Hard chrome P239

Cruzer

New member
Just got my frame/barrel/recoil rod back from Metalife yesterday. Tripp Research had already hard chromed my slide several months ago. It looks and functions great! The slide was beginning to get holster wear, and the aluminum frame was flaking and chipping on the rails (deemed "normal" by Sig). I'm guessing it will now last several lifetimes based on how my other hard chromed pistols are wearing (ie. negligible wear over a thousand rounds so far).

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How do the hardchrome colors compare/match? Does the Tripp Slide match the Metalife frame?

Why'd you go to two different hardchromers?
 
All right, some explanations below:
1) At first, I wanted to do my slide only, so I sent it to Tripp ( www.trippresearch.com ) He did an excellent job for $56, matte finish with the flat sides brushed shiny.

2) Tripp will not do aluminum hard chrome (it is a two step job). So when I decided I wanted to do the frame also, I had to find someone who would do aluminum. Metalife ( www.metalifeind.com ) did it for $105 including frame, barrel, 2 magazines, and recoil rod. I like the job Metalife did, and they can do a whole pistol also for about $145 + shipping. Tripp has the better overall quality though (a whole pistol will be about $175 plus shipping, no aluminum). Tripp will do aluminum in a different finish which I have not tried.

3) The two hard chrome finishes (Tripp and Metalife) match, although Metalife is a dull-matte and Tripp is a brighter matte. Tripp's finish is flawless, while Metalife looks more "industrial" meaning that it has some minor discoloration (particularly on the magazines). Again, I find that Tripp does the best overall work and is really a pleasure to work with.

4) Tripp's turnaround is 3-5 days, Metalife takes about 30 days. Another vote for Tripp on the turnaround time.

5) I have heard that Ford's Guns ( www.fordsguns.com ) will also do a total chrome job including the aluminum frame. They have never answered my e-mails, so I think they suck. Others can speak about their work.
 
I would also recommend Tripp. He's done two for me now and now he'll be getting a third soon with brushed flats. Quality guy, communication and work.

By the way, he did an aluminum frame for me. It was a teflon-polymer black. It looks satin black, shinier than the SIG, kinda like if you oiled your gun surface. I don't know about wear characteristics though, it already has one small knick inside the mag well from me slapping in hardchromed mags.
 
BTW,

I just got back from the range. I shot 50 flawless rounds of Federal American Eagle. I expect another 150-200 rounds before I consider it broken-in.

I did a field strip and cleaned it at home a few minutes ago. The rails and inside of the slide look great, with a few light contact points that are becoming "shiny" as they wear-in. The barrel also looks like it is wearing-in nicely. I am very happy and expect this to be my Sig of a lifetime (shoots really nicely too, when I don't flinch ;) )
 
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