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If you wanted your S70 Colt to have a nicely blued slide, but were sick of "carry rust" on your frame and did not want a silvery colored frame (chrome, np3, etc.) is there a blue or black finish that is more rust resistant that would look good with the Blued slide? Or am I gonna just create something FUGLY?

I'm sick of having a can of Casey's Sheath by my bedside with rags and brushes to de-rust my mag release and lower trigger guard and upper strap before bedtime which is my ritual.

I was thinking maybe a black chrome frame, gloss Cobra Coat, or DLC (maybe DLC the whole gun like that Steve Bailey gun)

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God Bless
45Fundi

Bodycote DLC (Diamond Like Coating) is not rust resistant. It has to be kept oiled like any blued gun. I have one done in that finish.

Black T is about as close as you are going to get to a "rust proof" black finish. I called Bridsong's a couple years back for info and it happened to be during the two weeks that their plant is closed. I got lucky because Walter was in the office catching up on work and a bit bored when he answered the phone. We talked for quite a bit about the finish and it's history.

It was actually developed for use on marine parts (subs in particular). The metal is treated to prevent rust before the black coat is applied. Even if the gun gets scratched or has holster wear the rust protection is still bonded to the metal underneath. I wish I could remember the length of time he told me a Black-T'd part can be exposed to saltwater spray before it rusts but it is suffice to say that it is a very long time.

I hope that helps.

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"Domari Nolo"

I'd also call George Smith and the folks at EGW about their Etreat finish. I had a Kimber done in this finish and am quite pleased with it. I have not yet subjected it to harsh environmental conditions but EGW says it is very corrosion resistant. My Kimber can be seen here:

http://louderthanwords.us/forum/viewtop ... ght=etreat

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Ted

Rust bluing is also a lot tougher and more impervious to rust than a typical hot salt blue. There are some smiths that offer it but due to the way it is applied it is labor intensive and therefore fairly pricey. A whole pistol is around $250 to $300 IIRC but if you just want the frame I am sure that is a fair bit cheaper.

I'm currently at a loss. I currently carry a P-35 of which the bluing disappeared somewhere between the first holstering and the 2nd week of carry. I am switching to the S70 for carry. The gun is going to be custom worked and refinished. PROBLEM is it is absolutely beautiful right now with its flawless deep blue polished side flats and crisp roll marks and the thought of losing that with park or other ninja finishes just kills me, but having rust and the blue wear right off in a couple of weeks of carry also defeats my desire to keep her purdy I don't mind 2 tone 1911s as long as the don't say Colt on the side. I like my Colts dark top to bottom. I was really hoping the DLC might be the answer. I saw the pics of the 1911 done by Steve with the carbon fiber grips and matching knife and with the DLC finishes and was blown away by its crisp, elegant beauty and thats what I want on my gun is a "crisp, elegant beauty" to the finish that will survive carry.

Maybe I'm just being difficult and expecting to "have my cake and eat it too" when I should remember the main goal of this gun is to safeguard me from "losing me head"!

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God Bless
45Fundi