ltwguns.com

I have a Colt LW Commander that I want to get refinished; I would like this to be black in color. My first thought is Birdsong's Black-T. I have several pistols Walter has done for me and have generally been very pleased with it, good protection and I love the asthetics, but it would be nice to have something a bit more wear resistant.

If this were an all steel pistol, I don't think there is any doubt I would give EGW's E-Treat a shot, from what I have read it sould like a great finish, if not that, possibly a melonite finish. However, since this is an alloy frame pistol, that knocks those out. Of course, I guess I could always have have the slide finished in E-Treat or Melonite and have the frame finished in something else.

IS there anything available that's suitable for allow that would be close to an exact match to either a melonite or E-Treat finish? Is there anything new or on the horizon that I should consider? Should I just go ahead and have it finished in Black-T? Any thoughts/advice on this issue would be most appreciated!

I have the same dilemma. not with a 1911 though, but same materials.

I want to refinish my SW PC CQB which consists of a forged sts upper and alloy lower.

it has some lasered lettering that I would want to return or maybe have it engraved.

originally was anodized frame and blackened sts slide which did not hold up to duty holster wear.

I want to melonite or etreat the upper, but I have a bushing housing screwed into my slide that I dont want treated. SW said heat would have to be used to remove.

any experience with Robar and NP3. I read that it adheres to alloy.

http://www.robarguns.com/np3.htm

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SW CQB 45

NP3 or even hard chrome would be a viable option, but I am looking for a black, or extremely dark gray finish.

Check out the LW Commander on this post:
http://www.louderthanwords.us/forum/vie ... php?t=5246

It is a graphite black Cerakote, and I love that finish. The wear resistance is pretty good and it seems to be (IMO) on the top tier of the spray-n-bake finishes. I have several requests for it on guns that come into my shop.

Dave

Accurate plating can do black hard chrome on your aluminum frame. It is much harder than any of the spray and bake finishes and it wears very well.

Thanks, guys.

Dave, in terms of resistance to abrasion resistance, chipping, etc, how does cerakote compare to something like Black-T? Would you consider it a better alternative, or, like so many of the other spray and bake finishes, 'different but the same?'

MAF, I had thought about black chrome, but it is my understanding that it really isn't much harder than nickel and not even close to a true hard chrome finish. Any experiences with black chrome; am I mis-informed about this?

Thanks again for all the info!

I had a local smith blue the stainless slide on this LW.
Marsh

Hi:

You may want to check-out bear coat - http://www.bearcoat.com

It covers aluminum and steel uniformly and has a lifetime warranty.

The web site states that it passed the FBI tests for its sniper rifles and is used by that agency.

HTH,
John