Color fill

[Bob Willman]

Some time way back, probably in the 1960s, there was a product I bought via mail order that came in 2 colors gold and silver. To the untrained eye it kinda looked like gold or silver inlay. My Remington 511 from the 1950s still has some showing in the Remington logo.

Bob
WB8NQW

 

[SlowFuse]

I dont like filling on the outside like the slide, but I do mark magazines with crayon filler.

As someone else said, it lasts fairly well. Makes a pile of glock magazines easier to identify when you can read 9mm, 10mm, 45 etc. in nice bright colored letters. I like white and yellow for fill.

 

[herrwalther]

He over does it with the talking, but here's how. It's not hard.

Very informative video, thank you.

 

[buck460XVR]

IMHO, color fill is like engraving......a little goes a long way. While I understand using it to define various positions of a safety, or other important safe handling procedures, I'm not a big fan of putting lipstick on a pig. But...to each their own. Like with chrome and aftermarket goodies for bikes, using a color fill pen to make a firearm more personal is the choice of the owner....like the rage of off the wall camo paint job patterns that were popular a decade ago. Your gun...your choice. Go with what trips your trigger, not everyone else's.

 

[EMT40SW]

I like color filling modern gun. I use model paint & put it on thick. I let it dry then use a razor blade to cut off the excess above the engraving. Then I use acetone nail polish remover on a rag to carefully remove it from the flat spots. It is easy.

 

[Archie]

As a collector, filling in the crest or manufacturer's marking is rather helpful and reversible without damage. (Now watch for someone to object to that.) I use only white and it is for recognition and clarity than for decoration. As decoration I think it rather tacky. Putting red or pink on the 'fully automatic' symbol? I do not have that problem but I doubt the utility of it, unless one allows those unfamiliar with it access. Of which I doubt the wisdom.

 

[Archer]

I think it’s OK for controls and magazine witness numbering. White for S and red for F is fine, especially on long guns.

It’s OK on some pistols, as well. My safety equipped HK pistols have white and red on the control levers, from the factory.

But I’ve never seen a DIY color fill job on handgun logos that didn’t make the gun look cheap and/or tacky.

 

[Styx]

It's personal prefer. I think some look neat and some look cheesy, but who cares what others think OP? Do what makes you happy. It's not like it's permanent. As with anything, whether it be with any none black colored pistol, calibers, platform, etc, some people are going to have something negative to say and some positive. Just do you.After seeing some of the photos in this thread, Im going to try it out myself.

As an aside, some of my polymer pistols, Walthers and my Beretta APX Combat, came from the factory with some of the etchings on the slide color filled from the factory.

 

[LocoGringo]

My primary 3-gun AR is black and tan. The tan is cerakoted. My tan lower has a cool logo of a scorpion on the side, so I colorfilled the scorpion with black fingernail polish and it stands out without being gaudy. If a bunch of rifles are grouped together waiting to be used on a stage, mine is easy to pick out for me. I like it and that's what's important.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I don't really dig it, but if a gun has it done it doesn't stop me from buying it.

 

[Deus Machina]

Putting red or pink on the 'fully automatic' symbol? I do not have that problem but I doubt the utility of it, unless one allows those unfamiliar with it access. Of which I doubt the wisdom.

In my case, it's only for simplification.
Don't ask me why PSA stamped it on there, but it is, and it's not fully automatic. It's just another 'fire'. And it got red to note that it will, indeed, fire.
I don't want to ever have to explain that to anyone that takes too much of an interest, but I also don't want to leave it unmarked and ambiguous for any friends I allow to handle it.

 

[DustyGmt]

I like to color fill on some guns.
Here’s my Spartan AR9.
View attachment 936882

I see you went another direction, it makes sense though. Green does mean go.

 

[HB]

Strangely I feel compelled to try white lettering on my glock. I’ll post the results if I get bored.

 

[FFGColorado]

How do most people do this color fill? I think it is hideous but I am sure I will have to do it at some point as a gunsmith. I imagine taking a very fine point, like a dental pick, and slowly adding whatever color to the letter fill. Wiping off any excess before it dries.

Haven't looked at the entire thread but nail polish, some cotton balls and nail polish remover..paint it on, let dry, cotton ball the excess off, repeat..comes out really nice(on my 3 Glocks)..

 

[Buzznrose]

I am really surprised by the number of folks who are positive on this. That isn’t a judgement, just an observation. I would have thought it to be more 50-50.

I don’t do it but I do mark magazines with a silver sharpie. I know guys who color code their Glock mags by caliber.

I agree it can look cheesy if done bad. But I’m a simple guy, so YMMV.

 

[rdnktrkr]

I've been reading everyones thoughts on this and I'm thinking about my M&Ps that look the same except 2 are 40s and 3 are 45s, I could see me grabbing one caliber gun and another caliber mags, I could see the same happening with the 3 Savages I just purchased. How many ARs look the same and are different calibers, what about 300BO mags.

 

[Deus Machina]

I am really surprised by the number of folks who are positive on this. That isn’t a judgement, just an observation. I would have thought it to be more 50-50.

I kind of am, too, but notice the replies are showcasing the new styles or 'utility' guns. Stuff where quick and easy identification or direction need to be part of the design, or stuff that are tools (nice tools, but tools) more than anything else.
Color filling an AR or an M&P seems right, or at least not objectionable. Coloring an old walnut-gripped S&W with the foot-deep bluing, or a Colt Python? That's a paddlin'.

 

[CapnMac]

Coloring an old walnut-gripped S&W with the foot-deep bluing, or a Colt Python? That's a paddlin'.

Dunno, I know of a Python in Ultimate Stainless where the engraving is filled in with a deep royal blue. This is simple and elegant, and it easier on the eyes than the mirror-on-mirror effect before.

I know of a vintage S&W Model 29 with White-Out in the engraving, and it does not detract in the slightest. (It's a 29, it stands out on its own [])

 

[DustyGmt]

Dunno, I know of a Python in Ultimate Stainless where the engraving is filled in with a deep royal blue. This is simple and elegant, and it easier on the eyes than the mirror-on-mirror effect before.

I know of a vintage S&W Model 29 with White-Out in the engraving, and it does not detract in the slightest. (It's a 29, it stands out on its own [])

Do u have a pic of the python?

 

[CapnMac]

Do u have a pic of the python?

No, was not mine, was friend of a friend of a friend. Such is life.

 

[Phillip Farney]

20200622_102123

• Phillip Farney
• Jun 30, 2020

p365 xl with Romeo zero.

 

[potmetal]

We used to have a seller at local gun shows who would fill in lettering on Milsurp rifles with white paint. I always assumed he was highlighting the country of origin and caliber for buyers.
I guess it's like cerakoting or wrapping a gun, or even getting colorful grips for it. It's your pride and joy, dress it up any way you want. We have a guy in town that drives a Lambo, wrapped in orange and black. To some it's a disgrace, to him it's his baby.

 

[Deus Machina]

Dunno, I know of a Python in Ultimate Stainless where the engraving is filled in with a deep royal blue. This is simple and elegant, and it easier on the eyes than the mirror-on-mirror effect before.

I know of a vintage S&W Model 29 with White-Out in the engraving, and it does not detract in the slightest. (It's a 29, it stands out on its own [])

I could be mistaken, but I'd have to see that to decide it works out alright IMO.
I can definitely see where blue lettering on stainless would work better than coloring on deep bluing, though.