What is silver parkerized?

[Devildog]

I'm going to a buddy's house this weekend maybe to buy a Series 80 Government Model he is selling that is "silver parkerized." I assumed that it was just a stainless model with a dull rough finish but I can't find anything on the net that is actually called "silver parkerized."

Anyone know if that is real, or is he just making up a term for something that is actually called something else.

Thanks,

Semper Fi

[John]

Never heard of that either. Silver parkerized is a contradiction in terms. Parkerizing was a cheap finishing method used for military models mostly, and still used today for lower-priced guns. Silver is usually expensive!

Rgds

[Devildog]

Based on your experience with Colts, what do you think it is? Assuming it is factory and not after market, do you think it is a stainless with some sort of rough finish? Or maybe satin nickel?
I'm curious to hear your opinion.

Thanks again

Semper fi

[gunsnrovers]

Probably their satin nickle unless it's a stainless pistol that has been totally bead blasted instead leaving polished slide flats like most do.

[Kramer Krazy]

Probably their satin nickle unless it's a stainless pistol that has been totally bead blasted instead leaving polished slide flats like most do.

That's what I would suggest, too, but.......wasn't their "Colt Guard" a grainy, nickle plate or something similar? There is a Combat Commander at a local pawn shop that has that grainy texture silver, also. It doesn't look like a bead-blasted stainless, though. Not as dull grey in color as the non-polished sections of my satin stainless 80 Series Government Model. Definitely looks like more of a plating of some sort. I think the one in the pawn shop is an 80 Series, also. I've been wanting to go back to that pawn shop, but my work schedule has been pretty hectic (that is one of the guns I was thinking of looking at).


edit - I knew I saw it somewhere.....

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=82282&highlight=colt+guard

[Chuck S]

John --

I seem to sense a value judgement in your refrerenct to the Parker Process as "cheap" and used in "low priced" guns.

The finish is superior to most blued finishes -- assuming these are weapons, not objets d'art. Holds up as well to holster and other wear, has a subdued finish, and if oiled will resist rust better than blued finishes.

It's less expensive then a decorative blue finish, of course. ;)

-- Chuck

[Devildog]

I look forward to seeing this thing first hand tomorrow.

Semper Fi

[stans]

The matte nickel finish should have a bit of a yellow tint to it, whereas a sand blasted or bead blasted stainless gun will have a gray look. I have seen stainless 1991-A1's that were fully bead or sand blasted and the texture was very similar to a parkerized finish.

[OD*]

stans,

I'd second your opinion, a friend has one of the early STS, 1991A1s when Colt did not polish the flats.

[Kramer Krazy]

stans - Good point! I do recall the one that I saw in a local pawn shop having a slight yellow tint to it when the light was hitting it at the right angle.

[Devildog]

It shoots nice, too!