I used this product on my S & W j-frame which was showing bare metal along the rear sights from holster wear. This was just touch up on a small area. I prepped with steel wool and alcohol. I applied with a cotton swab. The first application was blotchy, but a second application darkened the metal nicely and evenly. I let the applications air dry in between and then rubbed with a cotton rag. The effect was a matte black which was slightly shinier than the surrounding factory paint. There also appeared to be a rim of slight dulling of the paint around the treated area, however, following the recommendations on the bottle, I applied a little gunstock wax and buffed the area. This blended in the treated area with the surrounding paint very well, giving a more even look-you can see a difference looking closely under a light, but I can live with the result as it looks way better than bare metal. Total time was 20 minutes with a very satisfactory result. I don't know about durability at this point, but since this is a chemical reaction rather that a layer of paint, I imagine it should be reasonably durable. Does anybody have any experience with the durability of this product? The application is easy and gives a pretty good result so I don't think I'd have much problem with having to re-treat after a reasonable amount of time.