ltwguns.com

Hello all. I am currently in the process of doing some mild customizing of my old CZ-75B, and I will need to refinish the pistol. I'm looking for something other than chrome or nickel that is corrosion resistant and looks good. I love a nicely blued pistol, but I tend to be a rather corrosive individual, and summer in Texas doesn't help matters. Thanks for the opinions.

I'm not the most knowledgeable by any stretch but my personal preferences are hard chrome or Black T. I love the look and corrosion resistance of hard chrome, It looks better than stainless, but not as reflective as nickel, almost a matte appearance. Black T is very corrosive resistant as well. My custom is nearly completed, just waiting for it to get back from Tripp's Research for the hard chrome finish. Marc Morganti of Gemini Customs is building the gun for me, you can check out his work and prices on his website http://www.geminicustoms.com He has some very good pics of both finishes on there. Hope this helps some. Good luck!

Kevin

_________________
Someday someone may kill you with your own gun, but they should have to beat you to death with it because it is empty.

Cerakote

_________________
-Jim Linch

You might also consider melonite- EGW guns offers their "ETreat" which is the same as Melonite QPQ, of which Coal Creek Armory offers this finish for about $200 to $250 per gun. Melonite QPQ is black, extremely tough, and extremely corrosion resistant. I have a Kimber that has it and after over 1000 rounds it shows not a hint of wear anywhere, not even on the frame and slide rails. The only downside of Melonite is that, due to the high heat exposure, the shops offering it won't treat extractors, springs, small pins, or the magazine catch for fear of damaging the part.

_________________
Ted

I have two guns Black T'd by Walter Birdsong. It has held up great so far with some wear here and there, but nothing has rusted on the gun that was black T'd. Good finish, nice matte black look that is very slick. Slick enough that I only use a minimal amount of lube on the rails.

I've heard only good things about the Melonite QPQ. It looks like a great finish and coal creek was offering a discount to 1911 forum members a little bit ago, dont know if its still going or not. I would try it out but I'm fresh out of guns that need the treatment.

I am starting to see more and more guns done by Ion-bond at matches. I've been pretty impressed with them.

KC Eusebio (shoots USPSA for the Army team...past Steel Challenge Champion) had a gun that I assumed had been blued the week of the match that I saw him at. He later told me it was ion-bond.

I then got to handle a gun that Tony Holmes had at the Indiana state match. It was a matte finish. He had the entire gun done...including the trigger group. Tony finished in the top 16 at the Bianchi Cup this year, so he is no stranger to good triggers. I didn't ask what was in this gun, but it was running a Koenig hammer. I was expecting some drag due to the treatment of the trigger parts...there was none.

Flex,

What finish are KC and Tony having Ion Bond perform? I have met both of them once or twice at various matches. They are both awesome shooters and they both burn a lot of powder. If they say a finish is tough and will hold up, I'd be willing to at least look at what they are doing. Isn't Tony sponsored by Ion Bond? Thanks.

Monte

Yes, Tony was sporting an Ion-Bond logo.

His gun had a matte finish on it. Nice and black. Super tough finish. you can't really scratch it without some trying...real hard. He did the trick where he took a flat head screw driver and run it back and forth on the slide. Then ran his thumb over it to wipe off the marks...nothing left on the slide...no scratches. (Burkett, evidently, does this trick all the time. he whips out his knife and runs it over the finish.)

I just couldn't believe that he had the trigger group done too...even after giving it a try.

KC's gun has a high gloss finish, I just found a picture that kinda shows it: http://www.daverephoto.com/OpenNational ... ndex.ahtml

KC's pic is 23 of 38.

That pic is in the middle of a match (Nationals), and looks like it could use a wipe down.