Best corrosion resistant, wear resistant finish for carbon steel?

[JellyJar]

Just yesterday I stated a thread asking if SS had any advantage over carbon steel other than corrosion resistance. Now I would like to ask a couple of related questions.

If I had a good carbon steel handgun and wanted to refinish it with a good corrosion resistant and wear resistant finish which finish would be the best?

If I wanted a black finish which would be the best?

Thanks all

P.S. I have heard a lot about chrome and NP3. Of those two which is best?

 

[seanie!]

Is Cerakote an option? There's a member here who does it, and I think he's running a holiday special. I've heard nothing but good things about it.

***edit*** Here's a link to his thread with plenty of pictures.

 

[dfariswheel]

Probably the best all around gun finish is still hard chrome.
Its one of the very few that's considered to be a true life-time finish.
Its very hard, very durable, has excellent rust resistance, and makes the gun both smoother in operation and trigger pull, and easier to clean.
I'd put hard chrome above NP3.

For a black finish, probably the Melonite QPQ offered by Coal Creek is best:
http://www.coalcreekarmory.com/

 

[sheepdog]

...back in the early 70s, I had a PPK and a Stevens 311 done in Ft Worth by Armolloy...it was a thin, satin grey finish that you could draw a file across without harming it...rustproof...don't know if they still do that process, but if I had a blued gun, I'd try...

 

[BCRider]

Keeping in mind that hard chrome actually adds some thickness it may not work in all cases without some metal work being done to allow the proper clearances to allow for the chroming.

Also even hard chrome is porous and requires oiling. If not the steel below the chrome can still become wet through the pores and the rust will "bloom" out at the pores to stain the outer surface. You can see this on hydraulic cylinder shafts that have been allowed to sit outside for a few months. Same with motorcycle fork tubes left out in the wet with no protection. The good news is that some oil applied and then polished of hard will leave enough in the pores to ensure no rust for a LONG time. Just don't degrease it and leave it and expect the same protection.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I carry a S&W mod 19 with 2 1/2" barrel that I bought in 1986 (new) that is nickel plated. I carry it when I hunt as a backup. I carry it on horse back (sometimes holstered and sometimes in my pommel bag). It has never been wiped down with an oily rag. The only oil it sees is when I clean it and then it is wiped down with a dry t-shirt after cleaning. It has never rusted nor does it show any wear from all this abuse. Well a couple of scratches, but they are minor scratches.

 

[weisse52]

Some very good options. My preference would be a carbon steel gun with a hard chrome finish.

http://www.originalmetaloy.com/index.html
http://www.robarguns.com/index.htm
http://www.mahovskysmetalife.com/

These sites have some of the best information on what each option offers:

http://www.harrisoncustom.com/TextDesc/Finishes.htm

http://www.apwcogan.com/Refinishing.htm


Take a look at all these sites to really get the best options.

 

[navyretired 1]

I have several Combat Commanders with different finishes. 1. Industrial hard chrome, (very good) 2. Barkums MP3 done maybe 25 years ago while he was at Gunsite, (excellent no visable wear) 3. Manganese Phosphate, (lots of color lost but no wear thats measurable and Blue slide and anodized frame which is very fragile.
I like two tone government models and only have series 70's. and I've not tried any of the baked on PAINT finishes except on an AR-15, don't like it, the paint scratches and anodizing under is undamaged.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Melonite is some pretty amazing stuff.

http://www.finishing.com/324/69.shtml