perfect material combination?

[AbitNutz]

I've been in guns so long that I had come to the conclusion that an all stainless steel gun was the ultimate in durable finishes and I think for the most part that seems to still hold true.

Now, their seems to be very major variations that offer not only as great or greater durability but other desirable properties.

The FN FNP-45 Competition I'm looking at is a polymer frame, polymer which now seems to have really proven itself not only in durability but also in absorbing recoil and ergonomics and ergonomic options.

FN adds a bit more in the stainless area by going to a Melonite or blackened stainless process. Which is stainless but matte black and even tougher.

So my question is...is a polymer frame and a blackened stainless like Melonite or Tenifer the current end all and be all of durable finishes?

Don't get me wrong, I love my matte or bright stainless pistols but this combo of polymer and black stainless seems to be the cats a$$, especially for a carry gun.

 

[ku4hx]

I own several in what were advertised as "all stainless steel"; some go back to the early days of stainless steel guns. Some I own were advertised as "all stainless" yet have carbon steel trigger mechanism. Some later guns have what certainly appear to be all stainless internals. But if a gun has any carbon steel parts, those parts have to be treated with the usual anti-rust agents and that makes them slightly more of a chore to clean and preserve than true "all stainless".

I still like stainless guns regardless, I just wish they also had stainless grip screws, blackened stainless sights and stainless magazines for those that use magazines. I guess to keep costs down, magazines are often made of stamped carbon steel. Ruger does that with their stainless steel .22 semi auto pistols. Yet all eight Ruger magazines for my KP-90 are stainless. It's a mystery.

I'm of the old school and believe guns are like finely crafted tools: they need to be kept clean, properly lubricated and wiped down periodically. Stainless steel and the other protective finishes can delay that need for me, but in the end: clean, properly lubed and wiped down.

I own several Glocks and I DO like a polymer framed gun for a variety of reasons one of which is ease of maintenance. But they all have metal internals and those need to be cleaned and properly lubed too.

For me it's not really a matter of finish that makes or breaks a guns desirability, it's what that gun does for me with its specific attributes. I prefer certain materials, styles and finishes, but those are secondary to the guns intended function and usefulness.

 

[Zerodefect]

My favorite setup is all stainless steel and aluminum with strong carbon steel working parts.

Melonite or Hardhat everything possible. Alumihyde the aluminum parts that can't be Melonited.

Has anyone put a black coating over the exteroir of a Melonited gun?



Polymer framed guns only exist in my collection for weight loss. And extreme enviroment carry in my Glocks case. If I'm visiting a salt mine i'd rather not carry a 1911, even if it is setup correctly with SS and corrosion resistant finishes.

 

[hammerklavier]

It's rare, but a melonite treated stainless steel gun can rust (light rust, usually at corners, or in the serrations). I've never seen it, but have read numerous complaints for both Glock and M&P.

 

[AbitNutz]

As I understand it, Glocks are not stainless? No? The FNP is stainless and then has this "Melonite" process done to it to blacken it. I've also read that Melonite and the Glock "Tennifer" process are the same. So it would seem that you can use this process on stainless or non-stainless metals.

I would never consider finish over functionality.