[ulflyer]

The MK IV that I just got has some small light pits on one side of the slide. The slide is polished blue with a matte top. I know the slide can be sanded lightly to eliminate the shallow pits, but can the slide be blued and still retain the matte top? What would be a ballpark figure for cost?

Trying to decide if its worth the effort. It does seem to be a good shooter and one that I will keep (if Tuner doesn't steal it from me).

[1911Tuner]

Hey Ted,

Since it's tough to blue only the sides, the finish on the top will bave to be removed by sanding and bead blasted to restore the matte texture. The sides are easy...just don't jump on the pitting with sandpaper just yet. I prefer to draw-file and sand on a flat surface backing the paper. Grit depends on how slick you want the finish. If you prep the slide for bluing, so that all the smith has to do is dunk it in the vat, it'll be pretty cheap. If he preps it, it's gonna cost more money. I don't have a bead blaster, so that part will be in his ballpark...but I can do the rest of it for ya here.

It will also require sight removal, and some of those factory-installed rear sights were installed with an arbor press...Read that as T-I-G-H-T...which I also lack to remove it. Another job for the bluer...plus finish prep where the sight wouldn't allow. I haven't had a gun blued in so long that I couldn't even guess what the cost would be...but if ya want me to do some of the prep, just let me know when.

[ulflyer]

Tuner, many thanks as always. May call on you later. I'm gonna ride down to the Smith on Rt. 8 one day to see if he does bluing and get an estimate. He's (Carrick) the one who changed some sights out for me at a fair price. Depending on what he says, I'm thinking I can do the sides myself and save a few bucks.

[ulflyer]

Looked up some ads and emailed one down in Fla yesterday morn. Got a reply yesterday pm saying it would be $36 if I did the polish, $50 if he did it, and he explained that he would tape off the sides, bead the top to retain the matte, etc. Two man operation so its personal service. Sounds like a good deal to me and I'll let him do it so he can see the original bluing and replicate that. http://www.gunblue.homestead.com/