Three levels of finish work, same detail work

There are three different levels of finish are in regard to the “flats” of the slide and/or the frame.

t1. Matte finish – with the detail work completed, the part(s) are then completely glass bead blasted. This gives a very uniform finish or look to the pistol and the parts. Roll marks or stampings will be leveled; this is a Common finish for a carry gun or a bull’s-eye ball pistol. The pistol is then blued here at the shop or sent off to ion bond for the final finish.

t2. Polished finish – after the detail work, the slide and/or the frame are flat hand sanded. There are up to nine Different grits 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 To begin with. If there are deep pits or serious nicks on the flats, we will suggest a matte finish (t1). If the part has logos that need to be preserved (colt, etc) 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 (protected) and the “rounds” are then bead blasted. This gives a crisp line between the flats and the rounds. The final finish is then applied.

t3. Mirror polish – with all the detail work completed, 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.

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 put your finger on, but you know that it looks and feels right.

t1. Matte finish and ruble the entire pistol $150.00

t2. Polish “flats” – blast the “rounds” and ruble the entire pistol $200.00

t3. Mirror polish* – polish and buff all “flats” – blast the “rounds” and ruble the entire pistol $275.00

t4. Refinish and reblue a marvel pistol that had previously been refinished $150.00

t5. Refinish and reblue a marvel slide or a frame that had previously been refinished $ 70.00

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

t7. Polish just a slide or a frame and reblue $100.00

t8. Cryogenic treatment of the entire pistol $100.00

Ion bond is a very thin surface coating (3 microns – 3/25^ths of a thousandth of an inch) ion bond is very durable and the gun appears to be “blued”. The gun will not show holster wear and is less likely to be scratched. Because ion bond is so thin and is so consistent in it’s’ application, we do not have to alter the correct fit of the parts. It is an expensive finish, but it is permanent. I do not send any of my work in to be plated (hard chromed) because of the variations of thickness.

a silver or black finish is available from ion bond

t9. Ion bond entire pistol – matte finish $450.00

t10. Ion bond entire pistol – polished finished $500.00

t11. Ion bond just a frame or just a slide and parts – matte finish $320.00

t12. Ion bond just a frame or just a slide and parts – polished finished $370.00

* The slide, frame, and the small parts must pass our inspection to determine if they are acceptable for the mirror polish. Caspian slides/ frames are acceptable, some colts, etc.

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

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