Back from Bob: HK P2000 Hard Chrome

[boricua9mm]

I had heard in the past few years that Accurate Plating and Weaponry was no longer the same shop it used to be. This was rumor that I had heard after they made the move to Alabama. Specifically, I heard complaints of Kel-Tecs that allegedly looked horrible (APW does the factory chrome for them). It was rumored that APW no longer did good work. I have owned two previous guns that had been finished by the folks at APW, so I took a deep breath and decided to let them have another crack at finishing one of my firearms. After all, if you hard chrome a roughly machined Kel-Tec, it's only going to look so good.

I sent them the slide, barrel, and slide levers for their brushed hard chrome treatment. I have owned an HS2000 in the past with this finish and it was truly amazing. Very tough, resistant to rust, corrosion, etc., and VERY easy to clean.

Well, let's just say that what I heard was only half true. It is true that APW no longer does good work. They do EXCELLENT work!

If you are thinking about having them refinish your pistol, do not hesitate. This time it cost me ~$150 total ($15 to ship, and $135 for the refinish and return shipping via UPS). The turnaround time was a record-breaking 1 WEEK!

I look forward to beating this P2000 like a rented mule and having it come back and ask for more.

Enjoy!

Might as well give you the obligatory close-up shot of my new Sundial, the Citizen Eco-Drive Calibre 2100 in Titanium:

 

[NG VI]

That's sex on ice friend, congratulations, shoot it till it bleeds.

 

[boricua9mm]

Close-up showing the proof marks that remained intact. I was surprised by this b/c these markings are relatively shallow.

 

[schmeky]

APW did my Les Baer back in the summer of 09. Not a great pic, but they did a great job. The total turn around time, including shipping, was an amazing 18 days. There's a little black powder residue at the muzzle, nothing finer than a recently fired 1911

 

[boricua9mm]

Sweet Baer! Bob and the boys really do nice work at a reasonable cost. My experience with their hard chrome is that so long as you don't drag it in the gravel, it looks great for a long, long time, is very easy to cleanup, and shows only minimal wear in the long run.

Here's my old Brushed Hard Chrome HS2000 from APW:



Here's my old OD Green Springer. The "Armorcoat" finish was outsourced to APW back then. I'm not sure who does it nowadays. This pistol is still in the family, now residing in my old man's safe

 

[boricua9mm]

I wound up making a Video Review of this pistol. Enjoy!

Click here for the Video on YouTube

 

[Coltdude84]

Thats one nice P2000, I like your video as well, congrats, the P2000 is a fine weapon and the best CCW gun HK makes IMO...

 

[Youngrevolver]

Very, very nice. I think you converted me from sending my future G30 or USPc .45 (haven't decided which I want yet) to get NP3 finished. That sir is a nice firearm.

 

[DannyZRC]

I thought I recognized that pistol, saw the video before this thread !

 

[boricua9mm]

I have a McDaniel II IWB holster coming from Sam Andrews. I think I'll be carrying this pistol very soon

 

[Shipwreck]

Very nice. I was on the hard chrome bandwagon once upon a time. I had a hard chromed SW99, P99, p99c and Hk USPc. I do still have the fullsize P99 with the hard chroemd slide.

Nice looking gun ya got

 

[glove]

Nice job I like it.
Dave

 

[bannockburn]

boricua9mm

Very nice pistol there. Over thirty years ago, I sent my Beretta Model 70S to Metalife for their hard chrome treatment. My Beretta had a recurring rust problem with the factory bluing and I wanted something a lot more durable. At the time it actually cost less to have it hard chromed than it did to have it reblued again (Beretta had already done it once under warranty). Well after all these years and lots of time at the range and in the field, the gun still looks as great as the day I got it back from Metalife.

 

[boricua9mm]

boricua9mm

Very nice pistol there. Over thirty years ago, I sent my Beretta Model 70S to Metalife for their hard chrome treatment. My Beretta had a recurring rust problem with the factory bluing and I wanted something a lot more durable. At the time it actually cost less to have it hard chromed than it did to have it reblued again (Beretta had already done it once under warranty). Well after all these years and lots of time at the range and in the field, the gun still looks as great as the day I got it back from Metalife.

That definitely says a lot for the durability and overall service life of the hard chrome finishes. I'll be more than pleased if mine holds up that long!

OUt of everything I own, this one is definitely going to by Maritime pistol of choice.