Just Got my USP Compact Back From Ford's - Hard Chromed and Engraved - Photos!

[JLStorm]

Here is the USP Compact 45 LEM I purchased it new and sent it right to Ford's for hard chroming and engraving. I know to many this is simply blasphemy, but I couldnt be happier. I am simply stunned at what an amazing job they did. The hard chrome is a brushed finish everywhere other than the serrations which are matte.

My wife already informed me that this one would be staying in the family and passed down, and that it was never to be sold...not that I needed any convincing or had any intention of ever letting this one go lol.

 

[hankdatank1362]

Honestly? I like it, but I would have chosen a diffferent font for the engraving. Also, I think it's just the flash from the camera, but it looks awful shiny. But, I've seen many hard-chrome slides on black poly frames and they look very good. I think the flash from your camera just made it a little blingy.

 

[Highland Ranger]

One of my favorite guns. Looks great.

 

[Jason_G]

I looked at it over on the HKPro forum earlier. I've always liked the hard chrome/stainless and black look. I probably would've picked up a stainless one if I could've found one when I bought my USP.
An aside: I see you have Mepro's on your pistol. Are they accurate for you? I'm asking because I'm looking for some night sights for my fullsize.

Jason

 

[19-3Ben]

Hot. Very very hot.

 

[JLStorm]

Honestly? I like it, but I would have chosen a diffferent font for the engraving. Also, I think it's just the flash from the camera, but it looks awful shiny. But, I've seen many hard-chrome slides on black poly frames and they look very good. I think the flash from your camera just made it a little blingy.

Its very similar to a stainless finish, but just a touch more bright/reflective. It is not as bright as the flash makes it look. Its a nicely brushed finish, but definitely not a high polished bright look.


As far as the mepros and accuracy, I cant speak for this gun because I havent shot it yet, but on my other 2 HKs I have the same sites and found them to be wonderful. I put a pair of yellow rear / green front on this one which does make a difference in the dark for front site acquisition since the green is the brightest site, obviously during the day this isnt an issue.

 

[Kor]

Waitaminnit...you had the words "PARA BELLUM"...engraved on a .45 ACP pistol...

THAT IS BLASPHEMY!!!

J/K - looks pretty sweet to me, and I had Henry V, III.vi.163-166 engraved on the slide of my Kahr K40, which references the following lines:

"We would not seek a battle as we are,/"
"Nor, as we are, we say we will not shun it./"
"So tell your master."

 

[loki.fish]

Nice. Font looks a bit out of place though, but that's personal preference. What's that translate to and what language is it?

 

[SGW42]

Latin, "If you seek peace, prepare for war," IIRC.

 

[JLStorm]

Waitaminnit...you had the words "PARA BELLUM...engraved on a .45 ACP pistol...

THAT IS BLASPHEMY!!!

LOL, I know there are a few guys out there that are not familiar with the phrase and think I really just wanted a 9mm instead

 

[biscuitninja]

SOOOoooo nice! *drools* *drools*
what is the name of the company?
I have a nice little 225 that I want to two tone and redo the coating.
congradulations
-bix

 

[JLStorm]

http://www.fordsguns.com/

 

[Glockamania®]

Nice. What font did you use? Olde English font would've been cool.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[JLStorm]

Im actually not sure on the font, I asked for something similar to a font I had that was very clean, crip, and linear to match the part of the gun it was one as well as the straight serrations. They did an amazing job, as a font that is that straight would make it very apparent if it was there least be off center or straight. I also didnt want anything with a lot of curves as I thought it may be hard to read when small and the lines on the cune are very angular for the most part it just didnt look right to me on mock ups.

 

[Firepower!]

Its good if you like it, BUT I prefer the original finish on my handguns.

 

[IdaReggaeMon]

Looks great. How do you like the LEM trigger?

 

[romma]

Nice High Point!.... Kidding! Looks great JL

 

[Shipwreck]

I have a hard chromed USPc too - but I went with a matte finish, and I decided to leave the barrel and slide stop black...

 

[Waywatcher]

It is ironic that a .45 has Para Bellum on it.

Something with a touch of humour might be fun, like "They all fall to hardball"

 

[Calhoun]

Nice lookin' weapon you have there. I think the font looks great. Very clean, very crisp. Something like Olde English, in my opinion, would have been a little over the top.

 

[CPshooter]

That really doesn't look like hard-chrome plating at all. Looks kind of like a hand-polished stainless job. Shipwreck's looks more like a hard chrome finish, even though it's matte. I actually like the matte HC myself...

JLStorm - can you take better pics for us? I'd like to see it in a different light source.

 

[hankdatank1362]

Yeah shipwreck has a couple nice hard-chromed guns. I like the matte myself as well.

JL, it's the slide stop! That's what's making it not look quite right in my mind!

 

[JLStorm]

I know guys, I had to ask for the slide stop to be hard chromed. I cannot stand everything hard chromed but the black slide stop...its purely personal preference obviously, but I just couldnt leave it black...couldnt do it lol.

As far as better photos...I will have to work on that, my camera isnt that good and I dont have the best lighting. Im hoping that I can get someone with a better camera to take some photos. It may take a while, but I'll get something better for you...after I shoot a few thousand rounds through it though lol...first things first!


CP, Shipwreck's looks like Tripp's hardchrome which is generally more of a matte. Ford's has matte (which is a bit brighter than Tripps), Brushed, and polished. Their brushed is what I have, their polished looks like nickel. If you want a much more understated matt, I would go with Tripp, he is the only one that really seems to have that particular look.