Thinking About Refinishing my 1911

[DSB]

I am considering refinishing my Colt 1911 XSE. It is stainless steel, and too shiny for my taste. The cheapest option is to have it bead blasted to a matte finish. The other, much more expensive, option is to have it refinished in hardchrome, cerakote, or another material.

Have you had any of this work done on you handgun? Any regrets?

[ckprax]

Since it is stainless you really can't screw it up. You can always polish it again. Once you do anything to the finish you hurt the collector value if that matters to you.

I say go for it. I polish my stainless revolvers because they are easier to keep clean and look really nice (to me).

[Oceanbob]

Maybe scotch-brite it to a satin finish? (using 3M Scotch-brite pads).

Worse thing that can happen is you go to plan B.

[Low-Pressure]

You can always just buy another 1911 or trade it for a blued or parkerized 1911.

[DSB]

Maybe scotch-brite it to a satin finish? (using 3M Scotch-brite pads).

I have seen the scotch-brite suggestion before, bue I have never actually seen the results. Does it give a nice satin finish, or does it just make it look like you've scratched the heck out of your stainless steel. Not willing to be the guinea pig on that one.

Nice Glock, and nice yard too!

[t0kie]

If it is just a production gun & easy to get another one, I say do it.

Otherwise, think twice...

[44fred]

Be sure and get the right scotch brite pads. They come in different "grits" and will give varying results. White scotch brite is used for polishing and brown is used for scratching the heck out of just about anything. Gold is probably a good bet.
PM me with your address and I'll send you one. I use them in my line of work.
God bless, Fred

[beretta929mm]

It may increase or decrease its resale value, depending on how well it is done and how it fits a potential buyer's taste.

[Black_Talon]

Since the OP edited his original post, and the title of his thread as well, my post here has no relevance so I will delete it!

[negolien]

How much for the process?

[DSB]

How much for the process?

It's approximately $60 to bead blast the stainless steel to a matte finish or $200 to cerakote to the color of my choice.

I'm still undecided on which I'm going to choose.

[jonzer77]

You could send it to Colt and have them refinish it. They do good work at a good price and you would have a factory warranty on the finish.

[Press Check]

A few of the most durable finishes are Hard Chrome and Robar's NP3. Of the two, I'd go with NP3.

[WolfSamurai]

Don't ruin a good Stainless handgun. Sell it and get a blued one instead.

[DSB]

Don't ruin a good Stainless handgun. Sell it and get a blued one instead.

This is part of my concern.

Would you consider bead blasting to a matte stainless finish "ruining" the stainless handgun?