[Kestrel]

I'm thinking about ordering one of their "Congo" FALs and it says it comes in the Duracoat finish (black). Is this more durable than parkerizing?

Or, should I get it parkerized?

Thanks,
Steve

[George Hill]

No, I've not seen it... but I have seen an L1A1 Century painted with blackish grey spray paint and the guy at the gun show trying to tell me that it was.

[Ian Sean]

DSA is known for higher quality FAL builds. The accepted technique is to parkerize the rifle and apply duracote or other types of finishes like gun kote etc.... While sandblasting and coating alone alone gives a good finish, coating over parkerizing is prefered. You get better adhesion with the coating on a rough and pourous surface. I have heard it is pretty durable, but the process is relatively new.

Give them a call and ask if this is the process they use. My experience is that they are pretty decent with customer service. I was only ordering parts though.