Finish Work – Bluing – Ion Bond

Three Levels of Finish Work - Same Detail Work

6-defensive I offer three different levels of finish which are applied to the “flats” of the slide and/or the frame. Regardless of the level of finish, the detail work remains the same. Some of the details are obvious and some you just can’t quite describe, but you know that it looks and feels right.

Matte Finish

After the detail work is completed, the part(s) are completely glass bead blasted. This gives a very uniform finish or look to the pistol and the parts. All roll marks or stampings are leveled. The pistol is then blued at my Custom Shop or sent off to Ion Bond for the final finish. I would suggest a matte finish if there are deep pits or serious nicks on the flats. The matte finish is a common finish for a carry gun or a bullseye ball pistol.

Springfield Armory slides/frames usually require a matte finish because of the unevenness of the “flats”.

Polished Finish

The slide and/or frame are flat hand sanded after completing the detail work. As many as nine different grits are used to get out flaws or factory scratches. The amount of hand polishing (sanding) that can be done is largely determined by the quality of finish or amount of damage to the slide and/or frame. If the pistol part contains logos that need to be preserved, then the slide would be hand sanded with a fine grit and then lightly and carefully buffed to bring back the luster. After the “flats” of the slide and/or frame have been hand polished, they are carefully masked off and protected. The “rounds” are then bead blasted. This process gives a crisp line between the flats and the rounds. The final finish is then applied.

Mirror polish

The slide, frame and small parts must pass my inspection to determine if they are acceptable for the mirror polish. After completing all the detail work, the frame and/or slide are hand sanded to a bright and even finish. The parts are then carefully buffed to a high gloss finish. The parts are then very carefully masked off and the “rounds” are bead blasted. This is a “show” quality finish.

t1. Matte finish and reblue the entire pistol - $150.00

t2. Polish “flats”, blast the “rounds” and reblue the entire pistol - $235.00

t3. Mirror polish – polish and buff all “flats”, blast the “rounds”, and reblue the entire pistol - $335.00

t4. Refinish and reblue a Marvel pistol that had previously been refinished - $160.00

t5. Refinish and reblue a Marvel slide or a frame that had previously been refinished - $80.00

t6. Matte finish and reblue just a slide or a frame - $ 80.00

t7. Polish just a slide or a frame and reblue - $130.00

t8. Cryogenic treatment of the entire pistol - $100.00

*Kimbers are usually stainless steel with a black coating and cannot always be reblued.*