Best Custom Finish Company?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Mastrogiacomo

Mastrogiacomo

Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2002
Messages
2,414
Location
Boston
I have two Beretta compacts I'd like to give a custom finish to. I'd like one to be in Black and the other Nickel. I hear that Nickel finishes from Robar will scratch easy and slippery and hard to grip when wet. I've looked at Arizona Response Systems, Robar, and Tripp Research. Which company is best for the nickel finishes and custom jobs overall for quality, price, and timely return of the guns? Thanks. :)
 
I think you should be aware that all nickle finishes will scratch easier than hard chrome, but they are alot tougher than you think. I find that Robar's NP3 is slippery metal-to-metal but I didn't do my grips in it and the checkering on my mainspring housing still provides as much bite as ever, even in the rain of Oregon. :neener:

I also think you will be hard pressed to find a black finish as good as that the Beretta factory provides you. They will refinish your weapon for a fee. You could always go "cajun" and have BUSA anodize the aluminum frame of one in silver/gray and have them refinish the slide in Bruniton. :cool:
 
Boats -- what about the entire top half of the pistol in nickel but the grips and trigger in roguard? A good look and grip?
 
I doubt you will hear many bad things about Tripp. Most of the good pistolsmiths recommend them without reservation.
 
For "silver" use Checkmate....

For "Black" use Bear Cote from Rocky mountain Arms...

Do not use Fords under any cricustances...

WildthekingoffinishAlaska
 
I would not go with Checkmate or Metalife. I have never heard anything bad about Metaloy, Tripp's, or Ford's.
 
I would not go with Checkmate or Metalife. I have never heard anything bad about Metaloy, Tripp's, or Ford's.
Click to expand...

Just so its clear and fair to Checkmate, I have had over 100 guns chromed by them. Their quality is excellent. I think thats a good enough statistical sample.

As to Fords, stay away from them. I dont make it a habit to publically denigrate a company withoput good reason, but Fords is definately a disaster. I have seen numerous screw ups from them.
 
I heard that the cofounder of Checkmate left to start Ford's. He wanted to do lower volume.
 
Virgil Tripp has done several of my handguns in HC and polymer.

I would not hesitate to use him again under any circumstance, thus I feel confident about recommending him to others. He is easy to talk to on the phone, and will provide suggestions based on his experiences.

A lot of the H&K P7M8 cult community use him, and we are bitchy bunch of whiners if something ever goes wrong. Never heard any complaint about Tripp.
 
And not a single picture of the finished product to be seen on their web site. Odd.
 
I have heard of Ford screwing up, but they will make it right no matter what it takes according to a gunsmith that I've dealt with.
 
I have heard of Ford screwing up, but they will make it right no matter what it takes according to a gunsmith that I've dealt with.
Click to expand...

Some things just cant be made right..

Whatever, just hope nobody gets burned, dont say I didnt put the warning out.

WildcaveatemptorAlaska
 
Funny how we can all basically be anonymous here, and yet we are allowed to freely take 'shots' at any company by name.

Caveat Emptor is advised on forums, as well.
 
I'm just trying to find the best company to finish my guns so don't look at me...;)

By the way, how many of you have actually had your guns finished, and how do you think it improves the quality of the gun if any? Is it just the looks or does it really prolong the life of the firearm?
 
Mastrogiacomo ,

HC protects and prolongs the life of your guns. HC decreases wear and corrosion. HC makes your guns 'slicker' because of nature of chrome and resists residue buildup. My HC'd guns are wiped down with oily rag internally and externally after firing, which is all the cleaning they need. Barrel still needs cleaning. Lubrication is necessary but I use grease since oil moves around alot on HC.

Do a search on this forum as well as TFL for discussions on HC.

Also visit http://www.parkcitiestactical.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum;f=10;DaysPrune=
for discussions & opinions on HC and other finishes. You will find that Virgil Tripp is a good guy.

btw, I don' think that a HC'd gun will be disadvantageous for SD purposes. In dire moments, a pistol will be drawn very quickly, there will not be much time for 'pistol flash' to warn the BG(s), besides, it will likely be night time. Pistol color has no relevance if it comes down to gunplay.
 
Well, I have only had my Robar refinished Springfield for about two months now, but I'm glad I did it. The action is smoother, trigger has improved (it was already very good), cleaning is twice as easy and it looks good to boot. I was talking to a fellow at a match awhile back and he'd had one of his Colts done by Robar several years back. He is very pleased with the way the finish has held up and he shoots a lot, teaches and competes.
I'd say, if you want the most bang for the buck, have the internals done with NP3, then you get smoother functioning w/o getting fancy on the outside and you save some $$.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

W
  • Locked
Best gun coating?
2
Replies
29
Views
6K
Wtlj
W
Mastrogiacomo
  • Locked
Best gun finish company for revolvers?
Replies
20
Views
2K
Preacherman
P
R
  • Locked
What is best home applied firearm metal finish?
Replies
3
Views
501
DENALI
D
T
  • Locked
Best Finish for a Two-Toned 1911
Replies
12
Views
1K
CraigC
CraigC
F
  • Locked
Black chrome and marinecote finishes
Replies
1
Views
804
Virginian
V
Back
Top