Opinions/Advice on refinishing

T

TJ 1911

Inactive
Hi, all:

I've got a 20-year old 4-inch 586, which is in need of a new finish (primarily due to holster wear; no rust or pitting). I'm getting into shooting IDPA SSR, and I don't have the cash to buy one of the "game guns" for this class, so I'm going to rehab the old gun a bit and see how I like the game.

The revolver appears mechanically sound, and the action is good (had action work by the Davis Co. soon after I bought it). Primarily, I need a good quality finish that is lower maintenance than bluing. I'm considering either a Metalife hard chrome finish, or a Black-T coating.

Any thoughts/suggestions as to how these two finishes hold up both to wear, and frequent cleaning, especially on the cylinder face area?? The frame on my 1911 has a 15-year old hard chrome finish which looks brand new; crud cleans quite easily off the feed ramp and slide rails, so my experience so far with hard chrome has been good. Don't know much about Black-T; I'm interested in it because my esthetic preference runs to blue/black guns, and the Black-T finish on my Emerson CQC7 has held up well so far?

Thoughts? Suggestions? Other alternatives to consider?

Thanks!
 
Hard Chrome is about as tough as you'll get.

I really like the work from Tripp Research. Good prices and great turnaround times.
 
If the purpose of the revolver is to see if you like the game or not then why spend any funds refinishing it? Shoot it as it is now. It's not a beauty contest.
 
Thanks for the input-hard chrome looks like the way to go. Are any of you in the LA area, and familiar with Alan Tanaka of AT Custom Gunworks? He advertises hard chrome work for revolvers in his brochure.

Majic, my reasons for refinishing the gun are:

Overall, it's a good shooter and I'm going to keep it no matter what.

We're planning an escape from So Cal in the next year, and are looking at the Southeast (Carolinas/Tennessee/Virginia), so we'll probably end up in a bit more humid climate.

With the above in mind, this gun could end up as a carry piece someday.
 
I recently bought a COLT PYTHON 4" that has been refinished in HARD CHROME. The finish is excellent and if I didn't know any better, I would have said the gun was brushed stainless.
 
I also say hard chrome it!! But before you do that, send the cylinder off to get it machined to accept full moon-clips. I don't think you can use them in competition because the gun was not originally made that way, but the machining does not restrict you to having to use the moonclips. You will still be able to use regular speedloaders and the cartridges will headspace on the rim like normal. The full moon-clips will just allow you the option to use them for range use, home defense or concealed carry reloads. Moonclips are faster than speedloaders. If that does sound good, at least have the chambers chamfered to ease the reloading with speed loaders.

Do both of these before getting it chromed though. That way the hard chrome will protect the carbon steel.

Boo586
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top