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Thread: Black Stainless Finish Confusion and an explanation on Serial Number prefixes

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  1. #1
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    Question Black Stainless Finish Confusion and an explanation on Serial Number prefixes

    I just got off the phone with SA, and was enlightened to the 100th power. The Black Stainless finish is a two step process in which the metal is first anodized with zinc carbide which leaves it sort of a gray/green color, and then is treated to an acid bath which hardens the finish and turns it black. Also, banjold7, the nm in front of the serial number merely signifies the production group that put the pistol together. According to SA S/Ns can begin with n, m, nm, mn, or s. The nm does not signify National Match as is rumored. Well, now we're all smarter.
    Old and wiley beats young and exuberant everytime.

  2. #2
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dean Hoffmann
    I just got off the phone with SA, and was enlightened to the 100th power. The Black Stainless finish is a two step process in which the metal is first anodized with zinc carbide which leaves it sort of a gray/green color, and then is treated to an acid bath which hardens the finish and turns it black. Also, banjold7, the nm in front of the serial number merely signifies the production group that put the pistol together. According to SA S/Ns can begin with n, m, nm, mn, or s. The nm does not signify National Match as is rumored. Well, now we're all smarter.

    Mine is a N00024 (or is it N000024?), so does that mean it's the 24th out of the N group?

  3. #3
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    Dean...

    Thanks for the info. I was wondering what black stainless was.

    I got a black stainless SA late last year. Replaced the grips with the full checkered SA cocobola and it is the sweetest looking and feeling 1911 I have ever seen. I'm wetting myself just thinking about it!

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    I went to Cabela's a couple days ago and they had a new SA in Black Stainless with the adjustable sights.......I almost drooled on it.......I guess I know what is coming home with me one of these days.
    Lynnie, "Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal. "
    - Albert Camus

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Joni Lynn
    I went to Cabela's a couple days ago and they had a new SA in Black Stainless with the adjustable sights.......I almost drooled on it.......I guess I know what is coming home with me one of these days.

    uh-huh, seems like there was another post on here somewhere that you didn't like my idea of triplet consecutive SN black stainless' heh heh, sounds like the bug hit ya....

    purty aint it...
    Last edited by gottripletsNC; 11th May 2005 at 22:08.


  6. #6
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    I found that the black stainless scratches about as easily as bluing, but you can touch it up easily with Birchwood Casey gloss black touch-up pen. So far, mine has shown no holster wear like bluing, a step in the right direction. Zanejones, I don't know about your serial number, but that would be my guess.
    Old and wiley beats young and exuberant everytime.

  7. #7
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    Yes the bug got me. Same way it did when I saw my 87 BMW pearl white K100RS. I do have to admit that I drool easily around nice 1911's like RRA & Les Baer. (& many others) Now about that easy to scratch business???? How easy is it to do that? Would you foresee a problem with that finish or would you think it will hold up as well as a good polish and blueing job will? Thanks!!
    Lynnie, "Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal. "
    - Albert Camus
    Last edited by Joni Lynn; 28th October 2005 at 18:02.


  8. #8
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    Joni Lynn: I think that it will hold up as good or slightly better than a good polish and blue job because it is harder, but it does scratch. I accidentally dropped a screwdriver on mine from a distance of about four feet which produced an ugly scratch. I touched it up with the BC pen, and unless you are looking for it you'll never find it, unlike the contrast you sometimes see with the touch up pens for bluing. My champion had several small scratches around the pins on the side plate from careless punch use when I bought it. I retrospect, a screwdriver hit like my fumble fingers produced would probably scratch a diamond or any contemporary pistol finish.
    Old and wiley beats young and exuberant everytime.
    Last edited by Dean Hoffmann; 11th May 2005 at 23:28. Reason: add information


  9. #9
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    Thanks for the prompt reply. All my 1911's are blued except one that is nickel. I was looking at a loaded stainless with adjustable sights a couple weeks ago and was very nice. the black stainless was just so much icing on the cake. Do you have any pics of your black stainless here?
    Lynnie, "Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal. "
    - Albert Camus
    Last edited by Joni Lynn; 11th May 2005 at 23:29. Reason: omission


  10. #10
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    I just like the way it looks. I'd probably buy a Delorian if it was done in black stainless.
    Old and wiley beats young and exuberant everytime.

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