I have an S&W Model 36 that is a little rusted under the grips and since I carry it often I'd like to get a better finish on it.  I would love to send it to Robar and get an NP3 Plus Electoroless Nickel Finish but for $400 including prepping and refinishing the pistol it's a little ridiculous.  Two other options I've considered are Cerrakote and Black T Finishes, both of which seem to match Robar performance but don't seem to have the same non-painted on look to them.  I would appreciate feedback on any of the three finishing companies mentioned, especially Cerakote and Black T.  Thanks in advance for your help.

Another option is to get it Parkerized.  A lot cheaper than either. The park holds oil much better and will help prevent rust.

I personally would just sell it and get a stainless j frame.

Mahovsky's Meta-Life chrome finish looks to be pretty serious. That's where my model 49 is going after I finally trash the bluing on it.


http://www.mahovskysmetalife.com/Metalife%20Finish%20Page%202.htm

I would send it back to S&W and let them refinish it. They do real nice jobs.

I second the S&W recommendation.  I had them refinish my 40 year old M36 and currently getting a high polish blue on a M29-2.  Fantastic work if you like a blued finish.  

Otherwise, I use Metaloy for hardchome or Robar for NP3.

Probably money and hassle ahead to just sell it and buy stainless.  Plus the newer gun will be rated for plus p which your older one probably isn't.  New j frames are running around 350 to 400 in these parts.

I ended up going with Cerakote and I don't have any regrets.  The cost of refinishing was higher then I thought it would be, but considering the work that Alternative Firearms Coatings put into my S&W Model 36 I really think it was worth it.  Biggest cost IMHO was shipping the gun via FedEX to the refinisher.  All tole I was able to refinish the pistol for about $300 including shipping both ways insured.  This revolver has only about a thousand rounds down the tube maximum so right now I have what equtes to a a brand new gun Considering that most other companies wanted the same amount for Bluing or Parkerizing and more for other proprietary coatings I think I got my money's worth.  What's more I got my pistol back in 9 days from the date it shipped.  I didn't have to wait 8-12 weeks while another refinisher sat on my money.  Considering I have had this gun since 1993, I think I got my money's worth out of the S&W Blue as well.  See the before and after photos and judge for yourself.

URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2785104760104497100dEkNmp][/URL

URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2403504830104497100TwhjJW][/URL

URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2857087690104497100pueGUg][/URL

URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2472112400104497100SIDzmJ][/URL



URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2058427810104497100doMRLk][/URL

URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2837237460104497100IAOkcq][/URL

URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2402465270104497100NLzMAA][/URL

I like it. Hopefully you get a good service life.

You will get more years of service.

Cerakote is the way to go, but it's not perfect. There are some tight spots that it's just impossible to spray and get good coverage.

Simple solution, if you want the best protection, have it parkerized then Cerakoted. If you just have it parkerized it will wear. Here's a M13 that I'm going to have reparkerized and Cerakoted.

looks great

Never ever get rid of a handgun you like,  buy another in a different finish if you like.  You can not have too many firearms.  I have a 1911 that was rescued from the salt and the ceracote finish has held up well after a thousand or so rounds.  Not a daily carry but a shooter.  Those wear marks and pits are just beauty marks.  Smith does a great job refinishing.

+1

There's nothing wrong with some wear on your revolver... it gives character to the piece.
I've carried this little revolver since it was new and practice with it regularly.
It's carried in my pocket, in a IWB holster, ankle holster and OWB holster or just in my center consol in the truck.
I even carry it as my sidearm when hunting.
It aint's pretty but it works great and making it pretty isn't going to make it shoot any better.

I just bought a 3" M10 that had a lot of surface rust on it, and some dings here and there, but it was very tight mechanically. I just did a detail strip and cleaned everything thoroughly. From the looks of the inside, nobody had ever done that before. Once it was all cleaned up, I rubbed everything down with 0000 steel wool. It took all the spots that were rusted down to bare metal.

I had originally planned to have it bead blasted, parkerized, then Cerakoted, but after seeing how it came out, I'm not going to bother. I'll put honest holster wear on it anyway so starting out with a little wear on it doesn't bother me.