Posted: 1/23/2010 5:24:09 PM EDT
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I a looking for someone to hard chrome a Kel-Tec P3AT barrel and slide. I emailed Metaloy and Metalife, but haven't gotten a reply back yet as to the cost. If anyone has any other suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks. 
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Gander Mountain does Metalife.
Now I know they have mixes reviews on smith services, but, they send the gun out to Metalife––they do not do this finishing option themselves. The price I'm paying is $280 for the whole gun. It has been two months and I have a follow-up call in a week. They were also adding some cocking serrations for me which is why it's taking so long. I completely broke the gun down to avoid any issues; marred slide, missing parts, etc... GM puts a lifetime guarantee on the Metalife finish. Not 100% sure on the terms. They had a sample in the store and I really liked it. One of the hardest finishing options available, creates no clearance issues (very thin), and looks like nickel. |
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Here's the top finishers who offer hard chrome.
Each has different options and different pricing. Finish can range from the original satin pearl-gray, to a stainless steel look to mirror bright depending on the service. One or two will also plate the inside of the bore and chamber. Most users consider APW/Cogan as "probably" the best: http://www.apwcogan.com/ http://www.fordsguns.com/ http://www.armoloyftworth.com/Armoloy_WebDevelopment/Web_Pages/Firearms_Applications.htm http://www.originalmetaloy.com/ http://www.techplate.com/firearms_pl.htm http://www.mahovskysmetalife.com/ http://www.elitecustomguns.com/index1.htm |
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Why hard-chrome?
I used to be all about some hard-chrome, until I figured out that it wasn't that corrosion-proof. That was mainly what I wanted it for and it sucked at it on the Les Baer I had. Always wiping rust off, and it sat in the same place my P226 Elite ST did. No rust on the ST. Hard-chrome is a porous finish, and it really didn't do much for preventing rust. The only way it won't be that porous of a finish, is if there is some copper or something underneath, and that's called "decorative" chrome, and has no place on a working firearm imho. |
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I had a 1911 done in Mahovsky's Metalife a few years back and never had a problem with rust. I guess your mileage may vary, but for me the hard chrome finish was much more durable than any blued, parked, or stainless finish I've owned. The spray on "shake and bake" painted finishes look good but are a poor choice for me also. They just peel, chip and wear too easily. |
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Look at CCR's cera-plate...
http://ccr-refinishing.com/ It is more along the lines of NP3, but less slick and a good deal cheaper (I saved close to $200 by going to CCR instead of Robar with my PX4). They are running a holiday sale still. A complete P3AT slide would be $54 (whatever it costs to ship it there, plus $8 for them to ship it back; I’m not sure if the costs for such a small slide would be less, but they always do the right thing in regards to pricing). I am going to be sending my LCP there for it, whenever I decide on what I'm doing with my new PX4 (or if they begin cera-plating long guns). |