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I built this for a friend of mine that does my Melonite refinishing. The parts include a Kart barrel, Ahrends grips, Yost rear sight, and small parts from Wilson, Brown, and Caspian. The retro style pistols sure are gaining in popularity.

I like that. All ya need.

Is that Melonite? I've been looking into that for a couple of guns, but most of the pictures I've seen of your work were of HK P7s (guess what forum). In fact, I haven't seen any others!

I agree. It is all you need. I really like the retro pistols. Although, I would have opted for an SDM gold bead front but I am weird like that.

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Regards,
Will M.

Member: NRA (Life) - ORPA (Life) - GSSF (Life) - OFCC (Annual) - Buckeye Firearms Association (Annual)

Looks good, Drake. When ya can, give us the lowdown on that finish.

Thanks guys. The finish is a low cyanide version of Glock's Tenifer. It can be seen on Smith's M&P and Springfield's XD. There are a couple of plants with FFL's that offer the treatment. While it is essentially the same thing, the different shops tweak the recipe a bit. The finish on my pistols has been a satin, dark charcoal, almost black color. It will be changing to an almost glossy satin that is a bit darker.
The process has several benefits. Treated parts have increased corrosion, wear, and lubricity over the standard part. The process is hot (just over 1000 degrees) and surface hardens the first several thousandths, so I wouldn't recommend it for every part on a pistol. The parts that I have not treated typically include the sear, hammer, firing pin, small pins, and springs (1911 extractors). These parts get black oxide that matches so well you can't tell the two treatments apart. Some smiths treat every part and seem to be doing OK. I take the conservative approach. The treatment works on carbon and stainless steel.
I have a 5" 9mm that has about 3000 rounds through it. It has been carreid daily with no extra care. There is no visible wear on the exterior or interior of the pistol. It's an impressive finish.
Cost is around $175 plus return shipping. The P7's are more because I have to send them out to have the chrome stripped from the barrel. Return customers get a discount. Turn around averages two weeks. Thanks.

Drake, that's a nice gun. You mentioned the treatment works on stainless. Does the color remain the same, or is it black?

It's black.

I just wanted to mention that Drake just refinished my Y-B SRT HiPower in Melonite. The service was great, it was done quickly, and I think it looks pretty darn good.

As I posted in an earlier post above, I had been looking around at finishes for a while and Melonite looked like what I wanted. Also from looking around, it sounded like Drake was the guy to do it.
I know it's early to see how it will hold up long term (I've only had it back a week), but I think I made the right choice.

Here's a pic or two:

Hello Drake, nice piece.

question ref the melonite finish.

does the barrel get coated?

any rub marks on the hood from the gun cycling?

does melonite come in any other colors?

I have a SA MC Operator and once the factory finish starts to wear from holster and use, I would be interested in Melonite, but would want to retain the OD green frame color.

thanks in advance

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SW CQB 45

Nice, Drake. It is always nice to build a gun for a friend.

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Heirloom Precision, LLC.
480-804-1911

"If everyone is thinking alike, someone isn't thinking."
- General George Patton Jr

The barrels can be treated. I have done a few Karts and a WIlson. I have not seen wear on the barrel hood at 3000 rounds on my 9mm. It only comes in black.

Is Barry's pistol done in your new version?

What about light weight/aluminum frames?
Can they be coated?

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"Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue."
- Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, US Navy, 16 March 1945.

thanks for the info Drake. I may be contacting you in the future for a melonite job.

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SW CQB 45

I have a stainless DW CBOB that I would very much like to have finished in melonite, the surfaces of which are a mixture of polished and mildly blasted. Will this greatly alter the finished appearance of the melonite ?

Barry's pistol received very light bead blasting due to the fine matting and serrations. It is not the darker/glossy satin. The finish only works on stainless and carbon steel. No aluminum. The process involves a bead blast. The glossy flats will be gone. However, there is a T&E slide that has had the flats polished after treatment. I don't know how well it worked out. I'll post a photo when I can. Thanks.

BTW- Although the flats were bead blasted on mine, it doesn't look the way I usually expect bead blasting to look.
It's almost smooth looking.
When I hear "bead blast" I picture a lot more texture than this gun has, so it must have been awfully fine beads.
It's very hard for me to describe. It's about the texture of the plain MKIII HiPowers, but doesn't look "painted" like they do.

It's a pretty interesting look I think, in that it's smooth, yet seems to reflect nothing.

Barry thanks for posting the images. I had mentioned awhile back to my wife about getting her Hi Power refinished with Melonite. But, I was never able to fully describe how her Hi Power would look after the treatment. Your images provide me with a resource to work from. Thanks!

Sorry about the thread drift Drake.

_________________
Regards,
Will M.

Member: NRA (Life) - ORPA (Life) - GSSF (Life) - OFCC (Annual) - Buckeye Firearms Association (Annual)

Color wise,how will the new black match the Wilson black?I have a Wilson,needs refinish,but dont want it to look like an obvious re finish,

Greg

The Melonite will not match the original Wilson finish. I am assuming your pistol has the Armor Tuff finish which is a baked finish. I have treated pistols from Wilson's and they look good.

but it will be close to the same black color as Wilson withthe new formula?

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sitting here quiet,wanting to learn.

Greg,
It's going to be a satin black. The Wilson's that I have seen have been glossy.