[..]

Heard a while back they were getting a new tennifer like finish. True?

[..]

Bueller....?

[glocker1911]

The new XD45 pistols are treated with Melonite, which depending on who you talk to is either the same thing as tennifer with a differant name, or a process very much like tennifer. I've read reports from some people who say they've been told by Springfield only the XD45s will get this treatment, whle others swear they've been told it will eventually be used on all XDs, so who knows, right? I will say that I must bought a new OD XD40 tactical that showed a test fire date of 02 18 06. The slide is definately "blacker" and "smoother" than other XDs I've looked at. It did indeed look very much like the XD45 that was laying right next to it. I emailed Springer to ask what finish they are now using, but no answer yet.

[..]

I emailed them as well.

['Card]

The melonite finish is the same thing as tennifer. Same chemical process. It's just a different trade name. I've heard that this is because of contractual issues with Glock that restricts the tennifer product name to Glock firearms only, but that's just a rumor. Wouldn't be unusual though.

Melonite was introduced on the XD-45's, but all new XD's that are shipping now have the melonite finish (I confirmed that with an SA rep). As long as you buy one that was built in 2006 or the last few months of 2005, you should be fine.

As far as I know, the only way to tell if the gun has the new finish is visual inspection. It's pretty easy to tell if you can hold a new one and an old one side by side. The melonite looks darker, smoother, and harder than the old finish.

[Frenchy]

That's the problem 'Card!...The black finish on the XD has nothing to do with the Melonite treatment, the same as Glock's black finish has nothing to do with the Tennifer process. It is a heat-treating operation that is for the most part...colorless. My guess is that Springfield has changed their proprietary finish.

[gudel]

does anyone have one? :confused:

[charlesb_la]

From http://www.durferrit.de/en/unternehmen/firmengeschichte.htm

To meet the growing needs with regard to wear and corrosion resistance, as well as the enhancement of the fatigue strength, great efforts were devoted to the development and launching of the TENIFER® process, which is also known worldwide under the trade names of TUFFTRIDE® and MELONITE®. This nitrocarburizing process has undergone continuous development with regard to its regenerability and ecology, and from year-to-year the number of applications is increasing on all 5 continents.

[..]

Got a reply to my email I sent to SA, said only the XD45 has the melonite finish. :confused:

[45R]

Are the XD45s produced here in the states ?

[..]

Nope, and if they were they couldn't have the tennifer treatment done to them. Unless ofcourse the slides were done out of country.

['Card]

Got a reply to my email I sent to SA, said only the XD45 has the melonite finish.
OK, now I'm really confused. That directly contradicts everything I've been told by every SA rep I've spoken with about this. Did they tell you that they could only promise a melonite finish on an XD-45, or did they say only the XD-45's would be getting melonite at all? In fact, if you visit the HS2000/XD Talk (http://www.hs2000talk.com) forum, you can do a quick search and see pics comparing the old finish vs. the new on several different XD models.

[..]

"At this time the XD 45 only has that finish .

Thank you

vickie"

Looked at the email again, "At this time" is the wording. That could mean anything. Guess they will eventually melonite all the XD line. Aw crap, I'll have to get an XD9 now.

[glocker1911]

I als got an email from Springer just yesterday. They also told me that Melonite was only being used on the XD45 series. As far as the finish looking differant on my new XD40, their only statement was, I quote "We've beefed up the finish a little, nothing major". Not sure what that means exactly. The "new" finish on mine looks nice, guess I'll have to see how it holds up.

[crazed_ss]

I've got two pretty nice scratches on mine from the takedown lever. I got it only 1-2 months ago so i dont think it has any different finish.

[bigmike45]

I have a new XD-45 and I confirmed, through Springfield, via serial number, that mine has the new Melonite treatment. Even so I still coat the gun with the anti-rust lubricant that I use on all my guns. It's called R.I.G. or Rust Inhibiting Grease. I have never had a gun rust using this stuff. Heres mine:
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/mike_seale/XD45wLIGHT2.jpg