Surplus P7 finish?

jaughtman · December 30, 2012, 12:02 AM

My second-favorite 9mm is my HK P7 surplus trade-in....one of the ones with the plum/purplish frame. Anyone else have one of these AND put years/a lot of rounds through it? Just curious how that finish has stood up.

J

WVsig · December 30, 2012, 12:20 AM

The plum purplish finish is just a blued job with a discoloration due to the hardness of the steel. IIRC. It will hold up as well as any blue job will IMHO

ClydeFrog · December 30, 2012, 12:49 AM

get the used HK P-7 treated with Bearcoat; www.bearcoat.com .
It's a good value & they offer a lifetime service plan. You have a choice of colors; black/tan/green/grey/camo. They cut a deal on spare magazines also.
To my knowledge, the shop time is only around 2 weeks(14 business days).

If you plan to carry or use the P-7 9x19mm, I'd get a surface treatment/coating.
I've had 2 Beretta 96D .40 pistols with Robar's NP3. It's worth it.

Clyde

Pilot · December 30, 2012, 08:15 AM

I have a P7M8 from 1989 that looks new, no plum on the slide. I also have a P7 surplus gun from 1983 that shows a bit of holster wear from it previous BMI user, but again no plum color.

The finish is durable as any other blue finish. I don't know why some exhibit the plum color as they age, and some don't. The plum color does not bother me in the least, however.

Sixer · December 30, 2012, 09:48 AM

I have one and LOVE it! I wish I would have bought a few more

I've been planning on having the slide refinished for a few years now, haha. It's something I'd like to do... but there is really no NEED.

The plan is to shoot it and carry it, so I figure I might as well wait until the wear is significant enough. Plum is not my favorite color, but it really doesn't bother me. Just my .02

jaughtman · December 30, 2012, 11:12 AM

Of course, I meant "slide", not frame. The frame is the standard P7 dull blue. Love the fact you pick it up, automatically squeezing the grip, and it is good to go - pretty much goof-proof in a defense situation. I have been toying around with the idea of having night sights put on it, but have been "told" that they will not be as accurate - that HK does something special to "regulate" their fixed sights. Not sure why that would be, however.

J

chris in va · December 30, 2012, 10:38 PM

The plum color really just comes out with a camera flash. It's not very obvious under normal ambient light.

loose_holster_dan · December 31, 2012, 04:02 PM

i'd be more worried about wearing out the barrel than the slide finish. those barrels are not cheap to come by.

NWCP · January 1, 2013, 05:23 AM

My plum P7 has held up well over the past 6 years. The guns are very accurate (the fixed barrel does the trick) and reliable. They make a great carry piece. I had Del Fatti build a holster for mine and it makes carrying the P7 and P7M8 a real pleasure. Being grip heavy you really need the right holster. I actually like the plum slide of the P7. Care for it properly and it will serve you well.

December 30, 2012, 12:02 AM	#1
jaughtman Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2010 Posts: 620	Surplus P7 finish? My second-favorite 9mm is my HK P7 surplus trade-in....one of the ones with the plum/purplish frame. Anyone else have one of these AND put years/a lot of rounds through it? Just curious how that finish has stood up. J

December 30, 2012, 12:20 AM	#2
WVsig Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2010 Location: WV Posts: 2,503	The plum purplish finish is just a blued job with a discoloration due to the hardness of the steel. IIRC. It will hold up as well as any blue job will IMHO __________________ Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.-Pete Townshend The United States is a nation of laws: badly written and randomly enforced. -Frank Zappa Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.-Frank Zappa

December 30, 2012, 12:49 AM	#3
ClydeFrog Senior Member Join Date: May 1, 2010 Posts: 3,870	If it were me, I'd... get the used HK P-7 treated with Bearcoat; www.bearcoat.com . It's a good value & they offer a lifetime service plan. You have a choice of colors; black/tan/green/grey/camo. They cut a deal on spare magazines also. To my knowledge, the shop time is only around 2 weeks(14 business days). If you plan to carry or use the P-7 9x19mm, I'd get a surface treatment/coating. I've had 2 Beretta 96D .40 pistols with Robar's NP3. It's worth it. Clyde

December 30, 2012, 08:15 AM	#4
Pilot Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2000 Posts: 3,160	I have a P7M8 from 1989 that looks new, no plum on the slide. I also have a P7 surplus gun from 1983 that shows a bit of holster wear from it previous BMI user, but again no plum color. The finish is durable as any other blue finish. I don't know why some exhibit the plum color as they age, and some don't. The plum color does not bother me in the least, however. __________________ Pilot

December 30, 2012, 09:48 AM	#5
Sixer Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,867	I have one and LOVE it! I wish I would have bought a few more I've been planning on having the slide refinished for a few years now, haha. It's something I'd like to do... but there is really no NEED. The plan is to shoot it and carry it, so I figure I might as well wait until the wear is significant enough. Plum is not my favorite color, but it really doesn't bother me. Just my .02 __________________ Hopp Custom Leather <------ click for HOLSTER awesomeness!! -There is no theory of evolution... Just a list of creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live.

December 30, 2012, 11:12 AM	#6
jaughtman Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2010 Posts: 620	Oops.... Of course, I meant "slide", not frame. The frame is the standard P7 dull blue. Love the fact you pick it up, automatically squeezing the grip, and it is good to go - pretty much goof-proof in a defense situation. I have been toying around with the idea of having night sights put on it, but have been "told" that they will not be as accurate - that HK does something special to "regulate" their fixed sights. Not sure why that would be, however. J

December 30, 2012, 10:38 PM	#7
chris in va Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2004 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 11,718	The plum color really just comes out with a camera flash. It's not very obvious under normal ambient light.

December 31, 2012, 04:02 PM	#8
loose_holster_dan Senior Member Join Date: April 5, 2011 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 2,061	i'd be more worried about wearing out the barrel than the slide finish. those barrels are not cheap to come by. __________________ Favorite range gun for the money - CZ 75B or STI Spartan V 9mm Go-to carry setup - Walther PPS or PPQ in FIST kydex holster 1AK Favorite .22LR - Browning Buckmark "A Sig is like a lightsaber - not as clumsy or random as a Glock."

January 1, 2013, 05:23 AM	#9
NWCP Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2006 Posts: 1,641	My plum P7 has held up well over the past 6 years. The guns are very accurate (the fixed barrel does the trick) and reliable. They make a great carry piece. I had Del Fatti build a holster for mine and it makes carrying the P7 and P7M8 a real pleasure. Being grip heavy you really need the right holster. I actually like the plum slide of the P7. Care for it properly and it will serve you well.