Long term durability of Cerakote

[USAF_Vet]

So I've just purchased a Kel-Tec P11 in Desert Tan Cerakote. All my other guns are blued steel, so I'm wandering into foreign territory.

Some of my blued steel guns are great, deep, and do not show a lot of wear despite their age. Others are old and have had their bluing wear but have developed a nice rich patina. My EDC had bluing so thin that one hot sweaty day in a IWB leather holster was all it took to rust through and destroy the finish. Because the finish was already wrecked, I went ahead and broke out the files and dehorned all the sharp points and really smoothed it out, but it now needs a new finish.

Anyway, the Kel Tec is my first Cerakote gun, and I'm curious as to it's long term durability because I'll probably do a cerakote with my Taurus 709. I've read some people have good results with hydrodips, or just good old fashioned high temp engine and break caliper enamels.

I also want to know if I will need to patch, repair, touch up or otherwise do finish work with my new Kel Tec. I'm not devastated by nicks, scratches, dents and dings in my guns, it adds character. I just don't want to leave any way for moisture to infiltrate and set in.

 

[Ibmikey]

I have a couple of pistols wearing ceracoat, however, none have been subjected to heavy use. I read that the Marine Corps has changed their specs for the Colt 1911 from ceracoat to a similar but more durable finish. I doubt you will have any worries regarding rust or corrosion if the pistols are occasionally wiped with something like a Rigg Rag, so shoot them and wipe them down just like your blue pistols and there will be no problems.

 

[hso]

My daily carry was has a professionally applied ceracoat finish and it's been shot a lot and in and out of leather and poly holsters. Can't tell it from looking at it.

If you want good results like mine have a certified ceracoat shop do it.

 

[moxie]

Here's nutnfancy doing it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI-DolazFYY

And prepperkip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uu_iuB5fqPU

 

[Jesse H]

Search for my posts with cerakote and I have a thread with pictures about my 6920 that came from the factory with FDE. It's my personal weapon I use daily for patrol and SWAT and I've got no complaints with it. In fact I'm surprised I haven't created more chatacter marks with the way I treat it.