Sidearms & Scatterguns 1911 Custom Finish Options?

[bogeybrown]

Alright Gents,

As I currently have a couple of 1911's that I haven't even loaded, much less shot yet, it's time for me to contemplate another project pistol. Those of you with the 1911 addiction completely understand so I don't need to explain.

I'm looking for some help on finding the custom finish I want. I'm looking for a finish that basically looks like it's bead-blasted/unfinished in that nice gunmetal/pewter color you see on bead blasted actions/slides etc.

Any recommendations or links you have for finishes that may be what I'm looking for are appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Patton63]

Why not go with a bead blasted finish. That is what I have on my Springfield Armory. Like you, I really like the satin look of the metal. It holds up well and, if it gets scratched, it is easy to have it touched up and brought back to a "like new" finish. Here is what it looks like.

 

[clmayfield]

Is it stainless or carbon steel? Robar NP3 sounds to be the color you are looking for, if not hard chrome. Hard chrome is tougher, NP3 has higher lubricity and is more corrosion resistant (as long as the finish continues to cover the steel).

 

[clmayfield]

The last 1911 on this page is NP3: 1911 as carry - PNW Guns

It looks a little glossier than hard chrome, which has a gray appearance. Here is hard chrome:
Highly Customized 1911 Hardchrome Pistol

I have a hard chrome pistol. I was planning on getting it ion-bonded, but the hard chrome grew on me. The 3 finishes that I like the best are Ion Bond because it is very hard and tough and reasonably corrosion resistant, Birdsong because it is highly corrosion resistant and low friction (but not so tough), and hard chrome because it is very hard and relatively economical. Yeah, bluing is prettier, and most traditional people will tell you that a 1911 is meant to be blued, but from a utility standpoint, bluing isn't very corrosion resistant or very tough.

 

[bogeybrown]

Thanks for the suggestions so far. I had looked at some of the Robar coatings, especially since I'm kind of nostalgic about Robar from when they were getting a lot of buzz 20yrs ago. It's tough to tell from some of the pics but not sure these finishes are "rough" enough. I really want a rough finish, like rough enough to strike a kitchen match on if you wanted to (I have no plans to do so). I have a beautiful blued 1911, a parkerized 1911, a cerakote, and whatever Nighthawk calls their finish, which is why I'm looking for my next 1911 to have something sort of out of the ordinary and utilitarian.
Many thanks to all of ya'll who've sent suggestions and links so far. As I haven't decided what the base pistol is going to be, I couldn't tell you what the metal is yet. Although I'm thinking one of the Sigs may be in order.

 

[Wrex]

I always thought a satin finished rhodium plate would be cool.