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Had plans to have an an "in the white" aluminum frame coated w/ NP3. Found out that NP3 is not compatable w/ annodizing. The NP3 itself is pretty hard - published at 40-50 rockwell, but adds no hardness to the exterior of the base metal. In the experience of all you metallurgists, chemists, gunsmiths, rocket scientists, and owners of NP3/Aluminum firearms, will an NP3 coated aluminum frame hold up as well as an anodized frame. The application would be 45 caliber, commander length, shooting mostly factory ball ammo and hoping for a long and happy frame life (at least as far as aluminum frame lives go that is ).

PM's are an option too.

Thanks very much for your help

I have an alloy gun plated with NP3 (CCO in .45 ACP) that show almost no wear after several thousand rounds of .45 ball and +P ammo.

No worries. Its a great finish.

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My understanding is the coating will be harder than the base metal underneath. therefore you have a harder outer skin for protection. I had a lightweight officers model hard chromed many years ago and the finish held up very well.

If you like NP3, go for it.

Does "not compatible" mean that the anodizing is stripped off?? If so, any idea how this is done?

thank you

Richard

My aluminium frame 38 super commander was np3'ed and it is holding up fine. Great finish!

RichardZ, Yes, the anodizing is stripped off. I'm not sure how, but my understanding is that anodizing is an oxidation finish that runs about .001 into the base metal and expands about .001 outside the base metal.

I beleive even unanodized guns will run for a while before slide stop pin holes begin to elongate, dust covers crack, and frame rails begin to wear etc.

What I am realy looking for is someone with feed back on an NP3 / aluminum platform at the 30-40 thousand round mark- or a failure prior to that number. We've heard a little bit from the gun owners, now hoping the metalurgists, chemists, gunsmiths, and rocket scientists will also chime in.

In 1998, I had Robar do some work and refinish my "Stainless Ligthweight Commander" with NP3. I carried that pistol until 2004 when it was retired. I later sold it. At the time it became a safe queen, it had several thousand rounds through it, and it had some frame damage. The biggest issue was the mag well opening was chewed up from doing reloads. The holes and rails seemed to be in spec to me, but I never measured them. The gun always ran, but seeing the bare aluminum where the magazine had torn away the NP3 finish was disconcerting.

I like NP3, but I would not use it on an aluminum alloy gun again.

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Scott

I had a S&W 669 re-finished in NP3 in the late 1980's when I lived in So. Florida, and the finish seemed to hold up well. That having been said, I don't think Robar will guarentee NP3 on aluminum, like they do on steel.

I also don't think that any aluminum frame 1911 will hold up to 30-40,000 rounds without showing some signs of serious fatigue, at least not in .45 acp.

The harder finish over top of a softer base metal will wear better, but it is not a cure for the softness of the aluminum.

The mostly self-lubricating feature of NP3 is nice, and makes maintenance of the gun much easier.

thanks farscott and old lawman,

I had planned on using an S&A magwell to stop frame damage from magazine changes.

I have seen various police trade in beretta's (alloy frame) with NP3 that looked fine.

_________________
"The most effective armor is to keep out of range"-Italian proverb

CHECK OUT MY CUSTOM 1911 BLOG
http://thearsenalofdemocracy.blogspot.com