Stainless Commander refinish Q

[Quijibo]

I have a stainless commander that is my primary carry pistol. I've already done a few things to it internally and now I'd like to start on the bodywork. I plan to bead blast the slide and frame (the polished parts are starting to annoy me), and have the frame done in black. I'm not concerned with lowering the value too much since I plan on having this gun for a very long time. Does anyone have a stainless CC that they've had dulled/blackened? I am going to buy a Defender in the next week or so and will do them to match so pics of either would be helpfull. Thanks.

Before:
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee110/Apelike1/Colt2001.jpg

[dakota1911]

I am sure many of us would like to know how you carry. It could help us in your carry problem and how to finish your pistol. I have friends with the police and could ask them how they carry and what they like. Maybe this could help you.

[Quijibo]

My issue with the pistol isn't a carry problem, I'm just not fond of the finish. The shiny parts of the frame and slide are starting to show scratches, and the slide has some sharp edges (the forward serrations are killing my holsters) so I figure I'll just have it blasted while it's getting dehorned. I saw one somewhere that was black and blasted and I wanted to see some more and hear from their owners how/where they had them done.

[dakota1911]

The grips are interesting on your picture. They look like Paychmeyer? I would like those on my pistol.

[Quijibo]

They're Hogues. They are a little wider than the stock grips so they fill long hands better. They are very nice at the range but a little harder to conceal. Some folks don't like them because they are pretty grippy and tend to grab your overgarment. I honestly haven't noticed. I carry this pistol alot and it doesn't seem much of a problem. The only issue I have with them is the first groove below the trigger guard is pretty big so it tends to spread the rest of my fingers out more than I'm used to. At the range, they offer a more secure grip for defense type drills, So to me, they are worth their shortcomings. I tried a little grip tape on the front strap (there's no checkering) but it was a little harder to readjust my grip. These aren't so tacky that your first grab is you're shooting grab. I had to trim them a little on the left to clear the longer safety, and on the right to clear the ambi.
I've had several 1911's but this is my first Colt. I buy and sell 3-4 pistols a year looking for ones that strike me the right way. I don't collect guns, and, I'm not partial to 1911's or any other gun. This Colt, she's a keeper.

[blushirt23]

Quijibo,
First off, excellent obscure Simpsons reference. That being said, I have a Walther PPK/S that was originally bright stainless. I had it refinished in black Teflon. I was thinking of trading it off, but after I got it back. it was like getting a new gun. Just my opinion.
Chris

[smokey]

Quijibo, I have a pair of the XSE Commanders like yours[consec.#'s].I replaced all the MIM parts with Ed Brown hardcorp parts.[the slide stop on one broke the first time at the range,like 35 rds!]I have also done the Ed Brown Bobtail on one and will shortly do the other.I, like you,hate those dingblasted front slide serrations. As you observed, they eat good holsters.I took a "Pink Pearl" school eraser and used it as a sanding block with emery cloth to round off the sharp edges of the front serrations. I wanted to to have them milled off all the way to the front of the slide ,like a Browning H.P. but had the thought that it might weaken the slide in the bushing area.BTW, I changed the sights to Novak Nightsights,and in so doing discovered that the originals[Novak type] are cheap Chinese parts. DO NOT try to loosen the set screw on the rear site it is NOT a screw. I twisted off two Chapman hex drivers figuring that out!I am a firm believer in "if it's yours do as you want" but I would use emery cloth [use the grit that suits you] to dull the finish and remove the scratches.Use a draw filing technique to preserve the flats on the slide.You can touch it up occasionally as desired. The frame actually has a clear epoxy coat that is pretty tough and doesn't easily scratch.If I were going "two-tone"I would do the slide dull black and leave the frame silver. Just my opinion but a dark slide is easier on the eyes in bright sunshine.Good Luck and best regards, Nick

[Quijibo]

Smokey, who did your Bobtail? I may get mine bobbed also. The only reservation I have with refinishing the slide is, some of the roll marks are a little shallow. The pony is very shallow. I'm a little concerned that even a light blasting will leave some of them unrecognisable. I've taken a stone to the front serrations and managed to knock them down a little, but they are still pretty abrasive. If there is one thing I think Colt should do, it's re-think the serrations. Everything else on this pistol is pretty easy to change, but those grinders on the slide are permanant. A good smith can add them if the buyer really needed them, but if you don't like,want,or need them, tough titties. Love the gun, hate the serrations. Maybe Colt figured they would be a deterrant from an attacker grabbing your gun? OUCH!

This is what I have in mind (this pistol belongs to a member ScottsGT on 1911forum.com.)
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y157/ScottsGT/_MG_1457b.jpg

[paul45]

and in so doing discovered that the originals[Novak type] are cheap Chinese parts.

I'm curious as to why you think Champions sights are cheap? Colt, Les Baer, Kimber, use them.

I replaced all the MIM parts with Ed Brown hardcorp parts.[the slide stop on one broke the first time at the range,like 35 rds!] Funny, the slide stop is forged



Did you replace the cast parts as well, or are you OK with cast and just don't like MIM?

[Quijibo]

I, personally, could care less if a part is cast or MIM, as long as it can be refinished, it's "shape" suits may tastes (or can be modified), and is strong enough not to fail prematurely. I do however, think the plastic MSH has no place on a $1000+ pistol.
I also believe that if a man has a job, and spends his hard earned dollars on a Colt (or anything else) he has the right to change any part of it that he finds distastefull. Or take it out, smash it with a hammer and post the video on U-Tube if it makes him feel better.
I've been known disassemble a few things with the help of a tool called "The Driveway".
Some things ya do just because it feels good. ;)

[smokey]

Paul 45, I don't know Champion sights from a mules behind. I DO know when I spoke to Wayne Novak he said those sights were Chinese "knock offs".They have a US Patent #[the real Novaks do not] I replaced the copies with Novaks because I wanted tritium sights.Perhaps, my choice of words was poor, maybe economical[instead of cheap] would have suited you better. At any rate,when the copier goes to the trouble to cast in a fake set screw I think they are misleading me for a reason. Cheap? Economical? I don't see Colt's avoiding buying sights from,or, paying royalties to Novak as a splurge so.... you pick the word that suits you.As to cast, MIM, or forged parts I don't care. What I do care about is a part failing after 35 rounds on a brand new Colt.I carry this pistol daily to protect me and mine and the public[The State of Alabama recognizes me,by Statute, as a retired law enforcement officer and credentuals me as such]I spent the money to upgrade a pistol to the point I can trust my life to it.I'm happy with that but I think Colts could have done it better from the start.BTW, Quijibo, I bought the jig from Ed Brown for the Bobtail and I had the local Jr. college with a machinist program drill the hole. After that it is a simple matter to fit the Bobtail and remove the part of the frame that needs to be taken off. I did mine with a Dremel belt sander and finished the whole deal by hand.Really a simple operation ONCE YOU HAVE THE NEW HOLE CORRECTLY LOCATED. NOT a job to attempt with a hand drill and horse shoe file!Regards, Nick

[Quijibo]

Cool. I have access to the tools for the job, I just don't have the patience (ADD/OCD). I've considered many times doing the job myself only to have images pop up in my head of a madman bashing the frame of a 1k pistol with a hammer on U-Tube.
Kudo's.

Thanks for the heads-up about the sight. I'd hate to see the slide on the tube also...

[Quijibo]

I wanted to to have them milled off all the way to the front of the slide ,like a Browning H.P. but had the thought that it might weaken the slide in the bushing area.

I think this guy could probably tell you how much of the slide can be milled off. I think it would look sweet.
http://www.ctbrian.com/

[dakota1911]

I did mention the holster because I used to carry a XSE LW Commander and found the front serrations unfriendly to some holsters.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e193/dakota1911/colt_comxser.jpg

As you know the SS alloys used in gun manufacture are generally grey when they are made, and of course are finished or polished too some level.

Ruger made rifles that are mat grey. Don't have one now. I do have an AMT Hardballer from 1984 that short of shows it in areas.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e193/dakota1911/hardballer_r.jpg

In the beadblast area, I think that is what they did with this Safariland 1911 I have.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e193/dakota1911/safarilnd1r.jpg

And you can take SS and polish it till it is like a mirror. The Ruger SA revolver below has had that done to it.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e193/dakota1911/45conv_1r.jpg

[Hammerdown]

The beadblasted SS finishes I have seen could best be described as "satin". That's the finish I'd like to have on my SS Commander, eventually.

[Grainfed]

Had mine done by Ken Crawley and it is one of my finest. All rollmarks taken off and everything inside customized. Reliable, accurate, and a hoot to get hot at the range....TW
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc187/Grainfed/TheCheater001.jpg

[Quijibo]

I found another smith that will machine off the front slide serrations. I may be sending him mine for a carry overhaul.

http://www.harrisoncustom.com/Services.aspx?page=4#2

[ErikTheHack]

This puppy has been my main shooter for about 10 years now and I think she still looks pretty nice :) -- and of course shoots like a dream! She's a Colt Combat Commander Model O4012EU in what Colt calls "Matt Stainless". She's completely stock except for the Wilson Combat mags and 2-piece full-length rod. She came with these Hogue grips straight from Colt but this is the second set as the rubber does wear over time. I like the finish a lot but as someone said before it does show scratches pretty easily. She got a couple of bad ones from what was SUPPOSED to be a drop-in extended slide release -- drop in my hind quarters!

http://hax-revolution.com/base/pictures/colt_cc/DSCF1297.jpg
http://hax-revolution.com/base/pictures/colt_cc/DSCF1303.jpg
http://hax-revolution.com/base/pictures/colt_cc/DSCF1291.jpg
http://hax-revolution.com/base/pictures/colt_cc/DSCF1290.jpg

Please excuse my feet
http://hax-revolution.com/base/pictures/colt_cc/DSCF1305.jpg

-E

[Captain_America]

Quijibo,
I have a 1991 Combat Commander I just got a couple months ago to use as my daily carry. I sent it to Coal Creek Armory in Tennessee and had them put a short trigger on it, de-horned, and at the last second I decided to have it matte bead blasted. I just got tired of wiping fingerprints off of the polished surfaces. When I got it back I was so glad I did it. It looks incredible. I didn't think it would be a big difference but it did. I think it made a good looking gun look great.

Not the best picture but here it is.

http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t130/mikeyjsc/commander3.jpg

[Quijibo]

Capt. That's exactly what I want mine to look like.
I just checked CCA's site and they offer melonite finish also.
Mmmmmm.... black frame, satin slide....

I smell my credit card melting....

[Hammerdown]

Capt. That's exactly what I want mine to look like.

++1

Love to get some grips like that for mine, who makes 'em?

[Captain_America]

I almost got it done in melonite. The only reason I didn't was because I might get Novak sights at some point. I heard its harder to cut on a gun that has been finished in melonite and I would have to have it refinished. But I'm so glad I got the matte bead blasted. I'm not even necessarily a stainless kinda guy. But I live in South Carolina and just didn't want to worry at all about rust. Not that it's probably even an issue but it's one less thing my little obsessive compulsive brain has to worry about. Now that it is bead blasted I like the look alot more and don't feel compelled to wipe the fingerprints off of the polished flats constantly. The guys at Coal Creek did good work and it only took about a month for them to do the work to my Commander and my Government I had parkerized. The grips on my Commander are Chip McCormick exhibition grade rosewood grips Hammerdown. I'm thinking about getting some black micarta double diamonds for it though. They are a little too red for my taste.

[terabyte]

The grips are interesting on your picture. They look like Paychmeyer? I would like those on my pistol.

Those are Hogue grips as used for limted time on certain CC as posted above.

Take the pistol apart & glass bead the frame & slide - it will have a soft gray color to it. Sand may be a tad rough.

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/3473/cc80ss.jpg