Hard Chrome Finish

Mike Baugh · January 11, 1999, 11:24 PM

I have a Springfield 1911 that I want to get refinished , does anybody have a favorite plater for hardchrome ? I have a Trophy Match that was plated by Metaloy and they did a great job but I thought I might try somebody different . Has anybody tried the blackchrome ? The Metaloy ran $120 , how do the others compare in price ? Thanks , Mike...

Rosco Benson · January 12, 1999, 09:15 AM

Checkmate, in Florida, does nice hard chrome plating. They can produce a matte finish, a "brushed" finish (which looks very much like satin stainless steel), or mirror-bright. Their discount to FFL-holders is substantial, so you might enlist a friendly FFL to send it in for you. Checkmate has no website (as far as I know). Give them a call at (352)754-9111.

Rosco

Walt Welch · January 13, 1999, 04:48 AM

I belong to the 1911-l list, and the guru of all types of plating, who really knows his stuff is Jack Fuselier. Here is his web site addy:

http://www.detnet.com/fuselier/

Hope this helps, Walt

MAD DOG · January 17, 1999, 03:55 PM

Checkmate is very good.
Chuck Taylor uses Ron Mahovsky at Metal Life.
I do not know his whereabouts.
I have seen Chuck's guns done by him, and they are very good.

Stay away from Armaloy/Jartex in Ft. Worth Texas. They changed management a while back, and we had nothing but BIG problems with them after that.

Black chrome is NOT hard. It is actually a chromium disulfide, which is about as durable as bluing, maybe even a little less.
It looks great for display weapons, but is about worthless otherwise.

EricO · January 19, 1999, 07:26 PM

I was trying to find Metalife info. also awhile back. Here's an address -
Ron Mahovsky
RD #1 Box 149A
Eureka RD
Grand Valley, PA 16420

phone # 814-436-7747

EricO

EricO · January 19, 1999, 07:36 PM

Double post deleted. Double expresso needed. :-)

[This message has been edited by EricO (edited 01-19-99).]

Ivanhoe · January 24, 1999, 03:58 AM

so, are there any gloss black finishes
(other than bluing) that are durable?

January 11, 1999, 11:24 PM	#1
Mike Baugh Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 1998 Location: Indiana Posts: 405	I have a Springfield 1911 that I want to get refinished , does anybody have a favorite plater for hardchrome ? I have a Trophy Match that was plated by Metaloy and they did a great job but I thought I might try somebody different . Has anybody tried the blackchrome ? The Metaloy ran $120 , how do the others compare in price ? Thanks , Mike...

January 12, 1999, 09:15 AM	#2
Rosco Benson Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 1998 Posts: 374	Checkmate, in Florida, does nice hard chrome plating. They can produce a matte finish, a "brushed" finish (which looks very much like satin stainless steel), or mirror-bright. Their discount to FFL-holders is substantial, so you might enlist a friendly FFL to send it in for you. Checkmate has no website (as far as I know). Give them a call at (352)754-9111. Rosco

January 13, 1999, 04:48 AM	#3
Walt Welch Senior Member Join Date: November 3, 1998 Location: Alamo, CA Posts: 425	I belong to the 1911-l list, and the guru of all types of plating, who really knows his stuff is Jack Fuselier. Here is his web site addy: http://www.detnet.com/fuselier/ Hope this helps, Walt

January 17, 1999, 03:55 PM	#4
MAD DOG Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 1998 Location: Arizona. Posts: 853	Checkmate is very good. Chuck Taylor uses Ron Mahovsky at Metal Life. I do not know his whereabouts. I have seen Chuck's guns done by him, and they are very good. Stay away from Armaloy/Jartex in Ft. Worth Texas. They changed management a while back, and we had nothing but BIG problems with them after that. Black chrome is NOT hard. It is actually a chromium disulfide, which is about as durable as bluing, maybe even a little less. It looks great for display weapons, but is about worthless otherwise.

January 19, 1999, 07:26 PM	#5
EricO Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 1998 Posts: 124	I was trying to find Metalife info. also awhile back. Here's an address - Ron Mahovsky RD #1 Box 149A Eureka RD Grand Valley, PA 16420 phone # 814-436-7747 EricO

January 19, 1999, 07:36 PM	#6
EricO Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 1998 Posts: 124	Double post deleted. Double expresso needed. :-) [This message has been edited by EricO (edited 01-19-99).]

January 24, 1999, 03:58 AM	#7
Ivanhoe Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 1998 Location: Virginia Posts: 413	so, are there any gloss black finishes (other than bluing) that are durable?