Hi-Power treated with Atranite

[number9xd]

I know there are some Hi-Power owners here, so figured I'd post this in case anyone was interested in it.

I recently got my Israeli Hi-Power back from getting Atranite at Freedom Gunworks in GA. Atranite is Melonite/Isonite treatment. Ever since getting my first blued Hi-Power I've wanted one with the same "duty" all business, maintenance free finish as my Glocks and M&P. I'd looked other places that did Melonte or Isonite but their process temps were up around 1100 degrees and the silver solder that holds the barrel bushing in the slide is reported to melt around 1200. I had also heard of people having fitment issues when getting their guns back from a couple places that process at these high temps.

I was turned onto Atranite by a member on the 1911 forum and boy am I glad I was. At that point I had given up on getting my desired finish and was looking very hard at going with Cerakote. Freedom Gunworks Atranite process runs around 800 degrees which took away both worries I had with going with Melonite or Isonite.

My old Israeli Hi-Power looked pretty rough finish wise when I got it. I did some home smithing on it to keep costs down and because I plan to carry this one and use it like a tool so I have no expectations of it being perfect or a flawless safe queen. I beveled the magwell, put a set of new take-off stock sights on it (BIG THANKS to Don Williams there), did a mild dehorn on a few areas, bobbed & profiled the hammer and cut some extra serrations in it toward the slide, sharpened the serrations in the safety levers and slide release and profiled the front sight to match the top of the slide.

Then I sent the gun and 5 new Mec-Gar blued mags off to Bobby at Freedom. I also had him put a new crown on the barrel.

My old Hi-Power was rough and used when I sent it off and the blast and refinish now shows some imperfections, or character, that the thick epoxy finish covered up, but that is totally fine by me. It's not bad at all and you have to sit and look to find the dings and tool marks here and there from it's prior life in Israel. It's not as cherry as my blued safe queen, but that is why I bought it in the first place.

I am completely satisfied with this gun now. It is exactly what I wanted, a Hi-Power with the use-it-and-dont-worry-about-it finish of my Glock. Look forward to carrying it.

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee238/number9st/Guns/IMG_4943__s.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee238/number9st/Guns/IMG_4949__s.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee238/number9st/Guns/IMG_4954__s.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee238/number9st/Guns/IMG_4956__s.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee238/number9st/Guns/IMG_4976__s.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee238/number9st/Guns/IMG_4977__s.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee238/number9st/Guns/IMG_4981__s.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee238/number9st/Guns/IMG_5012__s.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee238/number9st/Guns/IMG_5009__s.jpg

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[Pistol Shooter]

That looks very nice indeed. Congratulations. :)

How long did it take Freedom Gunworks to complete the job?

[okie john]

Nice looking BHP. How does it shoot?


Okie John

[number9xd]

It was gone about 5 weeks, but some of that was it got held up in shipping for that big snow storm they had down south. I had some items from work that also got held up due to it.

It shoots pretty good. Not as good as my other one that's near mint.

I mainly wanted to post so other BHP owners that my have been like me and want a Melonite type treatment but have been refused out of fear of melting the bushing out, or maybe had concerns like I did would know there is another option out there that is safe for this pistol.

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[eternal24k]

I am going to have to do some reading about this finish.

[TOM1911]

Do you have a link to the shop that did the refinish? I have a pistol that needs to be done in this..

[number9xd]

Do you have a link to the shop that did the refinish? I have a pistol that needs to be done in this..

Yeah, here's their website http://www.freedomgunworks.com/ you may have to call or email to inquire about the finish, I don't know if it's on their site or not to be honest as I just emailed them through the entire process until I gave my credit card info by phone when it was done.

Now I want to be clear that I have no connections what so ever with this shop. I was turned onto them by a member on 1911 Forum and searched "Atranite" on google and read lots of discussions on Brian Enos's forums where Bobby has build race 1911's for guys and treated them with the Atranite - actually he sends it out for the Atranite treatment, so he doesn't actually perform it. I didn't post this thread to pimp their shop, only to possibly turn other Hi-Power (or whatever gun) owners onto the option of another Melonite / Isonite / Atranite finish that doesn't run up around 1100 degrees. Having said that, my transaction with them was smooth and I wouldn't hesitate to send another gun to them, as always YMMV.

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