1911 finish concern

[xJokerG23x]

Hello everyone. I hope everyone is doing well. I got a great deal on a Kimber Classic Custom Royal this year from a close friend. He bought the pistol as is with custom fitted parts installed and I must say it is a beauty. Do any of you know how good the Royal bluing would hold up to daily carrying? I didn't buy this weapon for it to be a safe queen, if I'm going to spend the money on a gun, then by God I'm gonna use it lol! I've seen many pics online of blued 1911's that are absolutley beautiful with honest wear and tear, I'm just having a hard time bringing myself to holster and carry this gun lol. I know all holsters will wear any type of finish, but is leather the typical way to go? I want this pistol to still look as beautiful when my children are older as it does now, except with some honest wear and tear, not abuse. Any advice is appreciated and by the way, this is a pre series II Kimber

 

[Jim Watson]

We are frequently warned that a suede lined holster will hold grit and wear the finish on a gun. I did not find that to be the case but then I would clean my Safariland lined holsters out with a stiff brush when I cleaned the gun.

 

[Remllez]

A well made good fitting leather holster will help to (minimize) carry wear. Everyday use will contribute to bluing wear and the grips will get banged up a bit but it's all wear from honest work and nothing to detract from the aesthetics or value.

I've never bought a gun as an investment or to stay in the safe so I don't have a problem with honest wear and tear, to me it comes with the territory and is perfectly acceptable.
If you intend to carry this piece you will have to accept the consequences. Abuse is different from use, and it seems you understand that so you should be just fine.

In short I guess I'm saying, don't worry about it and enjoy your pistol they are nice guns and built to be used for their intended purpose.

 

[gym]

I got over that a long time ago. It's either that or the gun sit's in the safe and you don't use it. Just do it and it will become second nature. My carry guns have character.
And in 5 years you can always have it re-done by one of the better shops if it really bothers you.

 

[xJokerG23x]

Thanks for the advice everybody. I don't mind some character added to a pistol at all, its just that this particular bluing is very deep and I was just wanting to make sure I got a good holster that would not mark it up ugly. Sounds like leather is the way to go. I've seen many 1911's on forums that people post pics of, and the blued ones with honest wear look awesome. Take care!

 

[Zerodefect]

Meh.

Chuck it in some quality kydex from Crossbreed or Ravens Concealment, if that deosn't make your 1911 look good, throw it down the driveway a few times! You might have to throw it down some concrete stairs a few times to get the WWII look.

How are you going to justify fancy ION bond refinishing if you don't put some wear on her? The Royal finish is toast no matter what holster you use, and that's ok, pretty 1911's look silly.

Clack? Pics?

 

[xJokerG23x]

I will post some pics shortly. I hope the quality be be good enough, they were taken with my Blackberry. I have a pic with the original double diamonds and then my new wood/ rubber combos I put on it.

 

[xJokerG23x]

IMG_0245.JPG

don't know if this worked out right, can you view the pic? I'm on a mobile device and can't access my computer at this time.

 

[Too_Pure]

Worn bluing, in my opinion, just shows that a gun had been loved. I get all excited about the slick spray on finishes and am all ready to send mine in, then I look at my worn blued 1911 and can't bring myself to do it.

 

[357 Terms]

My 1911 (Kimber Tactical Custom 2) has some holster wear; doesn't bother me at all. I bought it to shoot and carry , like you have, so it doesn't bother me at all. Shoot that 45 and enjoy every shot!

 

[xJokerG23x]

Here are some pics of the Royal with the original double diamonds and a set of wood/ rubber combos.

 

[xJokerG23x]

357 Terms,mind sharing a pic of your Kimber Tactical? I'd love to see it

 

[Zerodefect]

I like the grips in pic #3 the best. And that's way too pretty. Needs some hard wear from a stack of ammo.

 

[xJokerG23x]

Thanks, yeah I like the double diamonds myself. Yeah I guess I need to get some love markings on her lol!

 

[Zerodefect]

It hurts at first, but eventually the pistol deos get a really cool worn look.

I have a Dan Wesson SS Valor that has/had a perfect fuzzy oxide media blasted finish. That lasted about 3 holster draws. Now after some practice it looks like it was in WWII. No deep scratches, but that fuzzy finish wears smooth and looks like a ton of scratches.

Everyone that sees it is like "Didn't you buy this new?" "Have you been to a few classes with this thing allready?" "Wow, you really did throw it down the driveway"

I plan to have it blasted with a smoother beadblast finish, then hardend and blackend with Melonite or Hardhat. But even that hard finish will show wear, it just shows it slower and requires refinishing less often.

Allthough a friend of mine wears the blueing off his pistols until they allmost look stainless. He might get a little patina sometimes, but none of his pistols have rusted or anything. He deosn't do refinishing at all, ever. And it looks pretty cool actually.

I get a kick out of "What do you carry?" Pic threads. Where everyone posts brand new looking gun pics. LOLz. Like any of those actually get carried or drawn ever.