Who to chrome the 1911?

alabaster · December 21, 2006, 06:21 PM

I've decided to get my Springy chromed.(no commentary on pimp finshes please) It's going to be brushed, not polished or matted out. I need to know who does the best work you all have seen. I searched and found many people who do the chrome, but no one really commented on how it looks or held up. I spoke to Bob Cogan(SP) a couple years ago about doing it, and he was as nice a guy as I can remember, but that doesn't mean the work is right. I looked at Robar too, and it looks like they don't hard chrome anything. Well, I'm sick of my old black slab sided workhorse, so I'm finally going to do it. I will also be having a little work done while it's out. Action job, radical dehorn, and stippling or checkering(jury's still out on that one). thanks for the advice, and lack of heckling about chick/pansie/pimp guns finishes.

Dfariswheel · December 21, 2006, 07:49 PM

Ford's is a top plater and offer a bright polish hard chrome option.

http://www.fordsguns.com/

Cogan/Accurate Plating offer a 400 grit bright option.

http://www.apwcogan.com/Greetings.htm

mikel_holt · December 21, 2006, 08:41 PM

Virgil Tripp, that's all he's doing now or so I've been told.

Jim Watson · December 21, 2006, 09:33 PM

Getting work done "while its out" for plating might be problematical. Tripp does not do gunsmithing any more, does only plating, coating, and magazines.
So for him or most others to plate it, you would have to have it gunsmithed to suit and then plated. Cogan does gunsmithing and I have seen attractive looking guns from his shop but not seen them being shot. How about NP3 or E-nickel from Robar?

Caveat: I haven't had any guns plated, like Will Rogers, all I know is what I read in the newspapers.

HSMITH · December 22, 2006, 12:55 AM

I have a couple done by Accurate Plating and Weaponry, and they are first rate. Both the gunsmithing and plating, first rate! I use them to this day. I have seen a couple guns come from them after plating that are not good, really washed out marks and really poor polishing work. It hasn't happened to me, but I have seen it.

I have had Tripp plate one gun, it is good but not AP&W good. I have not seen anything bad come from Tripp though, not even one gun. For consistency Tripp might be the place to go.

Of all the chromers I will only consider Tripp and AP&W, too many bad things have happened over the years with the others.

Call Benny at Triangle Shooting Sports www.triangleshootingsports.com and talk to him about what you want done. He will most likely use Tripp for the plating and that is OK, and the gunsmithing will be as good as money can buy.

alabaster · December 22, 2006, 06:10 PM

Yeah, I thought Robar, but I really want the superiority of chrome. I like the brushed finish, so it's not too bright. As far as the smithing, I don't mind sending it two places to have it all done. I was thinking a combat master type hook up from robar and then a AP&W chrome job. Hadn't thought of Tripp though. Thanks for all the opinions, I'll think on this for a minute and see what route to go.

mickeyfinn · December 23, 2006, 01:48 AM

hi alabaster,

i've gotta give bob cogan and the boys at Accurate Plating and Weaponry a second thumbs up!

they used to be right up the road from me in safety harbor, florida. but they moved to alabama, dammit!

anyway, i've had both refinishing and gunsmith work done by these guys. they are excellent.

go to their website and take a look at their stuff. their counter area in the old shop had glass cases with examples of what they can do with finishing work and there was a lot of chrome there. and it was sweet.

somehow, i never minded hanging around there when i was waiting for something.

take care,

mike

Wildalaska · December 23, 2006, 03:02 AM

We use APW on an OEM basis. They are the best we have ever used in the past 12 years.

We have had MISERABLE times with some platers. PM me for names and reasons if you care too.

I'm talking 75 plus guns a year too btw

WildsilverAlaska

alabaster · December 23, 2006, 06:41 AM

Nah. I appreciate it wildalaska, but I'd rather just know the good ones. Sounds like APW is going to get a 5in in the mail soon. Thanks again!

rezmedic54 · December 23, 2006, 10:18 AM

RoBar does hard chrome and it looks good. They are in Tempe ,AZ>

RevoRick · December 23, 2006, 12:07 PM

Virgil Tripp

Gemini Customs

December 21, 2006, 06:21 PM	#1
alabaster Member Join Date: November 23, 2006 Location: NOVA Posts: 67	Who to chrome the 1911? I've decided to get my Springy chromed.(no commentary on pimp finshes please) It's going to be brushed, not polished or matted out. I need to know who does the best work you all have seen. I searched and found many people who do the chrome, but no one really commented on how it looks or held up. I spoke to Bob Cogan(SP) a couple years ago about doing it, and he was as nice a guy as I can remember, but that doesn't mean the work is right. I looked at Robar too, and it looks like they don't hard chrome anything. Well, I'm sick of my old black slab sided workhorse, so I'm finally going to do it. I will also be having a little work done while it's out. Action job, radical dehorn, and stippling or checkering(jury's still out on that one). thanks for the advice, and lack of heckling about chick/pansie/pimp guns finishes.

December 21, 2006, 08:41 PM	#3
mikel_holt Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2006 Location: Tuscumbia,AL Posts: 122	Virgil Tripp, that's all he's doing now or so I've been told. __________________ To err is human, to forgive is devine. Neither happen to be my policy.

December 23, 2006, 10:18 AM	#10
rezmedic54 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 288	Hard Chrome RoBar does hard chrome and it looks good. They are in Tempe ,AZ> __________________ Kurt Pietrzak Maricopa Shooting Service S.W.A.T. South West Airsoft Tactical CCW Instrutor NRA Certified Instructor Gunsmith Maricopa ,Az. http:www.maricopashooting.com

December 23, 2006, 12:07 PM	#11
RevoRick Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 201	Virgil Tripp Gemini Customs __________________ Criminals thrive on the indulgence of an understanding society DW 10mm CBOB, 10mm Experimental, .45 Pointman GD, .45 Patriot CCO. DW 744 VH .44 6", 715 VH .357 4". Fusion 10mm Longslide XM-10 Tactical Hunter. Glock 19c, Browning Buckmark, S&W 686 .357 4", 629 .44mag 8 3/8". Uberti Cattleman .45LC. http://www.1911auto.org/forum/index.php?referrerid=24

December 21, 2006, 07:49 PM	#2
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,478	Ford's is a top plater and offer a bright polish hard chrome option. http://www.fordsguns.com/ Cogan/Accurate Plating offer a 400 grit bright option. http://www.apwcogan.com/Greetings.htm

December 21, 2006, 09:33 PM	#4
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	Getting work done "while its out" for plating might be problematical. Tripp does not do gunsmithing any more, does only plating, coating, and magazines. So for him or most others to plate it, you would have to have it gunsmithed to suit and then plated. Cogan does gunsmithing and I have seen attractive looking guns from his shop but not seen them being shot. How about NP3 or E-nickel from Robar? Caveat: I haven't had any guns plated, like Will Rogers, all I know is what I read in the newspapers.

December 22, 2006, 12:55 AM	#5
HSMITH Senior Member Join Date: June 21, 2002 Posts: 2,019	I have a couple done by Accurate Plating and Weaponry, and they are first rate. Both the gunsmithing and plating, first rate! I use them to this day. I have seen a couple guns come from them after plating that are not good, really washed out marks and really poor polishing work. It hasn't happened to me, but I have seen it. I have had Tripp plate one gun, it is good but not AP&W good. I have not seen anything bad come from Tripp though, not even one gun. For consistency Tripp might be the place to go. Of all the chromers I will only consider Tripp and AP&W, too many bad things have happened over the years with the others. Call Benny at Triangle Shooting Sports www.triangleshootingsports.com and talk to him about what you want done. He will most likely use Tripp for the plating and that is OK, and the gunsmithing will be as good as money can buy.

December 22, 2006, 06:10 PM	#6
alabaster Member Join Date: November 23, 2006 Location: NOVA Posts: 67	Yeah, I thought Robar, but I really want the superiority of chrome. I like the brushed finish, so it's not too bright. As far as the smithing, I don't mind sending it two places to have it all done. I was thinking a combat master type hook up from robar and then a AP&W chrome job. Hadn't thought of Tripp though. Thanks for all the opinions, I'll think on this for a minute and see what route to go.

December 23, 2006, 01:48 AM	#7
mickeyfinn Member Join Date: December 23, 2006 Posts: 42	hi alabaster, i've gotta give bob cogan and the boys at Accurate Plating and Weaponry a second thumbs up! they used to be right up the road from me in safety harbor, florida. but they moved to alabama, dammit! anyway, i've had both refinishing and gunsmith work done by these guys. they are excellent. go to their website and take a look at their stuff. their counter area in the old shop had glass cases with examples of what they can do with finishing work and there was a lot of chrome there. and it was sweet. somehow, i never minded hanging around there when i was waiting for something. take care, mike

December 23, 2006, 03:02 AM	#8
Wildalaska Junior member Join Date: November 25, 2002 Location: In my own little weird world in Anchorage, Alaska Posts: 14,172	We use APW on an OEM basis. They are the best we have ever used in the past 12 years. We have had MISERABLE times with some platers. PM me for names and reasons if you care too. I'm talking 75 plus guns a year too btw WildsilverAlaska

December 23, 2006, 06:41 AM	#9
alabaster Member Join Date: November 23, 2006 Location: NOVA Posts: 67	Nah. I appreciate it wildalaska, but I'd rather just know the good ones. Sounds like APW is going to get a 5in in the mail soon. Thanks again!