I'm a carbon steel / blued kind of guy. But alas, I'll be picking up a stainless Commander because it's just what I've been looking for...except it's stainless.

Therefore, I'm pretty "coating ignorant" as of the past few years. Seems like Ionbond is pretty popular but not sure how it's holding up or if it's still available. Is it different than Black-T (which was really popular before my carbon fetish took over). Others? Thanks.

I have 2 1911's that have been IonBonded. A stainless steel Combat Commander and a stainless framed Caspian Arms. Both are full custom 1911's. I think IonBond is the best black finish for firearms...PERIOD! I even have a custom S&W model 22 .45acp revolver that Heirloom Precision did for me in IonBond. It wears great, holds up to my sweat(no rust)! I can't comment on Black T. My next custom 1911 will be worked on by John Harrison and it too will be finished in IonBond.

Check out the gallery on John Harrison's website. My Stainless Combat Commander is at the top left 2 pics. It still looks that good too.

How about Cerakote or blackened stainless?

Is blackened stainless basically a "blued" stainless gun? Does blackened stainless wear similar to a carbon steel blued gun? I'm sure rust protection not as good as other, but I've always liked the way blued guns look when "worn" a bit.

Any have pix of or experience with these finishes?

Do you have same recommendations for a wheelgun or would you recommend something different for those?

My limited ownership experience with spray-ons or spray-and-bakes is that they will not hold up as well on a stainless gun as they will on a carbon-steel gun. They need to go on over a fresh Parkerizing job to get the maximum lock-in, and stainless does not Parkerize. So, any of the spray-ons that are going onto bare stainless, my opinion and experience is that it's not going to hold up extremely well.

The only two ways I've used to blacken stainless are Ion Bond and a process called chrome sulphide (or is it sulphate?). CS is simply a bluing for stainless-- it converts or stains the metal. It holds up as well as bluing on a carbon-steel gun, maybe a little better. The other is Ion Bond, and it is by far the better of the two in terms of durability, plus the fact that it's harder than hard chrome.

Any more I don't know who is doing the CS finish anyway.

Thanks Ned!

Anyone know who still does CS or bluing stainless?

I think Robar does CS on stainless.

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Not for several years last I knew but when they did it they did it very well. Maybe they are doing it again-- hope so.

See:

http://www.robarguns.com/additional_finishes.htm

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No good deed goes unpunished.

Anyone have any experience with Robar's blackened stainless treatment -- especially on a revolver? Love to hear some feedback!

IonBond DLC is my go-to durable black finish. Think of it as black colored hard chrome and you'll have a pretty good idea.

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Hi John! Is it more slick and shiny, like chrome? Never seen finish in person. How is there turnaround and quality control these days?

Hoser,

Here are a couple to look at. First one is matte IonBond, and the second is with polished flats. I've seen both of these pistols in person, and the finish is very nice. I can't speak to the turnaround or QC questions, as I have no experience with that.

http://www.louderthanwords.us/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9032

http://www.louderthanwords.us/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9051

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I've sent several pieces to Ionbond in the last few months and the turnaround has been pretty good. The QC has been very good for me.

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J. Timmons & Sons Custom 1911 Pistols
South Carolina
864-558-1911
www.jttimmonscustom1911pistols.com

Love polished flats! May have to look into that.

Armor tuff by Wilson

Any different suggestion for a magnum S&W revolver? Does blast from 41 mag or 44 mag change recommendations? Thanks.

In my mind that is not cause for a change in recommendation.