[AndABeer]

Here she be. Time will tell if the finish holds up.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid60/p00287b6f172dab2f8b1394221f14e917/fc5644f9.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid60/p68c5cc064b582ea950188ba2fbab5ffd/fc5644f4.jpg

[Parke1]

Oooohhhh, pretty!

Very nice finish, I hope it holds up well for you, and I'll tell you what. If you ever have any problems with the finish, I'll take the nasty thing off your hands, free of charge, just to do you a personal favor!

-Parke1

[DeltaElite]

That's purdy. :D
Yanno, the 10mm is obsolete. ;) So I will buy that from you at a fair price. :D

[VaughnT]

I think I like this slate gray color more than a straight black. There's something "ancient" in the look of it, like it came from the Twenties.

Can it BC be applied to Stainless Steel? Who'd you have do it? What type of cost was there? What's the turnaround time? Would you do it again?

From a simple aesthetics standpoint, you've done very well. If the durability is up to the reputation, you've done very, very well.

Congratulations.

[cratz2]

Very nice... whenever I get around to having a Brian Bilby Special built, it will have a Boron Carbide finish.

[ajacobs]

Very nice... whenever I get around to having a Brian Bilby Special built, it will have a Boron Carbide finish.

Brian died last year. Check out the 1911forum.com gunsmithing section. It is dedicated to him.

[Prodigalshooter]

Please share the source of the Boron Carbide refinish.
Looks nice!:cool:

[AndABeer]

I sent the pistol to Colorado School of Trades for the work, who then disassembled it, prepped the parts, and sent it to Body Kote for the refinish. The cost was $240 (100 to CST, 100 to BK, 40 for shipping).

Unfortunately, they don't typically do S&W autos for some reason. They did mine because I had sent a couple e-mails to inquire about the process and specifically mentioned the model of gun I wanted to refinish. They answered all my questions satisfactorily and said send it on in. I got a call a few days after they received it where the informed me that they do not work on S&W autos and that they would be sending the pistol back to me. I kinda lost my temper and they agreed to go ahead and do it. It took Body Kote a few tries before CST was happy with the results and I think it looks pretty good myself.

[cratz2]

Brian died last year. Check out the 1911forum.com gunsmithing section. It is dedicated to him.

Oh, I know that... I mean his Commander slide on a Officer sized frame. Probably have it built by George Smith or Don Williams.

[ajacobs]

Oh, I know that... I mean his Commander slide on a Officer sized frame. Probably have it built by George Smith or Don Williams.

I see. The Concealed carry officers (colt CCO model) is one of my favorite configerations. There are a couple from kimber in my local shop but I don't do series II.


In regards to the finish. I realize that is applied to stainless but any idea of what it looks like over carbon? And do you have to parkerize first (on carbon) like some finishes? Also does it take to aluminum.

[M1911]

Also does it take to aluminum.Last I read was that it was not suitable for aluminum.

[Bergeron]

I've heard that boron carbide is extremely durable, now I find out that it is also very attractive.

Who did you get to apply the finish for you?

Do you have any plans to put different grips on it? That gun is crying out for some nice wood grips.

[AndABeer]

Unfortunately, noone makes wood grips for the Smith decockers. :(

[Bergeron]

Ouch, that's sad to hear.

Could existing non-decocker grips be made to fit?

[incursion]

I thought Bodycote stopped taking individual orders.

[AndABeer]

I considered getting some Hogues in kingwood or coco bolo and whittling on them. However, looking at the rubber versions that I have laying about in my junk box and pics on the net of the wood ones, I don' t think there is enough meat around the decocker area. Also, I suck at whittling and would most likely bugger it up. :(

[Bergeron]

Oh well, the black on black is still very attractive.

Are there any specific tasks that you have set aside for this pistol? Guy who I know over at Barneys shoots a 1006/1066 (can't remeber) on the bowling pins with pretty spectacular results on the recieving end.

[AndABeer]

after i prove that it is as reliable as ever with a couple thousand rounds, i'll carry it instead of my other 1026, maybe send that one off for hard chroming

[Bergeron]

Now that would be a pretty pair of pistols!