If you see a difference in the finish (matte or polished) on the same part, i.e. one for flats, one for curves, and the finish is dark, the answer is simple: blueing.
Colt does this (i.e. the surface preparation) for both the slide and frame, others tend to bead-blast the frame before finishing, and leaving it all matte. As far as I'm aware, all Colts that are fully blued are done this way. Models with alloy frames need a different treatment for the frame, obviously.
I believe Colt also does this for their hard-chromed Special Combat Government flagship models... and they look stunning -- if you like hard chrome.
If you want this done on another gun, ask for a blue finish with polished flats and matte everything else. Expect to be told that it's easily done to the slide, but the frame costs more.
It's difficult to get this effect with other finishes. It definitely can't be done with any 'spray & bake' finish, because surface prep (parkerizing or aluminum blasting) will eliminate any prior differences in sheen. Ion-bond may allow for some variation, but apparently it's a bit tricky (something to do with the fact it's applied with magnetism, the differences in magnetism along the part causing variations in the finish, if it's too polished to start with).
Too many people miss the silver lining because they're expecting gold.
M. Setter
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