Question: Two-Tone vs...

This is a very 'noob' question. Besides the aesthetic value, is there any advantage/disadvantage to a two-tone vs a Nitron finish handgun? I am looking at purchasing the Sig P226 and am in the process of making a decision, just wanted to make an educated one :)

CC

I know of at least one LEO who does not like stainless because it is more visible in the dark and could provide an aiming point in a poorly-lit shootout. I do not know how realistic that is, or how relevant that is to your occupation/lifestyle, but it's something to think about.

If its a primary carry pistol, the stainless will hold up better to holster wear than the regular black finish. Most real world shootings are over in seconds. Not enough time for your slide color to make a difference either way.

Aha! See, I never thought of those conditions. The Sig P226 will not be a carry, later on I will be purchasing a P229 that will be a CCW.

CC

Pick what you think looks good. All 4 of my Sigs are two tone. Doesn't make them any better or worse than anything else. 2 of them are carry guns. I never worried about the stainless slide, I don't plan on sneaking up on anyone to shoot them. I just like the looks of the two tone.

It is obvious that the stainless steel slides are better for corrosion and rust resistance.
On the other hand, I do not like their slippery and the light reflecting surface.
I always prefer the reverse two-tone.

Regards.

Isn't nitron a dark finish on a stainless steel slide?? In that case, there is no rust prevention advantage either way. If compared to stainless vs. regular steel slide, one can argue about durability of the finish, rust prevention, and weight difference/balance, which could be a good/bad thing depending on how you look at it, but if you are talking about ss vs nitron, I think it's stricly an aesthetic preference....

I guess stainkless stell or nckel finish is more robust. all of my two tones had shown no signs of wear no metter how I carried them on me or in my car.
but all balck is much more stealthy and me be more tacticaly practical.

besides I just like two tone guns.

http://www.gunmuse.com/firebase_plugins/firearm_catalog/pageimage.php?img_name=Beretta/92G_Elite_II_S_maxi.jpg

I know of at least one LEO who does not like stainless because it is more visible in the dark and could provide an aiming point in a poorly-lit shootout.The flipside of that is the theory that as a CCW carrier, you want your weapon very plainly visible when you draw it so that the BG knows you just drew a weapon and may decide you are not worth the trouble that is about to ensue.

Personally, I don't think either theory is worth much enough to base your buying decision on.


The benefit of stainless over the other finishes is it isn't coming off and you can't wear through it. If you do get a deep scratch, it just looks bad, but there is no weakness in it's corrosion resistance. If you get a deep scratch in nickel, hard chrome, or whatever finish, sweat, and moisture can now get under your finish to attack the base carbon steel.

Appearance, nothing more. I have no two-tones at this time, but I do like it - although the opposite of the Beretta in the picture.

It is pretty hard to justify that a shooting was done in self defense if the "target" didn't even know where you where. I personally would want someone to know that I was armed and give them an option of ending the encounter peacefully. I would not ever choose to engage in a fire-fight. If the other person was firing at me, I would try to hold up and wait for the police to come. Cops are trained for these types of activities, not me.

A non-reflective gun finish is more useful for, say, a LEO searching a darkened building, than we armed civilians, for which I think it is a moot point. Also, most stainless guns are matte- or satin-finished and not really all that reflective.

To me this is the most perfect automatic I have ever seen. It is a member of SIGForum's 220ST Elite that was accidentally factory shipped to him with a nitron slide. Stainless frame to help with recoil and that awesome reverse TT...stunning imho.
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg82/RFB7575/220R3-45-SSE_TT.jpg
Because I live in California its everything I want but cannot have. :)

That is the kind of two-tone "color scheme" I like. :D

That is a smeggin' sweet looking one :D

CC

OK, regarding the pic posted by RobertFBurnett, theoretically if you had a stainless steel "P226 Elite" and a black nitron P226, can you just swap out the top slide to make it like the one in the picture? Or does that not work?

CC

Get what you like. I wouldn't worry for a second about the stainless drawing attention. Perhaps if you were with Seal Team 6 that would be a concern worth thinking about, but your not, so don't.

They're the same thing except for one's black and one's not. Both are made in Stainless Steel.

And yes, you can swap slides. I've dropped an 226 slide on an All Around frame, made for a cool looking gun.

theoretically if you had a stainless steel "P226 Elite" and a black nitron P226, can you just swap out the top slide to make it like the one in the picture?

Not just theoreticallly, it is also possible to make it practically.

One of the features that make the SIG a SIG, is the complete interchangeability and exact fit of the parts of the same models, which speaks for the quality and exact standards of the manufacturing.

Regards.

I have 5 S&Ws - THe (J) Model 60 (K) 617 & (L) 686P all
have the satin finish - shiny and polished. THe 625 & SW1911
have the "Matte" finish - except for one person, everyone
who has seen them prefer the "Matte" finish. The person who
is the exception has a Para-Ordnance and since he has a double
stack magazine and ambi safety he thinks his P14 is superior
so he also knowcks the finish on my SW1911. I had him bring his
P14 over and side by side IMO I thought his P14 and the black
thumb safety & slide release/lock looked much less a refined finish
but I held my tongue being polite.

Thanks for letting me vent.... ok tu-tones.

I've been shopping for a CZ 75B and saw one that had the black
polygot whatever finished Slide and slide re/lock & thumb safety
& the frame was Satin Nickel verra nice - I'd replace the stock
black checkered grips with some Hogue checkered hardwood as
I like the checkering patter that is absent near the thumb safety.








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