[steelyblue]

I've got an Eclipse that I keep scratching up. I've heard of hard chroming. Is that the most durable finish and can it be done leaving the top black?

[mrmeval]

You could passivate the surface.
http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/100304.html
;)

[Texastbird]

We use the citric acid method on our stainless vessels at work. It doesn't make the metal any more scratch resistant that I am aware of. I looked at the Kimbers with the Kimpro finish, and thought I would like to get my old 1911 refinished in something like that.

[mod-god]

Nitride, very durable, and slick looking at that.

Then again, if it's a stainless barrel, get Black Chrome, or you could even get exotic and go for PVD coatings :evil: I'd really like to see a TiAlN coated slide one of these days...........hrmmm...............I just got an idea

[mrmeval]

You're correct about the scratch resistance. I blanked and thought "corrosion resistance". If done to mil-spec the passivation is better but still not as good as a coating.

[mrmeval]

Info on a wonder finish.
http://www.thegunzone.com/diamond_like_coating.html

It's an awesome looking finish if the picture is to be believed.