What's Easier--Refinishing 1911 Stainless Slide or Blue Steel Frame?

[MK11]

I've always liked the two-tone look like on the Wilson pictured below. I've got two 1911s that could be candidates for refinishing--a blue steel 1997 Kimber Classic Custom (that's turned more purplish over the years) or a stainless Colt Competition 9mm. Taking the brand equation out of it,

1. What's easier, refinishing a stainless slide or a blue steel frame?
2. Who would you suggest for the work?

Both are range queens, this is simply for aesthetics. While it may be heresy here and everywhere else, I like the Kimber better and am leaning toward blackening the stainless slide on the Colt. Appreciate your input.


48302

[theJanitor]

I'd hard chrome the kimber, AFTER ensuring that you love the way it's set up.

Two-tones should always be hard chrome and blue. But I'm a 1911 snob in that way

[RevolverRob]

Blackening stainless isn't particularly easy. Your options are cera/gunkote type finishes or much, much, much, better is a PVD type finish like DLC. DLCs are awesome and if I wanted to blacken stainless that's what I would do.

It's a lot easier to strip a carbon steel frame and apply a satin chrome-type finish to it than darken stainless.

You can achieve a two-tone look, but taking a stainless slide and bead-blasting it. You'll get a darker gray satin type finish. If you simultaneously polished the frame, you'll achieve a two-tone stainless look.

[Robinson]

What actual finishes are you considering? Obviously you can't turned blued steel into stainless or vice versa, so you will need to go with a different type of finish.

If you change the Colt you can go with Cerakote, IonBond, or something similar for the slide. If the bluing on the slide of the Kimber is nice, then I would suggest either hard chrome or IonBond for the frame treatment.

Or keep them the way they are and buy a new two-tone pistol.

[RAM Engineer]

https://www.springfield-armory.com/1911-ronin-features/

Or just buy a new Ronin.

[Inkwell 41]

https://www.springfield-armory.com/1911-ronin-features/

Or just buy a new Ronin.

The best course of action is often the simplest.

[MK11]

What actual finishes are you considering? Obviously you can't turned blued steel into stainless or vice versa, so you will need to go with a different type of finish.

If you change the Colt you can go with Cerakote, IonBond, or something similar for the slide. If the bluing on the slide of the Kimber is nice, then I would suggest either hard chrome or IonBond for the frame treatment.

Or keep them the way they are and buy a new two-tone pistol.

Thank you for the responses.

Honestly, "black slide, silver frame" is as far as I've gotten. The bluing on the Kimber is utilitarian and after 20 years, is starting to show its age. It's a range toy, so I don't need an aggressively hard use finish but if I'm going through the trouble, I want it to hold up. Form first, function second. I've got polymer for carry and classes.

Interesting to see Springfield coming out with a two-tone production model. Kimber has done that with its II series for a while but I've been hesitant to chance it.

[Robinson]

Colt also has the Competition Plus model 45 in two-tone finish with checkered front strap, as well as the Gold Cup Lite model 38 Super in two-tone finish.

[MDFA]

Thanks guys, now I want to have one of my Colt's frames Hard Chromed...... Or I could do all 4.....:cool:

[spinmove_]

Great. Of course SA comes out with the Ronin after I get a Range Officer Operator. It is slick looking though.

[theJanitor]

some hard chrome motivation:

BEFORE:
https://i.imgur.com/k5Rqzw0.jpg

AFTER:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48596976887_f12b9d7813_b.jpg

[Patrick Taylor]

Figure in the cost of shipping. Slide is not a firearm while the frame is.

[MDFA]

some hard chrome motivation:

BEFORE:
https://i.imgur.com/k5Rqzw0.jpg

AFTER:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48596976887_f12b9d7813_b.jpg

You're Evil ;)

[theJanitor]

You're Evil ;)

well then....

Before:

48362

After (with some mods):

https://i.imgur.com/Ot2ny8S.jpg?2

[MK11]

Oh boy. Looks like hard chrome on the frame it is.


Who would you recommend to do the work?

[theJanitor]

Those were both done with Chris Peters at Metaloy. I can't comment on his work currently. The YoBo was done probably ten years ago, and the Wilson was about three years ago, IIRC