Hard Chrome Finishes: Matte, Brushed, Satin?

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Vodoun da Vinci said:
My Colt 1903 was dropped at my local FFL for shipping to APWCogan tomorrow. ...
It's gonna be a long, long, 6 - 8 weeks wait for me as I'm really not a calm person. ...
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Enjoy the anticipation! I am looking forward to the photos myself.

Sounds like you have time to stockpile plenty of reloaded and/or store bought .32 ACP.
 
Mmmmm...see now, that compact of Ric's is all matte and it's dead sexy like that. I really like that look on a working gun....the next Colt 1903 is gonna get matte all the way. Just to see how it comes together.

I always have about 400 rounds of .32 hand loads on hand as it's a training caliber for me and my guns. I regularly train with my .32's so I keep a good supply of brass, bullets on hand as well as plenty of stock in loaded ammunition. I'm looking forward to shooting this one when it comes back from APWCogan if only to check out the "Street Tune" it'll get. :)

You guys will not escape pictures and updates...not a chance. :D

VooDoo
 
Vodoun da Vinci said:
My Colt 1903 was dropped at my local FFL for shipping to APWCogan tomorrow. On the customer order form I circled "brushed flats and matte rounds". So it's in the works now. I asked for an estimate once they get the gun in hand and can evaluate the additional work (needs some minor gun smithing as well) and put it all together for me.

It's gonna be a long, long, 6 - 8 weeks wait for me as I'm really not a calm person. Can't wait to see how it comes out. Just gotta breath deep....:D

VooDoo
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A long, long 6-8 weeks??? Ha! I wish that's all I had to wait for my current 1911 build. A year plus at the gunsmith and 6+ weeks at Ion Bond only to have the frame and a barrel returned due to blemishes in the polish that need tending before they're coated. And my wait is short by custom 1911 standards.
If you can get anything done at any gunsmith in 6-8 weeks you're doing well. Don't be surprised if it takes longer. Can't wait to see the finished product, though, no matter how long it takes!
 
Gaad I hate realists...you guys are killin' me, you know? :)

Yeah...it's already taken longer just to get all the ducks in a row and it out the door. 3 months would not surprise me. I can be good that long....I'm shopping for another Colt 1903 for the next project so I'm good. :evil:

VooDoo
 
I have two hard chrome "Mossad" 9mm Tanfoglio guns, a fullsized and a compact. Like these:

120304_114956-1.jpg

6057ff8e590d27d444e30be435731f02.jpg

They both have a couple of shiny spots, but they both look good for being about 24 years old.
 
Jim Watson said:
All matte is dull and uninteresting.
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Which is why Mahovsky's offers polishing. If you don't like matte (and, BTW, I love that brushed revolver of WC145's), you can asked for the polished hard chrome, which I had done on my Beretta 70S.

Beretta70S_2.jpg

If you hard chrome a revolver and leave it matte, it's likely that the cylinder stop will polish a ring onto your cylinder. That doesn't mean it wears through, it's far too hard for that. But it does mean that the stop may form a ring by rubbing it frequently. If polished, you can't see the ring.

Mahovsky's does fine work and for a reasonable price. I recommend them heartily. They also do a great job explaining the various finishes.

Beretta70S_Metalife_2.jpg

When I take my Beretta to the range, a lot of people want to know if it's stainless. When I tell them it's a hard chromed 70S, some of them want to know what I'd take for it. One or two people on this board have asked if the finish interferes with the functional reliability of the gun. No, it does not.

The finish is self lubricating, which means it's not dependent on your having rail grease smeared on the upper frame. I still use lubricant grease, but only as a formality. If it wears off or you don't put it on, the gun's interacting pieces work smoothly together. How can you not like that? BTW, the 70S (in both .22LR and .380ACP) is used by the Israeli Massad (intelligence service). :cool:

I'm not sure about the .380ACP, but the .22LR model is all steel construction. I believe the same is true about the .380, but I don't know for certain. I just know my .22LR version is on my bugout bag list. Not having an ejection port, there's nothing for a case to hang up on.
 
Gotta bump this thread as I got a call from Chris at AP&W with an update and prices. they have the gun smithing done and fixed the buggered safety and are replacing the original grips....this project is *ON* and at only one month out. :what::cool:

So hopefully I'll have pictures in another couple weeks or less! And I bought another Colt 1903 that's on the way and will get the same treatment. Just wanted to bump this thread and say there's pix a comin' as soon as this Bad Girl gets here! :)

VooDoo
 
Metalife; Bearcoat Glock 21 gen 04....

I did not read all the remarks but I saw Metalife mentioned. Id 2nd that suggestion. :D
I've heard many + reviews both on this forum & a few other places/gun magazines.
I plan to get my Glock 21 .45acp gen 04 covered with Metalife. The say the entire upper can be done for approx $90.00 USD. The job should only take 2/3 weeks too, :D . Some custom shops take months due to extreme demands & orders.

I like the Rocky Mountain Arms Bearcoat too. They offer a matte grey & "titanium" surface that works very well. The custom shop can treat firearms & they warranty the work. If I didn't get Metailife, Id consider the custom Bearcoat.

Rusty
 
Already decided on the Industrial Hard Chrome with brushed flats and matte rounds and the gun is getting a "street tune" while it's there along with replacement grips and the slide lock/safety lever fixed as some dufus along the way hacked it.

Settled on AP&W Cogan for the first gun as I had so many great options available via recommendation but Cogan has a "legacy carry" package specifically for Colt 1903's and I wanted to experience that and evaluate it in the hand and at the range as well as in the holster.

Did I mention that Colt Model M #2 is on the way later this week? I plan to do a few guns this way - 1903's restored and tuned up and given a wear resistant finish (some variation of hard chrome) to get them ready for their second 100 years. Depending on how the present project turns out I may use AP&W Cogan again or try something different. So far I'm pretty dang impressed with Cogan and the price quoted for the finishing and gun smithing. We'll see how she shoots and looks when it gets home. :D

VooDoo
 
Why'cha get the next one done in a hard black finish like Ion Bond or Melonite?

Remember Blackie and Whitey, the Scottish Terriers from the old whisky ads?
 
There's definitely gonna be a black one be it black hard chrome, Melonite, or whatever. It's be a perfect candidate for those fancy walnut grips I spotted. Gonna be a two tone one as well....... :what:

I'm kinda having a lot of fun running down the project guns and the craftsmen to do the upgrades/restorations. Part of the trip. Meeting new craftsmen and sellers, other 1903 aficionados and other buyers....everybody has been a lot of fun playing along with this whole trip. Never saw myself collecting anything but I'm kinda hooked now. :D

VooDoo
 
I once saw a gunzine article with customized 1903s.
More visible sights were usual, some well proportioned, some too big to look good on the narrow slide.
Only a very few had built up safeties.
 
Got a call from Chris at AP&W Cogan and my refinished/Hard Chromed and "Street Tuned" Colt Pocket Hammerless will be shipped complete tomorrow. Should be back at the local FFL by next week. Since it went out on the 18th of August we are pretty much in the 8 weeks turn around. :D

I'll be shooting it next weekend if all goes the way I'd like and I'll post some pix of it....we kept the original grips which were pretty decent. They cleaned 'em up instead of replacing them which means with the exception of the finish, a few springs and the old safety lever it's all original.

I made it! I thought the wait would kill me...:cool:

VooDoo
 
Excellent! Looking forward to pics and your impressions of Cogan's work. I might have to give them a try, I have a Colt Commander that's going to be getting checkered and maybe bobbed, I am thinking I'll go with hard chrome. However, I finally got the 1911 I mentioned back over the weekend and the black Ionbond DLC is very impressive. Decisions, decisions.
 
Previous owner, a good friend, said it was hard chromed after WWII, I assume that to be in the late 40s. Though some processes were to nickel electroplate the gun first before chroming, that was generally before the war. He never elaborated on the process to me and is gone now.
 
jmace57 said:
Pictures VooDoo...pictures!
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It's killin' me....the gun is *BaCk!* and I got to visit her and fill out paperwork last night. Unfortunately there is a 3 day wait here in Illinois even if I already own the gun being shipped/transferred. So, I can't shoot any pix until *next* weekend and hopefully I'll have a range report as well.

But I was stunned to see the pistol. It's just fantastic. Unbelievable in fact. It's like a brand new 1903 Pocket Hammerless only better...they recut some of the engraving like the Colt Pony to keep it super crisp after the hard chrome plating and the "Street Tune" action job has the trigger and action absolutely crisp and professional. :what:

I'll shoot a bunch of pix but I doubt I'm a good enough photographer to do it justice...it's the coolest pistol I own hand down now. Can't wait to shoot it. Sorry for the tease but I'm so excited I 'bout peed my pants.

Gotta share - pix to come I promise. I have another one of these that's gonna get a similar treatment soon as I get some $ saved up...hate to do the next one *just* like this but it came out so nice I'd love to have two of them as Mates. Did I mention it's fantastic? Super kudos to AP&W Cogan - highly recommended!

VooDoo
 
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