Metal Coatings for Guns

The following information was compiled in 1992. Some of the businesses may no longer be in business. All phone numbers and addresses should be verified.

It’s not as simple as it use to be to pick a finish as there are many choices on the market today. You should read Gun Finishes For the 21st Century" in the 1991 Gun Digest (page 118). Another good article is “To Blue Or Not To Blue” in the September/October 1991 issue of American Handgunner.

The first thing you have to decide is what color you want. If you must have black then your choices are limited. If silver or silver-gray is acceptable then your choices are greater. You might want to combine the black and silver gray.

Teflon

If you want black Teflon, I would recommend the following:

W. Birdsong & Associates
4832 Windermere
Jackson, Mississippi 39206 (601) 366-8270

ROBAR
21438 North 7th Ave. Suite
Phoenix, Arizona 85027
(602) 581-2648 (Rob Barrkman)

Z-COAT GROUP INC.
3915 U.S. Highway 98 South
Lakeland, Florida 33813 (813) 665-1734

(Z-COAT) May be Moly-Coat)

Z-COAT is the only finish I have seen. My 375 was done in Z-COAT and it looks great. I Haven't used it so don't know how it will hold up. It is available in any color. Problem with Z-COAT is they only do business with dealers. Birdsong has a good reputation. Plolymax is not recommended for internal parts.

Electroless Nickel (High Phosphorous Nickel)
The Electroless Nickel finishes are all silver or silver/gray. It is the most rust resistant but not as hard as the chrome finishes. It is harder than Teflon. Bond is not as strong as chrome.

NITEX
P.O. Box 1706 Uvalde, TX. 78802
(512) 278-8843 (Ed House)

NITEX claims adhesion of 30,000 to 60,000 psi which exceeds the base metal's own adhesive force. Not as slippery as Teflon. NITEX can be placed on the bore and interior parts such as springs.

Hard Chrome

The rust resistance of Chrome is not as high as Nickel. It does have better adhesion and is much harder. Chrome can be had in Black or Silver*Gray.

Accurate Plating and Weaponry (Black or Silver Grey)
1937 Calumet St.
Clearwater, FL. 34625
(813) 449*9112 (Bob Cogan)

Metaloy Industries (Silver-Gray)
Rt. 5 Box 595
Berryville, AR. 72616
(501) 423*4225 (Jim Kelly)

Shootist Supply (Black Guard or Silver-Gray)
622 5th Ave.
Bella Fouche, SD 57717 (Jack Cook)

ARMOLOY
204 E. Daggett Street
Fort Worth, TX. 76104 (817) 332-5604

ARMOLOY can be used on the bore and interior parts such as springs. Chrome is much harder than Nickle, but not as rust resistant

Metalife (Silver Gray)
Box 53, Mong Ave.
Reno, P A 16343 (814) 436-7747

NP-3
This is a unique finish that combines Teflon in an Electroless Nickel base. It is the most rust resistant and has the lowest coefficient of friction and does not require lubricant. Hardness is between Nickel and Chrome. It is. expensive.

ROBAR

21438 North 7th Ave. Suite
Phoenix, Arizona 85027
(602) 581-2648 (Rob Barrkman)

I would only consider Teflon if cost is the most important consideration or you want a camouflage color scheme. Teflon is relative soft and scratches easier than nickel, chrome, or NP·3. Once any finish is scratched down to the base metal it will rust at that point. I have read where some finishes allows the rust to migrate under the finish. The best protection from scratches is a very hard finish. Chrome is 70-72 on the Rockwell scale. NP-3 is 58. The hardest knife blades may approach 58. So you can see that a Chrome finish is really tough. Chrome is not as rust resistant as Nickel. Some of the Nickel finishes are rated at 500 hours in a salt spray. NP-3 is rated at 500 or 1000 hours when applied over a nickel finish. Chrome is rated about 100 hours. You will have to decide in your use what is more important, rust resistant or hardness. NP-3 may be the best compromise but it is expensive and the color is light grey. NP-3 is the best choice for a bolt due to its very low coefficient of friction. It will really slick up an action.