sig finish

[joostin4]

Why is it that pictures of sig p226's always seem to have a worn look on the finish of the slide?

It almost seems as though the slide and the receiver are two different colors. Is it that the color has worn? If I buy a new one with matching colors, will it end up looking like two different colors given enough time?

[cfusionpm]

The nitron finish on the slide has different reflective properties than the frame.

[joostin4]

so even if the picture shows two different shades of color, in person it would still look all black?

[9mmepiphany]

No, just the opposite...while they might be the same color, their reflective properties will cause them to reflect different amounts of light

I think he was saying to even if the picture looks all black, the gun will still be two shades when you see it in person

[sigfan91]

Sig frames are aluminum and they are anodized. The aluminum is thus glossy in appearance. Sig slides are finished in Nitron (K-Kote in earlier pistols) and these finish appear to be matte. Nitron and K-Kote are also rough in texture, much rougher than traditional blued surface. Nitron and K-Kote also wear out fairly fast. When they do, the slide will appear to be lighter.

On the one hand, I like glossy surface. It can be wiped down with oily cloth and looks very nice. But it reflects a lot of light.

Sig slide finish is matte so light doesn't reflect off it too much. The problem is oily cloth will shed fiber and lint on the slide surface.

[joostin4]

Nitron and K-Kote also wear out fairly fast.

When the nitron wears out, does it give the pistol an almost two tone look?

[sigfan91]

When the nitron wears out, does it give the pistol an almost two tone look?

Not exactly. The wear will be uneven if you holster the weapon. The part that makes contact with the holster will wear out fast. That will will have a grey-ish look. It will look silvery if the wear is really bad. Other parts of the slide will be dark grey while the "rough" texture of the slide will diminish to almost smooth.

It's hard to describe, but I've seen this on 4 of my Sigs retired from German and Swiss police service. My retail Sigs, since they're never holstered, retain the rough texture through out the slide.

Of course these are all Nitron and K-Kote Sigs. I do not have anything in factory 2-tone or nickel so I can't say anything about them.

[9mmepiphany]

OP- maybe it would help if you post a picture of what you are referring to as a two tone look.

Sig does make several pistols in two-tone

just a reminder, all milled Sig slide are stainless. The Nitron is a finish applied on top of the stainless to darken it...plus there have been at least 3 different versions of Nitron. The name is copyrighted and belongs to Sig, so they can change the finish anytime they want and it will still be correctly called Nitron