Durable custom finishes?

[Entropy]

The only custom finish that I have ever had done on a handgun was a CZ in Robar NP3 years ago. I didn't keep the gun to determine just how durable the finish was. Also, on the narrow CZ slide the finish was a little slick for my tastes and it made it hard to grip and cycle. The gun did run a little smoother though with the lube properties of the NP3.

I have an old Sig P228 that I'm wanting to have refinished for looks, and rust prevention. I'm wanting a silver finish, and a very high level of durability. I would go with a different color though if it had superior properties. Any recommendations? Obviously I'm looking for good quality controls too.

[rljatl]

You want hard chrome.

http://www.originalmetaloy.com/pricing.html

[Seraph]

Ion Bond DLC.

[LDM]

ditto on Ionbond.
I had this finish on a 1911 I used to own and I simply cannot imagine a better functional finish for a firearm. Seriously.

[Supermoto]

Yep Ionbond

[Seraph]

Best possible black finish would be Melonite QPQ/Isonite QPQ, with Ionbond DLC over that. This, of course, could be very expensive.

[Spurholder]

Melonite's awesome, and can be had at a decent price...Drake's used to charge $200 or so, but they got busy and now only refinish guns that they work on.

http://www.drakesgunworks.com/index.html

[Entropy]

Thanks guys. I may have to give Ion Bond a good look. Part of me still likes the idea of Robar NP3 and its lube properties, but I wonder which finish would be more durable overall. I think one of the problems with putting NP3 on the CZ was the very small area for slide serrations and lack of gripping area..........the P228 has a very large gripping area and won't likely be much of a problem with NP3 on there. The more I think about it though, a black finish seems like a good idea so that I can see wear points better.

[G34Shooter]

Thanks guys. I may have to give Ion Bond a good look. Part of me still likes the idea of Robar NP3 and its lube properties, but I wonder which finish would be more durable overall. I think one of the problems with putting NP3 on the CZ was the very small area for slide serrations and lack of gripping area..........the P228 has a very large gripping area and won't likely be much of a problem with NP3 on there. The more I think about it though, a black finish seems like a good idea so that I can see wear points better.

I don't own my Thunder Ranch Special that I had finished in Ionbond DLC back in 2007 but I did speak with the current owner recently and though he's put a couple thousand more rounds through it, the only place that the top black layer has worn was on the trigger where it contacts the frame. Since the Aluminum trigger was not hard anodized before the process, it's not the best surface to apply Ionbond DLC too. Ionbond DLC also has a base coating of Hard Chrome or Nickel for the final coating to attach itself too, the DLC has micro pores like Parkerizing that absorbs oil and releases it as needed. In my experience, that gun with some work performed by Harrison Customs was the silkiest smooth gun I've yet to experience yet and the only gun I regret selling.

[Lucky Strike]

I don't have a handgun coated in Ionbond DLC but I do have the BCG of my AR fully coated.

VERY durable and makes clean up super easy....2 day 1200 round carbine courses and afterwards I can wipe the carbon off completely with a dry paper towel.

I just wish they could figure out how to do it in colors other then black.