Refinishing Options: 1911

[Mossy Man]

Here's my Colt Combat Elite circa 1986



I don't really like the finish on it. Mainly, the black slide is shiny and leaves finger marks all over the place. Secondly, the frame is shiny in some parts and dull/machined in other parts.

What options do you have for refinishing, that will ensure durability?

I'd like to see it completely silver or all matte black so it is not a fingerprint magnet.

[enzo357]

http://techplate.com/firearms.htm

[The Soup Nazi]

If my Les Baers wouldn't look so great with worn bluing, I'd go with the Hard Hat.

https://severnscustom.com/Hard_Hat_Treatment.html

[jpscoot_21]

Bead blast & hard chrome!

[L84CABO]

For silver you have hard chrome or NP3/NP3 Plus. The NP3 will give you better rust protection. Just a note, I have a hard chrome gun that I love the finish on but the chrome has worn through in the magwell from repeated mag changes (high wear area). I have to stay on top of that area with Renaissance Wax to keep the rust off.

For black, Dave Severns Hard Hat treatment has always intrigued me. For paint, Wilson Combat's Armor Tuff isn't bad. You could always Cerekote it too.

[nahpungnome]

If you want shiny, go hard chrome. Black, I'd look into Hard hat. I plan on going hard chrome once the bluing on my PII gets ugly.

[Nor*Cal]

If you go hard chrome, go with Metaloy. Nothing but great feedback from everyone that has used them.

http://www.originalmetaloy.com/gallery.html