Stainless versus hard-chroming? Advantages?

[holycrikey]

Hello all. I've had some trouble finding some good answers about finishes.

As of now, I'm considering getting my Taurus PT1911 (blued), hard-chromed. I want it because 1.) The blued finish is far too thin, stock 2.) I love the look of stainless/hard chrome and 3.) I'd like added durability to the finish.

Is there any empirical research about stainless versus a well-executed hard-chroming? Lets assume we're talking about forged frames/slides.

Does either one have more durability or protection against rust?

I ask this because I'm either going to hard-chrome my 1911, or I'll simply wait for the stainless steel versus to come out. Any advantage to either one? I've heard (only ancedotal) evidence that hard-chroming offers superior protection, corrosion resistance and durability versus a standard stainless steel frame/slide.

Any info would be fantastic. Thanks guys!

[robot1911]

Stainless is okay...looks good and is not easy to rust...but it will rust because it's poreous. Electroless Nickel is not poreous and will not rust but it isn't quite as hard as hard chrome...which is my favorite finish.

Hard chrome is exactly what the name implies...HARD. It'll kill a file. If you plan to have any frame/slide work done, get it done before the chrome job because if you have to do any grinding on it, you'll break the envelope and it can rust at that point.

I shoot with a friend who has a hard chrome .45 which was built by an old friend about 10 years ago. He shoots it often and it looks as good now as it did when new...and that's GOOD!

Bob

[shovelwrench]

Yeah what he said.

Hard chrome is basically just chrome plating but much thicker. It is very hard and wears very little. But, matte finish is about all you can get in hard chrome because chrome frosts when you put it on that thick.

For a high polish finish you'll have to go with stainless, chrome, or nickle.

[David Rose]

Hard chrome is also less likely to scratch than stainless, as others have said. For the same reason, if you do get a blem, the stainless can easily be polished back out. I would just be very sure that you have done all you want to do before getting the hard chroming done, also for reasons mentioned.

As I continually modify things, I prefer the stainless.

David