1.) Triton Rich - 01/28/2014

[B]So I have been perusing around the internet looking at low end commander 1911s. I'm leaning towards the American Classic but also considering the Rock island. Both guns are made in the Philippines and are pretty similar except the RI is parkerized and the American Classic is blued. I'm familiar with bluing but I have no idea what parkerizing is. What are your opinions on which of the two finishes is better/more durable. [/B]

2.) Swamp Fox - 01/28/2014

Here's a quick link:

[url]http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=244454[/url]

I've never had anything parkerized but have thought about it a couple of times.

I will say I've not been too happy with [U]matte blue [/U]on some Remington shotgun barrels. About as tough as my little sister...


My gunsmith did a matte blue on a Browning BLR .22 rifle for me, though and that has been great....but I baby it.

I like the way parkerized looks vs. straight blue, though.

3.) Wild Bob - 01/28/2014

A decent quality parkerized finish will be less susceptible to rust than blued finish. A parkerized finish has some texture to it (similar to a fine grain sand paper) so it won't show finger prints like a blued finish, and it won't have a sheen like a blued finish will when it's well oiled.

Parkerized is black in color where as a blued finish has a deep dark/blue color.

I have two shotguns that are have parkerized finishes, and I like them from a durability / non slip grip stand point.

4.) DParker - 01/28/2014

DParkerized...duh. :wink

5.) Wild Bob - 01/28/2014

[QUOTE=DParker;15610]DParkerized...duh. :wink[/QUOTE]

Are you trying to tell us your complection is like sand paper. :-)

6.) DParker - 01/28/2014

[QUOTE=Wild Bob;15613]Are you trying to tell us your complection is like sand paper. :-)[/QUOTE]

No, that I'm just generally abrasive. :grin:

Seriously though....:::rim-shot:::....

I've always considered making a project out of taking a non-parkerized modern firearm and stripping the bluing (if it has any), having it parkerized...but [I]without[/I] the oil bath that normally comes after...and then having a Cerakote finish baked on, in whatever color made the gun look best. I just need a victim.

7.) Triton Rich - 01/29/2014

[B]Thanks for the input. To be honest, I think I like the looks of the bluing better. I'll have to consider the parkerized one though. Perhaps a trip to the gun shop to see both finishes in person is in order![/B]

8.) OKY - 01/29/2014

Rich, if you are just going to plink with it every once in a while, clean it thoroughly and put it up, blue is fine. If color is your main interest, consider something like cerakote or other baked on finishes. I reserve bluing for high end, fancy guns that see limited use. If I'm going to pay for bluing, I want it to be very nice. My funding doesn't allow for "very nice" so I stick with practical finishes. Per my finances, that equates to parkerizing or Mil Spec anodizing.