Preferred Finish on a Stock Colt

[niceone]

I was thinking, what do you guys prefer on your Colt? Blue or stainless. What I meant here are the box stock guns and not the aftermarket plated souped up Colts. I used to like Colt's blueing but it seems I have acidic sweat thus I now more or less lean on the stainless. Some guys hated stainless for the galling experience. Any takes on these?

[Hawkmoon]

Blue.

It's what Colts are "supposed" to look like. :D

[JustinTime]

I'm with Hawkmoon. I like blue Colts for they're looks. I think stainless does carry better though. That is only my opinion. The stainless galling theory doesn't hold water with me or a few others here I know of. I've never experienced any galling on the stainless firearms I've owned no matter whom manufactured them.

[73Driver]

I think blued is the "purest" weapon, I have one stainless Combat Commander for occasional carry, the rest are blued. A little honest wear on a blued Colt makes it absolutely beautiful.

[niceone]

How about collectability and for posterity in the future? Blue or stainless?

[elijdub]

Blue...and blue :D.

With regards to "collectability", it's tough to say. At the moment, there are only a few "collectable" SS Colt 1911's (in my opinion), while there are hundreds of thousands of blue one's. This has mostly to do with the fact that SS wasn't offered as a finish until relatively recently, and those SS guns which are kinda' collectable have value only because of their low production numbers.
Pure speculation...I think collector's of the future (100 years from now) will value all Colt's, but maybe place a premium on which ever finish was produced less often ;).

Keep in mind that no current production Colt will have "collector value" anytime soon (with the exception of the Repro's...maybe)....

[paul45]

I equally like both a whole lot. In the models of Colts I have and like, I kinda try to have an example of each............a blue Delta and a SS Delta, for example. ;)

[texagun]

For the classic look......blued.
For practicality...........stainless

[dakota1911]

I also like both, and for collector value stay with what came from the factory.

[Joni Lynn]

I prefer my guns in factory blue.
However if you already have a gun in blue and the finish isn't holding up I'd suggest sending it off to Tripp for hard chrome plating.
If you don't have the gun already, then buy stainless.

[fire_hunter988]

blue is a much better looking gun IMO. but for shooting every weekend i go with stainless

[Longslide]

Joni Lynn
Based on your experience with HC aftermarket coating/plating - if a pistol has a little play in the slide to frame fit - will HC plating take up some of that slack?

[Hunter]

I like blue for the looks but really prefer parkerized for carry.

[Joni Lynn]

Don't misunderstand me, I have only one HC pistol and it came from Colt that way. I've seen some others and handled a few but I've not had any work like that done yet.
For the answer to your question I'd suggest calling Virgil Tripp.

[EchoBravoKilo]

I love Colt blue. I have a couple other finishes (Satin Chrome on one, Stainless on another), but I just love blue...as long as its Colt blue.

[Mhanis]

Since you asked; BLUE.
Common sense says stainless, my heart say blue.
Heck, ANYBODY can maintain stainless, blue actually takes a bit of attention.

[Soonenough]

Lets see, I have 5 blued, only one of which is a pony pistol. I have 7 stainless, all but 2 are pony pistols. I guess I prefer the lighter colored horses.

[daveohno]

I prefer stainless because of the durability of finish but I am liking blue more than I used to as I get older.

[army_eod]

You forgot about my Parkerized 1911A1. Frankly, I like Parkerized, blue and stainless and hard chrome.....

[Hunter]

Frankly, I like Parkerized, blue and stainless and hard chrome.....
Only those? Wow you really know how to narrow down the field. :D

[daveohno]

I like any finish that is durable on a carry pistol. For looks, I prefer bright stainless or a fine blue. But for everyday carry, dull stainless or a parkerize type finish is great.

[larry starling]

I like both and I try to get example's of both if available....

[OD*]

I like 'em all, blue, stainless, hard chrome and parkerized.

[daveohno]

I like 'em all, blue, stainless, hard chrome and parkerized.


Me too. I have nickel pistols, but the finish is too delicate for my clumsy, sweaty hands. I even have a black stainless Sig. Each finish has it own use. For looks or combat, like em all for their intended purpose.

[horse 91-A1]

The only blued Colt I have is a Trooper MkIII, all the 1911s are stainless and the two Colt .45autos see holster time. I would like to see more parkerized models for every day carry w/adjustable sights, especially during monsoon season.

Bob

[Rich-D]

I like 'em all, blue, stainless, hard chrome and parkerized.

I second that notion! ;) but my first choice is blue in most models.


Rich

[OD*]

Me too. I have nickel pistols, but the finish is too delicate for my clumsy, sweaty hands. I even have a black stainless Sig. Each finish has it own use. For looks or combat, like em all for their intended purpose.
Oh man, how did I forget nickel, I have 2 setting in the safe. :o

[wetidlerjr]

Oh man, how did I forget nickel, I have 2 setting in the safe. :o

Old age ? :lh:



















;)

[rnjj1219]

Now that I own a blued Colt I'm kinda biased so my vote goes for BLUE!

[d90king]

Ok I will play......I really like the HC on my SCG's I also really like the Carbonia blue on the WWI repro's.

[OD*]

Old age ? :lh:



















;)
That would probably be a safe guess, Bill. :D

[daveohno]

The way you horse trade, I'm surprised you can remember half of what you have, not to mention that you have quite a few to begin with. There's always an interesting acquisition in the works. ;)

[OD*]

The way you horse trade, I'm surprised you can remember half of what you have, not to mention that you have quite a few to begin with. There's always an interesting acquisition in the works. ;)
:D

I have to stop doing that too, I have the herd right about where I want it. ;)

[texagun]

I like all of the finishes that Colt uses and have examples of each.

I'm just glad Colt doesn't use any of the Krylon BBQ Paint finishes that some of the other manufacturers use.

[daveohno]

:D

I have to stop doing that too, I have the herd right about where I want it. ;)

Not likely. There is always something new popping up. I said that myself a year ago and the things keep popping up. You work at a gunshop, that's like putting a kid in a candy store or maybe Spitzer in a harem......... :D:D:D:D

[Joni Lynn]

I worked in a gun store once and just about went broke. Sometimes there's just too much temptation! :)

[daveohno]

I had a security job working at Sony for about a year...... It was a nightmare, I left most of my paychecks at work. :scared:

[Joni Lynn]

That's it, it's the kid in a candy store thing all over.

[OD*]

I left most of my paychecks at work. :scared:
I've taken home 3, in 2 1/2 years. :p

[wetidlerjr]

I like all of the finishes that Colt uses and have examples of each.

I'm just glad Colt doesn't use any of the Krylon BBQ Paint finishes that some of the other manufacturers use.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/wetidlerjr/Colt%201911/anim_rofl2.gif

[Joni Lynn]

I've taken home 3, in 2 1/2 years. :p
That's great self restraint. If I still worked in a gun store I'd probbaly bring home one every month or so even if I was comatose.

[OD*]

That's paychecks Lynnie, not guns. :D

[Joni Lynn]

Oh, okay you had me worried there. Thanks for clearing it up.
I misread the post. Sorry :)

[OD*]

;)

.......................

[valor1]

There are many IF's. What if I hit the lottery? I'll buy a Colt every week. What IF I'm Bill Gates, I'll buy one every minute. Colts are truly addicted in whatever flavor they come in.