M-Pro7 Removes Armory Kote

[Mikee Loxxer]

So last night I decided to field strip and clean my Springfield Armory GI 1911A1. I had it out to the range last month and had been too lazy to clean it. This pistol has an OD Green colored finish that from what I understand is called “Armory Kote.”

Recently I purchased a spray bottle of M-Pro7 and decided to use it to clean the Springfield. I sprayed down the slide, frame, and barrel bushing then set them on a newspaper to let the solvent do its job while I worked on the barrel.

After I got done with the barrel I picked up the M-Pro7 sprayed frame and noticed that a section of it looked darker than it should. THIS WAS THE BARE METAL THAT USED TO BE UNDER THE FINISH!!!

Not only did the frame lose a significant amount of its finish but so did the slide. Needless to say I am not happy about this. I realize that it is my fault for not having tested M-Pro7 on an inconspicuous part of the frame (wherever that’s supposed to be) before use. The label on the bottle notes that it is odor free, non-toxic, etc. but does not mention that it should be spot tested before use. I suppose by virtue of its being able to remove things you don’t want the potential exists for it to remove things that you do.

I don’t know what I am going to do about this other than write it off as a learning experience. I just thought I would alert my fellow High Roaders to what this stuff is capable of and what Springfield’s “Armory Kote” is not resistant to.

 

[checkmyswag]

I'm a big fan of the M-pro7 products.

I'd contact them. Can learn from it at the very least.

Don't blame you for being disappointed and frustrated though.

 

[pittspilot]

Weird. Mpro-7 has worked very well for me and has never damaged anything. Do you have any pictures?

 

[Mikee Loxxer]

Here is a picture of the damage

 

[EBShooting]

sorry for your frustration, that really sucks. I though the GI pistols were parkerized?

 

[JohnKSa]

I'm inclined to believe that the finish was not properly applied/cured. I'd contact Springfield and complain.

 

[LMLarsen]

The GIs are parkerized, not finished with Armory Kote.

 

[silversport]

unless they're finished in something else like the OP's is...
Bill

 

[JohnBT]

I've used nearly a quart of the cleaner. It's high tech soap. I don't see how it could remove a properly applied finish.

FAQ - www.mpro7.com/is-m-pro-7-safe-on-cold-bluing-after-market-or-non-factory-finishes.html

John

edited to add: It will strip every bit of oil off a gun and leave dry grayish looking spots and streaks in the finish. I first noticed this on my 1996 CZ-75B Military model with the factory powdercoat finish. A quick wipe with an oily rag fixes it. You're supposed to apply oil after using the cleaner anyway.

 

[timprice]

I have a Springfield GI and have a full M-Pro cleaning kit I use on all my guns and have never had this problem. Id contact Springfield if anyone.

 

[TennJed]

I am in the contact Springfield boat. I would be willing to bet the finish was nit properly applied.

I hear that Springfield has great customer service

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I use the stuff by the gallon in my ultrasonic. I have never had a problem with it in nearly 10 years of use.

Great stuff. Contact Springfield. Something went south somewhere.

 

[mberoose]

I realize that it is my fault for not having tested M-Pro7 on an inconspicuous part of the frame (wherever that’s supposed to be) before use. The label on the bottle notes that it is odor free, non-toxic, etc. but does not mention that it should be spot tested before use.

Lol. Would you have sued McDonald's too if their coffee cups didn't say "Contents are Hot?"

 

[essayons21]

Lol. Would you have sued McDonald's too if their coffee cups didn't say "Contents are Hot?"

???

Coffee is supposed to be hot. Firearms cleaners are not supposed to remove finish.

As many have said, it was probably a defect in the finish, contact springfield

 

[Captaingyro]

It's kind of hard to tell from the picture, but the darker areas don't look like bare metal; as a matter of fact, I kind of like the "bare" areas better than the green finish.

Is is possible you're not the first owner, and that someone applied a cheap paint job to the pistol before you bought it?

 

[WardenWolf]

Parkerizing absorbs oil, and turns darker when it does. This is how it protects against corrosion. That's what you're seeing. It hasn't REMOVED the finish. It's just soaked in on those spots. Some people dunk their new parked guns in oil for a while to let them fully absorb it. If you want it to look even, you might consider trying that. Nothing is wrong, the parkerizing is just working how it's supposed to.

 

[silversport]

It's not Parkerized... http://www.gunshopfinder.com/springfield/PW9609L.asp the OP says it has a green finish he believes is Armory Kote on it...

Bill

 

[WardenWolf]

The description of that gun says it's parkerized, and other people have more or less confirmed it's parkerized.

 

[TennJed]

It's not Parkerized... http://www.gunshopfinder.com/springfield/PW9609L.asp the OP says it has a green finish he believes is Armory Kote on it...

Bill

Am I missing something? That link clearly states that it IS parkerized

 

[silversport]

Meant to say that the OP says his is Armory Kote...not Parkerized...his pic looks different than the link I posted...
Bill

 

[TJx]

Based on my experience I'm surprised M-Pro7 could remove anything but a little dust.

 

[racine]

TJx,
Hey man, I've been known to put 20K rounds downrange a year in practice and in competition. If it didn't work I wouldn't buy it by the gallon. I even use in on my garage floor to remove oil spills. Use what works for you but your comment is purely misinformation.