how it holds up.

Michael B

[hodman]

Traditional Blued
Baked on
Hard Chrome
Stainless Steel

Blond
Burnett
Red Head

Blue eyes
Brown eyes
Green eyes

I have to choose one? they all work for me at different times and places.

Jon

[Hazcat]

Traditional Blued
Baked on
Hard Chrome
Stainless Steel

Blond
Burnett
Red Head

Blue eyes
Brown eyes
Green eyes

I have to choose one? they all work for me at different times and places.

Jon

LOL!  Best answer award! 

[m25operator]

On an over the counter gun, I like stainless to start with, from there treat it for it's intended use. Hard chrome is my finish of choice for lubricity and wear characteristics, that you can have done in the states. The tenifer finish on Glocks is the toughest finish I've ever seen, the dark finish is not tenifer, it's phosphate over tenifer, tenifer is extremely corrosion resistant, and penetrates .003'' into the metal with a rockwell hardness if I remember right of 63. A good file won't hardly scratch it. I do Dura Coat finishes and like them as well, on a working gun, it don't have to be pretty, just blend in the way you want it to. The Dura coat parkerized look black finish is really good, no shine and coats evenly. You spray the wear areas 2-3 times more than the none wear areas. The muzzle, edges of the slide where the holster will rub.  It will wear off in time in these areas.  I love parkerizing, the rough texture of the phosphate is tough and gives lubricant and preservative a place to hang out, not easy to wipe off. Non glare, the military got that one right. My barbeque gun has got to be a high polish, royal blue, or high polish stainless, I just never have cared for nickel. Fine guns should have fine finishes, but I don't buy too many of those.

My 2 cents and change.