I have a used 1911 made in all stainless, but it has a two-tone look to it, with a blackened slide, along with several other parts on the pistol.
I'd like to know how this blackening is done. I cannot find any method that can be used on stainless in the Brownells catalog.
The reason for this is: my slide has both "matte" and "polished" areas on it, and not in a pleasing way. For example, on the left slide flat, the front 2/3 is a matte texture, with part of the rear area of the slide serrations and back is polished. The top of the slide has matte from the front up to the ejection port, then the entire rear of the top is polished. I'd like to know if this can be made all even - either all matte, or all polished - and without damaging the factory finish (ie: burning through it). I'd just like to be able to improve the cosmetics of the pistol - but without spending $300+ to do it.
My slide also has numerous small scratches on the left side, on the flat, right in the middle. I do not believe that the scratches go all the way through the "coating" or finish, and I like to know if these can be polished out some way.
If the factory finish cannot be saved, can anyone tell me how it was done in the first place? Can it be done again? What are viable alternatives that won't change the dimensions of the slide and other parts? I'd prefer to be able to do this myself if possible (I am experienced working on firearms, and with metal and wood, but I would not presume to call myself a "gunsmith"). I can, and have, refinished carbon steel and aluminum alloy firearms in the past, but I've not done stainless blackening yet.
Any and all suggestions will be appreciated.
I'd like to know how this blackening is done. I cannot find any method that can be used on stainless in the Brownells catalog.
The reason for this is: my slide has both "matte" and "polished" areas on it, and not in a pleasing way. For example, on the left slide flat, the front 2/3 is a matte texture, with part of the rear area of the slide serrations and back is polished. The top of the slide has matte from the front up to the ejection port, then the entire rear of the top is polished. I'd like to know if this can be made all even - either all matte, or all polished - and without damaging the factory finish (ie: burning through it). I'd just like to be able to improve the cosmetics of the pistol - but without spending $300+ to do it.
My slide also has numerous small scratches on the left side, on the flat, right in the middle. I do not believe that the scratches go all the way through the "coating" or finish, and I like to know if these can be polished out some way.
If the factory finish cannot be saved, can anyone tell me how it was done in the first place? Can it be done again? What are viable alternatives that won't change the dimensions of the slide and other parts? I'd prefer to be able to do this myself if possible (I am experienced working on firearms, and with metal and wood, but I would not presume to call myself a "gunsmith"). I can, and have, refinished carbon steel and aluminum alloy firearms in the past, but I've not done stainless blackening yet.
Any and all suggestions will be appreciated.