Springfield Custom Shop - which finish?

[squinty]

The girlfriend bought two XDs in february - a 9mm xdm and a stainless .45 ACP 5".

The non-stainless parts of both guns seem exceptionally prone to surface rust, for some reason - as much or more than some blued guns - which surprised me. The Melonite coating is supposed to be far more rust resistant than that, and in my experience (I used to own an XD .45 4") it usually is.

So we're sending them back to Sringfield's custom shop for a bead blasting and aftermarket finish. Going through the custom shop to preserve factory warranty. Of the finishes Springfield offers, we can't decide between birdsong Black-T (they send it out to birdsong and associates) or "niickel teflon" which Springfield describes as "similar" to NP3 (Someone other than Robar applies it for SA) Both can be applied, they say, to "all metal parts."

But we can't decide between the two, so hopefully this forum can help us make up our minds. Any suggestions?

 

[9mmepiphany]

i'm surprised that Springfield didn't offer to fix the finish...or didn't you ask?

of the two finishs you've asked about, the Black-T will be softer and wear faster. the Nickel-Teflon is electroless nickel with teflon added...this is a very durable finish and would be my choice is you're looking for a "white" finish

 

[squinty]

finish

No, I haven't asked yet. I've been curious about aftermarket finishes for a long time anyway, and might well pay for one of the two mentioned even if I didn't have a problem with the finish on these guns. There is no pitting or really obvious orange streaks, but an oil dampened patch rubbed lightly over any black part of the guns comes back with dusty orange crap all over it, and left sitting, even oiled up, for a day or two the same thing happens. This is par for the course with some of my blued guns, but for a Melonite finish I expect better, and have experienced better even with other XD pistols.

 

[BoKnows]

i have my SA Loaded sent to the Custom Shop for some modifications. I also had it refinished in Nickel Teflon. When it comes back, I'll post pictures.