What color/finish?

[MarshallDodge]

I am finishing up my Fuscolt build - Colt slide on a Fusion frame.

Frame is still in the white and I have not put the sights on yet but they will either be a Novak style or XS 24/7.
http://home.comcast.net/~fun2shoot/1911/fuscolt4.jpg

I can't decide if I want to make it look tacticool black:

http://edbrown.com/images/handguns/SpecialForces.jpg
Picture borrowed from Ed Brown's website.

or more of a target meets combat with an electroless nickel frame and leave the slide blued.

http://edbrown.com/images/handguns/classic-sb.jpg
Picture borrowed from Ed Brown's website.

[Gramps]

For function/carry= Two tone, with black grips

For cool looks= Two tone, with dark redish wood grips. ;)

[John_Wayne777]

I would think hard chrome would be a better option than electroless nickel. More durable, anyway....

[ToddG]

For what purpose?

If the gun is just for sitting in the safe, playing games, or having fun at the range ... make it look like whatever you want.

If for CCW or duty use, the reality is that darker frames conceal better and have less glare/reflection possibilities in the hand. Is it a huge issue? No. But it's worthy of consideration.

The old two-tone look served a very specific purpose for competition. The slide was blued because it provided the least glare for the best sight picture. The frame was nickeled or chromed to provide the best protection against corrosion from sweat and to minimize holster wear, etc. This was before there were durable corrosion-resistant black finishes.

[MarshallDodge]

If the gun is just for sitting in the safe, playing games, or having fun at the range ... make it look like whatever you want.
Yes. This gun was built for fun.

Since I built it and I am not an accredited gunsmith, I will not be carrying the gun for liability reasons. It could be sent to a gunsmith and be given "the blessing" but I already have a couple guns that I use for CCW.

[Robb Jensen]

I've been thinking of having my STI 2011s slide sandblasted and then refinished in IonBond to give it a two tone sort of classic IPSC pistol look.

This is what it looks like now.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/gotm4/gunpics/256f3bef.jpg

[MikeCLeonard]

I've got a number of guns and parts finished at IonBond...It's a very nice finish and very tough...Just keep in mind it won't be as dark of a black as some other finishes. It's got a slightly more charcoal look to it, especially if the oil is rubbed off. It really isn't as noticeable by itself, but more so when compared side by side with a blacker finish.