Oiling up a parkerized finish.

[Nushif]

So I've been doing some reading on the parkerized finish on my RIA M1911A1-CS ... wow.. That's a lot of numbers and letters.

I've read from several sources that the way to really get the best out of this actually really nice looking finish is to soak it in oil. Some people back them, but I'm sure ze wife would be mightily angry if I did that.

Now, I did so. I oiled it up (using BeakFree CLP), left it for ten hours, then flipped it over, oiled up the other side ... leaving it for ten hours now ... and before that it's gotten several more "couple hour" soaks. It's looking mighty nice.
However (there always is one of those, right?) the frame is taking on a very slightly different color than the slide!
The slide is turning into a very nice and dark almost black green. PRetty. The frame though is considerably lighter. More green than black. Still dark. But different than the slide. They're both made of the same material and I can only assume they got the same parkerizing process.

What gives?

 

[dprice3844444]

the person on the receiving end will never know the difference

 

[Jim Watson]

They're both made of the same material

The same alloy, most likely; but the slide is typically heat treated harder than the frame.
Just speculating, maybe that affected the texture of the Parkerizing but it only showed up when oiled.

 

[gb6491]

The same alloy, most likely; but the slide is typically heat treated harder than the frame.
Just speculating, maybe that affected the texture of the Parkerizing but it only showed up when oiled.

I believe Jim is on it to it right there.
Differences in the type of steel used and other variables about it (such as hardness, cast, forged, type of finish) can affect the color of the parkerizing. Time in the solution, temperature of the solution, state of the solution, whether or not they were done in the same solution, will have an effect. Aging also has an affect on the color, as do some protective coatings. Shoot, even different lighting will affect how parkerizing looks.

I believe your RIA has a cast frame and either a forged or bar stock slide. That might account for what you are seeing.

BTW, here is an example: it took me a considerable amount of time to get a close to matching finish on this 1911: http://gbrannon.bizhat.com/1911.htm
In really bright sun light it has a green tint to it.

Regards,
Greg

 

[mjsdwash]

normal, look for it on a GI guns, its there. I did my own parkerize on one, and the frame came out grey, slide black.

 

[Sunray]

"...frame came out grey, slide black..." Something's screwy there. Grey and black parkerizing comes from using different chemicals. Zinc gives shades of grey depending on the metal it goes on. Manganese gives black.
There's no such thing as green parkerizing. That is the result of long term storage in cosmoline. Leaving oil on it doesn't turn it green.
Breakfree is synthetic oils and individual proprietary ingredients.

 

[Jim K]

The whole purpose of Parkerizing is to retain oil and prevent rust. The dullness of the finish is an added benefit, mainly for the military. A "cool" appearance is totally irrelevant.

Jim