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Thread: Hard Chroming

  1. #1
    Revolvers Revolvers 1911s Stephanie B's Avatar
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    Hard Chroming

    I'm thinking of getting my 3rd Generation Colt Ds hard-chromed. (Not that it'll ever happen.)

    So anyhoo, I started doing some research and came across Accurate Plating & weaponry, aka Cogan Custom. The very first thing one sees on that web page is this:
    “EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY! AP&W WILL NO LONGER WORK ON TAURUS FIREARMS, DUE TO THE LACK OF SUPPORT FROM TAURUS’ CUSTOMER SUPPORT TEAM AND THEIR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE REGARDING THEIR OWN FIREARMS.”
    So.... buyer beware, I guess.
    If we have to march off into the next world, let us walk there on the bodies of our enemies.

  2. #2
    Member Zeke38's Avatar
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    One of my best friends has a 19-2 that was hardchromed in the late 70s. It still looks great and runs great. It's a woods carry gun. Makes Cera-Kote a joke. Armaloy did the work. Don't know if they are still around or if AP&W absorbed them.

  3. #3
    I probably would not have spent the money to hard chrome a Taurus, but a Colt Detective…

  4. #4
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    I have a couple of S&W revos done by APW.

    Very happy with the plating, that's what they do best.

  5. #5
    Site Supporter 41magfan's Avatar
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    Mar 2011
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    Some APW hard-chrome .....

    The path of least resistance will seldom get you where you need to be.

  6. #6
    Revolvers Revolvers 1911s Stephanie B's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 41magfan View Post
    Some APW hard-chrome .....

    Oh, my. That is pretty. Is that the brushed/polished finish?
    If we have to march off into the next world, let us walk there on the bodies of our enemies.

  7. #7
    Site Supporter 41magfan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Stephanie B View Post
    Oh, my. That is pretty. Is that the brushed/polished finish?
    Yes, this is a brushed finish, which always struck me as a bit of a misnomer. The matte option makes the gun look like a toy IMO and the "texture" of the matte finish is a bit of a bitch to clean.

    I will mention this; If there's anything you need done to your guns, do it before it gets plated as the plating doesn't hide anything with regards to dents & dings. HC can be removed, but it isn't a straightforward (or cheap) proposition like stripping a blued gun. The upside to HC in my mind, is the fact that the gun is essentially suspended in time with regards to wear and tear. That's a useful feature with guns like old Colt's as they can be a PIA when it comes to parts and service. A friend of mine had a S&W M19 chromed back in the 70's and that gun has never gone out of time - despite having been shot a zillion times.

    Armand Swenson was a huge fan of HC and most of his guns were so plated. It's also my understanding that HC was a fix for the galling issues related to some early stainless steel handguns.
    The path of least resistance will seldom get you where you need to be.

  8. #8
    Site Supporter 41magfan's Avatar
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    In the early days before specialized firearm platers existed, industrial hard chrome players like Metaloy and Armoloy adapted their processes to firearms. Bill Wilson tells a story of how the first gun (his personal 1911) ever plated by Metaloy was done one night "after hours and after a few beers" as a totally impromptu experiment.

    I had this one done by Armoloy in 1979 ..... cost was about $80, IIRC. It looks as good today as it did then, despite being carried as a duty-gun for several years.

    Last edited by 41magfan; 08-05-2022 at 09:48 PM.
    The path of least resistance will seldom get you where you need to be.

  9. #9
    Murder Machine, Harmless Fuzzball TCinVA's Avatar
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    AP&W hard chromed a Beretta 92 for me probably close to 20 years ago, now. It came out splendid:

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    3/15/2016

  10. #10
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    Hard Chroming

    In 1973 while working as a uniform officer in Miami (Dade County PSD) I had my S&W model 19 armoloyed. Shortly thereafter I contacted Guy Hogue who was with LAPD & sent him an outline of my hand. Mr. Hogue made a set of grips out of goncalo alves that fit my hand perfectly. The grips had what he called a recoil shoulder which he felt helped redirect the recoil of the revolver. I still have the armoloyed Model 19 & it is still wearing Mr. Hogues grips & both are still in excellent shape. A testimony to quality workmanship.

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