Original Detonics refinish

Lead shooter · September 27, 2010, 04:46 AM

I have a early Detonics combat master, within the first 600 made.(serial 26xx) Someone in the past refinished it in Hardchrome, which is all nice and good, but I want to restore it to its original look. Is there any finish that can be applied to hard chrome to make it black? Originally it should have had a parkerized finish, but even duracoat would look decent. I really don't want to strip the hard chrome.

Positives:

1. MMC adjustable sight, which a expert told me was a valuable factory option. (Can't argue it because I never saw one before)
2. Still has the Factory Pachmayr rubber main spring housing.
3. Still has factory grips.

Disregard the safety and slide stop. These were cheapies I installed to get the gun working. I will replace with proper ones. Gun functions as it should now.

Bill DeShivs · September 27, 2010, 08:33 AM

I believe hard chrome was a factory option.

Jim Watson · September 27, 2010, 09:27 AM

I think the whole point of hard chrome is that nothing affects or sticks to it.

I have a gun in failing nickel plate that I want to refinish dark. Brownells literature says Gunkote can be applied to "properly prepared nickel plating" but the tech rep I talked to said he would not chance it and had stripped the plating off of any such gun he had coated.

Dfariswheel · September 27, 2010, 07:01 PM

Due to the "slick" nature of hard chrome, no paint type coating will adhere very well. Even an epoxy finish like Lauer Duracoat won't adhere for long.

I don't don't know of any process that will blacken hard chrome, and none of the coatings will stick.

September 27, 2010, 04:46 AM	#1
Lead shooter Member Join Date: March 30, 2006 Location: East Atlanta Posts: 75	Original Detonics refinish - Pictures installed I have a early Detonics combat master, within the first 600 made.(serial 26xx) Someone in the past refinished it in Hardchrome, which is all nice and good, but I want to restore it to its original look. Is there any finish that can be applied to hard chrome to make it black? Originally it should have had a parkerized finish, but even duracoat would look decent. I really don't want to strip the hard chrome. Positives: 1. MMC adjustable sight, which a expert told me was a valuable factory option. (Can't argue it because I never saw one before) 2. Still has the Factory Pachmayr rubber main spring housing. 3. Still has factory grips. Disregard the safety and slide stop. These were cheapies I installed to get the gun working. I will replace with proper ones. Gun functions as it should now. Last edited by Lead shooter; September 27, 2010 at 06:34 PM.

September 27, 2010, 08:33 AM	#2
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,981	I believe hard chrome was a factory option. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

September 27, 2010, 09:27 AM	#3
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,539	I think the whole point of hard chrome is that nothing affects or sticks to it. I have a gun in failing nickel plate that I want to refinish dark. Brownells literature says Gunkote can be applied to "properly prepared nickel plating" but the tech rep I talked to said he would not chance it and had stripped the plating off of any such gun he had coated.

September 27, 2010, 07:01 PM	#4
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	Due to the "slick" nature of hard chrome, no paint type coating will adhere very well. Even an epoxy finish like Lauer Duracoat won't adhere for long. I don't don't know of any process that will blacken hard chrome, and none of the coatings will stick.