Parkerized vs Blued

[Slater]

Considering the cost of chemicals, equipment, time, etc., is it generally cheaper to Blue a gun than Parkerize it, or are they about the same?

 

[P95Carry]

Just my thinking and subject to correction.

I'd think a top class bluing (a la Smith - old style) would cost more. Park'ing is of course work and chemical intensive but IMO may run a bit cheaper. It is also (IMO again) the more durable finish, if not as aesthetically pleasing.

 

[Fumbler]

For standard level finishes I think it's a little cheaper to parkerize a gun.

For a crappy blueing job vs a crappy parkerizing job it's probably cheaper to blue.

However, a top of the line blue job will be much more labor intensive in the metal prep and will cost much much more than any parkerizing job.

I have seen some parkerizing jobs that looked much better than any blueing short of a Colt Python, but its kinda comparing apples and oranges as you can't have a glossy glass-like park job.

I would rather have a good parkerizing than a decent blueing on most working guns.