Black oxide finish on handguns

M

micksis86

New member
Hi all,

I was looking at getting a black oxide finish on my S&W 686 as it turns out I don't like stainless finishes in an asthetic way anyway.

So i'm curious if this is worthwhile and how robust the oxide finish is?

This revolver is solely for range use so it won't get the carry wear and tear.

thanks
 
I don't know if black oxide is possible on stainless. Also if you take the oxygen away from stainless you increase the possibility of corrosion.
 
Smith actually made a few with that finish from the factory. Looked good but scratched up very easily.

The local gunshop where I hang out had a breakin seveal years ago and had several handguns stolen. Police caught the guy trying to sell them at a convience store parking lot within a couple of hours and all guns were recovered. Including one of the black stainless 686's. While it was inside a gym bag with a dozen other handguns it got scratched up pretty bad. The shop owner sold it to me cheap.

They never caught on and Smith quickly dropped them. Maybe they were just ahead of the times. They might sell now.
 
Thanks guys,

Maybe i'll look into an alternative coating. I did read elsewhere that the oxide finish isn't all that robust. M
 
Your gun doesn't have a "finish" per se. Stainless is the makeup of the gun.
About all you can do to darken it, is paint it. That doesn't hold up well either.
 
Do you dislike the semi mat finish, or do you dislike stainless in general? If you don't like the mat finish, you can polish a stainless finish using Mothers Mag polish and an old T-shirt. Or try http://www.craftguard.com/ they offer many different finish options.
 
Trade it for a carbon steel model of the same gun (586) and have it finished in matte black or parkerize it. I'm with you, I have several stainless Smiths that I dearly love but I wish they had been made in carbon steel. Like the 625-2 and the 696.
 
Poor use of words on my behalf but yes I do know that stainless steel is now not a finish.

However I will look elsewhere for some kind of coating. Disliking the appearance of stainless steel was never a consious thing but seems every stainless firearms i have i've had coated...

If i got a 586 there is no way on earth that i'd parkerise or matt black it. I love the bluing on the smith and wesson's it's such a shame they don't really do it anymore. Theirs is some of the best bluing around.
 
My S&W1911PD has a stainless steel slide which was then coated with a Melonite finish from the factory. It has a very nice matte black appearance. Would a melonite finish work in a revolver application?
 
I agree, there is nothing better looking than a S&W blued finish. I just "assumed" (my bad) that you didn't like the brightness of stainless and were looking for something nonreflective and dark.
 
Robar Guns; Beretta 96D pistol...

I had a new/unfired Beretta 96D .40S&W pistol treated with black oxide.
I did not own it very long but the fit/finish looked impressive.
For a S&W model 686 revolver, I'd go with a Bearcoat, Black-T Cerakote/NIC or maybe Robar's great NP3+ treatment.
You can get these options in black or dark blue(even dark brown).
It will be easy & fast to clean due to the Teflon/nickel.
See www.Black-T.com www.Bearcoat.com www.APWcogan.com www.Robarguns.com .

Note; Bearcoat comes with a lifetime warranty & takes about 2 weeks.
Many LE officers, armed professionals & serious hunters use these services too.

ClydeFrog
 
drail said:
Trade it for a carbon steel model of the same gun (586) and have it finished in matte black or parkerize it.
Click to expand...

That's what I did, I had this 586 bead blasted and blued.
IMG_6159.jpg
 
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