Recoes on finishing a slide?
As I put points on the board toward finishing what will be my last build for a while and closing the book on a 1911 twenty years in the building, I find myself with a dilemma where I need some advice. The build concept is "mirror polished slide flats bright enough to use as a shaving mirror"... unfortunately I can't get a 7" slide in stainless steel, only carbon.
Manufacturer offered finish choices are (their descriptions not mine):
- Matte bare metal
- Brushed polished sides bare metal
- Black oxide finished
- Black nitro melonited
- Hard chrome as "gunsmith service" for $200+
The overall concept is a two-tone finish, with the top round, bottom around the guiderod and cocking serrations Cerakoted in a darker color--combine the "artistry" of a show-pony with the durability of a war-horse. Any of our pro smiths or DIY refinishers have any suggestions about which option I should have them ship and what to have a refinisher do with it once it arrives? The manufacturer suggested "hard chrome overall then tape off and Cerakote the relevant areas," but unfortunately they don't offer a polished hard-chrome (or any HC on longslides) as anything other than aftermarket service right now; best they'll do for polish is "satin."