What to do? My Firestar Finish

[fnbrowning]

I have a standard Star Firestar M-43, in 9mm which I like because it’s a compact single-action auto. I felt there was nothing wrong with the finish until recently.

Recently, I took it target shooting, and though I thought I wiped it off properly, I must have missed a spot because a few days later I noticed a slight patina of rust on part of the slide. Probably from perspiration.
I figure that if I use it as a carry gun, it will need a lot of care to keep it from rusting.

My question, what is the best finish for this particular gun?
Should I get it parkerized? or Duracoated?
Or is it more cost effective to just replace it with the M-43 model in the "Starvel" (E-Nickel) finish?

 

[armoredman]

Good luck on finding one in Starvel - Star is waaaay out of business, along with the importer, Interarms. Get it refinished, the Firestar is an excellent pistol with currently low collector value. Snag some mags while you're at it, if you can find them, springs, etc, as no more are being made, and haven't been for several years now.

 

[greg531mi]

Do a search for rust removal, some stuff works, some don't. If that doesn't work, I would get one of those fine 3-M non-metal pads, and get the rust off, then, blue the spot with some blue in the bottle....The pits will still be there, but you really have to look at it........Or fine a GOOD reblue guy that can buff as good as a factory guy, and get it reblued for $100 or more....
Stars are not collector guns, with ok blue jobs, reasonable pricetags, but worked like a rolex, one of the most underrated pistol makers that were around....It is our loss they are not around today.....

 

[Steve C]

A little light rust probably hasn't caused any pitting yet. I use some light oil like 3-in-1 or a gun oil and some 3"O" steel wool, (very fine) and take rust off. Then clean off all the oil and use some cold blue to touch up the spot if needed. Oil well afterwards and keep a silicon or oiled cloth in your shooting bag to wipe the gun down after shooting or carrying.

 

[Ray P]

The Stars are terrific little guns, and luckily for those of us on a budget, they are highly undervalued right now. The local gun store in my neighborhood has a Starvel M-43. And they do ship (to your local FFL).

 

[fnbrowning]

Thanks Ray, for the link to the starvel Firestar. That makes 3 I can buy on the Internet right now.

I think a couple of the other posters, while being extremely helpful, have misunderstood my question. That is - The slight patina of rust itself is not a problem to remove. It is very slight.
But it is indicative of a problem that will continue.

True, I could get it re-blued. But bluing is not really a durable finish, correct?
Isn't parkerizing a more durable finish? And Duracoat - doesn't it exceed parkerizing for rust resistance, or am I mistaken here?

What about the starvel finish? If I sell my pistol, and buy a nice starvel replacement, would the "loss" between the selling price and the repurchase really exceed the cost of blue and polish or parkerizing?

With today's gunsmith labor rates . . . . it might be a break even to just replace rather than re-finish??

 

[baker1425]

I've had several in both 40 and 45 in starvel. it's a nice finish, but it will freckle up along the slide too if not wiped down every day. I've seen starvels at gunshows that show that kind of pattern.



I'd say duracoat your star, you can even get it in shiny silver

 

[Glockorama]

I've had good luck with duracoat. I think the firestar would be a good candidate for it. Just make sure you do the prerequisite metal prep before application.

 

[Ray P]

(snip)... I figure that if I use it as a carry gun, it will need a lot of care to keep it from rusting.

My question, what is the best finish for this particular gun?
Should I get it parkerized? or Duracoated?
Or is it more cost effective to just replace it with the M-43 model in the "Starvel" (E-Nickel) finish?

I'm not familiar with the long-term wear characteristics of DuraCoat, Info on that may be available on this forum from somebody that uses a duracoated pistol for daily carry. From the examples above, duracoated pistols sure look good!

plating and parkerizing/phosphating are both much more durable than bluing. Of the two, in the typical thicknesses applied, nickel plating is harder and more impervious to moisture & salt.

If you opt for plated, a factory starvel pistol would probably be cheaper than professionally done nickel-plating. That said, if you decide to plate, don't opt for some low-end, kitchen counter, mom & pop operation using a mail-order electroless plating process. As Chuck Hawks suggests, poorly done nickel-plating isn't very durable or protective; so pay the money for a true professional nickel-plating job.

Properly done, a good (thick & even) phosphate finish will be more durable under abuse than bluing. True professional nickel-plating will stand up better than phosphating. I don't know how Duracoat fits in this hierarchy. Given the cost of a professional plating job, and the relative low value of a Star pistol, you are probably better off swapping your Star in for a Starvel finished pistol. Just remember to look over the finished surface very closely (a 5x lens will help). A defect in the plating surface will be an avenue for moisture & salt to get under the plating.

But the point others in this thread truied to make is still true: Your existing pistol, with existing finish, will work well if you wipe the pistol down with a treated cloth at the end of each day you carry it. Daily carry = daily care.

 

[[email protected]]

Glockorama,
That is the best looking Mak I have ever seen. It almost makes me want a Mak again! Very nice and understated. Did you do that yourself? If you did, that is impressive.

I just traded my Firestar M-43 in Starvel. It was a real shooter as well. Well made, accurate and 100% reliable. I just didn't carry it or shoot it anymore.

They look good in Starvel so you might want to have it done in chrome or nickle to make it look nice. That is what I would go with as I really like the Starvel.

These guns never got the respect they deserved. They were high quality guns that came from Spain so they had two strikes against them from the start. Bersa almost went the same way but people started to see how well made they were and now they are hot sellers.

 

[Ray P]

Here is a link to one plater, with his cost sheets. Having a $ amount estimate may help the decision-making.

 

[fnbrowning]

Thanks to everyone for the great information.

Currently, I'm considering a coating.

There's black Gun Kote (http://tenring.com/trcoating.html).
or
Tripp Research can get it Cobra coated.
or Duracoat, but I'm not trusting myself to get the metal prep exactly right. I would probably send it to a professional.

Cheers!

 

[Don357]

I have a M-243 Firestar Plus In Starvel. I agree, they are great guns. Mine is a looker and shooter. So far, no problems with the Starvel finish. Here She is. You can see more in the WTS/WTT section.

 

[ulflyer]

Heres a refinisher that I've used and heartily recommend:
http://www.gunblue.homestead.com/

 

[GunTech]

If you get plate, go for armoloy or hard crome. Nickel won't wear as well - although electroless nickel seems much better than the traditional. If you check around, you can get a good deal. I did the detail strip myself, and found a place that did the hard chrome for much less than bluing - about $50 for frame and slide.