Gun finishes: Blued, Parkerized, Tennifer, Stainless, others

[surprise_i'm_armed]

Let's discuss gun finishes. I'd like some clarification and
education on this topic. Please comment.

"Blued" seems to mean "black". Is this true?

Also, is a blued finish somehow an integral part of the metal, or is
it something that can be rubbed off by your holster?

"Parkerized" = ?

"Tennifer". I believe that I've seen this somewhere, but
don't know what color it is. It may be brand-specific.

Stainless/chrome guns - These look nice, but are they good
for the long haul if you will fire your gun a lot at the range,
instead of the gun being a safe queen? Does GSR
(gunshot residue) stain these permanently?

If there's any other kinds of gun finishes please jump in and
comment.

Thanks in advance.

SIA

[seamusTX]

"Blued" seems to mean "black". Is this true?

Sometimes. Bluing can be anywhere from black to dark blue to dark brown.

Bluing is a form of oxidation on the surface of the steel. It can be rubbed off mechanically (by a holster), removed by chemical means (blood is notorious for this), pick up sweaty fingerprints, or rust.

Stainless/chrome guns ... Does GSR (gunshot residue) stain these permanently?

Not in my experience.

Stainless steel and chrome are different. The stainless steels used in firearms can rust, and they can be anodized black.

Chrome plating is about the hardest metal finish commonly available, and very resistant to corrosion. It is pretty much maintenance-free.

I'll leave the other questions to someone who knows better.

- Jim

[USA1]

What about nickel plated?...good or bad?

Some guns that appear stainless steel are actually nickel plated.

[Keith B]

What about nickel plated?...good or bad?

Some guns that appear stainless steel are actually nickel plated.

Nickel plating is OK, but be careful how you clean it. If it is scratched and you use Hoppes on it, it can work under the plating to the copper layer and damage the finish.

[WildBill]

Stainless steel and chrome are different. The stainless steels used in firearms can rust, and they can be anodized black.

Technically, stainless steel can not be anodized. There are processes to that make stainless look like hard anodize but they are different than a true anodize such as used on aluminum. I am not familar with how these processes work, but I have a Sig P239 with a black finish on a stainless frame that is very resistant to scratching.

Some guns that appear stainless steel are actually nickel plated.

The finish of nickel plating mirrors the finish of the metal underneath the plating. If you highly polish the base metal, nickel plating can look like chrome. If you bead blast or brush the base metal nickel plating can look like stainless steel. IMO, the Bersa pistols with their Onox coating looks like stainless steel.

I have not personal experience as to the longevity of nickel plated pistols. I have seen some old bright nickel pistols that look pitted and corroded, but I have seen plenty of blued guns with the same issue. The newer electroless nickel may not have the same issues with the Hoppes, but I am not sure about it.

"Parkerized" = ?

IMO "Parkerized" = Ugly

Only a person who with pearl handles on their gun would have a bright nickel or chrome finish on their pistol.

[cougartex]

Tennifer and Melonite are trade names for firearm finishing processes that involve salt bath nitriding. I believe that Glock will not let the supplier of this finish license the Tennifer name to any other firearms manufacturer; therefore, other firearms manufacturers are using a similar finish but from other chemical suppliers or under different names. Salt bath nitriding is a case hardening process that leaves a fairly thick, corrosion resistant, hard surface.

Parkerizing is method of protecting a steel surface from corrosion and increasing its resistance to wear through the application of an electrochemical phosphate conversion coating.

[USA1]

Can someone give an example of which gun is "Parkerized"?
I think that the RIA 1911 has this finish but I'm not sure.

[WildBill]

RIA is a good example, as is Springfield Armory - but just about all manufacturers of military-style firearms offer parkerizing of the steel components eg AR15 barrels, etc.

That's not bad looking!

[seamusTX]

Pretty is as pretty does. We don't have many occasions for displaying barbecue guns in Texas.

- Jim

[surprise_i'm_armed]

Anyone:

Well if that Springer in the picture is Parkerized, does
that mean that the outer black parts of the weapon
simply have a bit of a texture to them, as opposed
to maybe a blued gun that is NOT parkerized?

SIA

[TexasGal]

J D McGuire at AI & P Tactical parkerizes his custom shotguns and I think they are quite lovely. I know the BG will be impressed

http://www.aiptactical.com/Tactical_II.html