"NIB X" Glock coating durability?

[RayTheGreat]

Hello everyone, I'm excited to be on the HighRoad at last!

I'm interested in purchasing a Glock 17 or 19 in the somewhat near future, and I'd especially like to get one with a NIB X nickel boron coating.
Here it is on Bud's > https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...XPI19502C+G19+15+1+9mm+4/quot;+NIB-X+Coating/

The only reason I would get the NIB X coating is for aesthetics (I think it's lovely), but if it is less durable or reliable, it obviously wouldn't be worth extra... what use would it be?
I would love to hear your personal experiences with NIB X Glocks. How durable has the finish been? I wouldn't be abusing mine but I'd like it to be at least as durable as the stock finish. Is it any less reliable in your experience?
I'm a little bit skeptical of this finish because I found it hard to find any solid data on the NIB X Glocks anywhere.
Thanks very much guys in advance, I appreciate it so much
< Love from Ray

 

[rcmodel]

I'm not sure, but I don't think that is a finish Glock is using.
I think it is an after-market finish put on by another company.

This was the first thing that popped up on Google.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7b-KGzXbpE0

There is not much better you can do to a gun then what Glock is already doing with the Tenefer hard carburizing, and black finish on top of that.

So, don't waste your money on Bling you don't need to make a Glock finish 'better'.
Cause you really can't.

rc

 

[Bobson]

I agree with rc, but if you want a lucky charms theme Glock, you go right ahead and get one.

I'm pretty sure Military Arms Channel on YouTube has a review on that particular finish, as the G19 version used to be his EDC before the VP9 took over. Give it a look. Links may look goofy because I'm posting them from my phone.

Here's the video where he talks about the NIB-X, specifically:
http://youtu.be/7b-KGzXbpE0

Here's the video where he talks about that EDC:
http://youtu.be/byCvGW0MR80

Welcome to THR, btw.

 

[JTQ]

I don't know who's proprietary coating is who's, but NIB-X seems to be a new term for a fairly common coating.

I suspect it is very similar to FailZero's EXO finish (which were on Glock's for a while) http://www.failzero.com/coating-services.html

or Robar's NP3 that has been around for a while https://robarguns.com/custom-firearm-finishes/np3/

You could probably find a lot about the two above coatings and I suspect they are similar to NIB-X.

 

[DPris]

Glock stopped using Tenifer in 2010.
Denis

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

The nickel boron coatings are extremely wear resistant and do have a "slicker" feel than most standard finishes. One of the main advantages for such a coating is that carbon does not adhere to it as easily as say a black oxide coating. It has to do with metal pore structure. The pores are much smaller on the NIB-X coating and therefore carbon cleans off much more easily. This application really shines in the AR-15 platform and in .22 caliber semi-auto rimfire guns. As others have said it would be a mostly cosmetic preference on a Glock. Even the newest Glock coating runs very well with very little oil.

As a side note, one downside to a stainless or nickel finish on a gun is that you are going to see every spec of carbon that gets deposited on it. The black Glock finish hides it more easily. It really comes down to what YOU want.

 

[RayTheGreat]

Hey guys,
Thanks so much for all the info. I'm not expecting the NIB X coating to be any better than the stock finish, but I do want the bling...
If it is wear resistant and doesn't affect reliability in a negative way then I think I would choose it over the stock finish. I am a fan of the two tone look. I am nervous though, because there is not that much info on them, and I know it isn't an official Glock finish.
Thanks again for all the great info!
-love from Ray

 

[Bobson]

^ Make sure you watch the video RC posted, or the first one I posted. I didn't realize until this morning that they're the same video, and I haven't watched it in a year or two, but IIRC, there was some sort of problematic issue associated with the NIB-X finish.

 

[dogtown tom]

RayTheGreat ......... but if it is less durable or reliable, it obviously wouldn't be worth extra...

IMO......it doesn't do anything other than cosmetics. The black "finish" you see on Glock slides isn't Tenifer.........it's paint. The paint will eventually wear off with heavy use. I suppose the Nib-X finish may be more durable, but to me it isn't worth the premium.

DPris Glock stopped using Tenifer in 2010.

The metal treatment Glock does to it's slides is a nitride process. The current nitriding process is actually higher on the Rockwell scale than the Tenifer treatment. In the past Glock Inc used Tenifer (one of many "brand names" for a nitriding process, Melonite is another). Glock simply stopped buying the process from the company that sells the Tenifer product.

Example: You buy a skillet at Wal-Mart with a nonstick finish. It could be Teflon or it could be a generic nonstick finish identical to Teflon.

 

[UpperAtmosphere]

Does it really need to serve a purpose other than "I think it looks good?"

Get the one you like, otherwise you'll regret it.

 

[RayTheGreat]

Hello everyone, thanks again for all the great feedback! I watched the video RC posted and I'm more skeptical than ever. I guess I could always send it back if I got a lemon, and the coating for me would be only for cosmetic purposes. But I'm starting to feel it just isn't worth it. I'll take some time to decide, I don't want to make a purchase on impulse.
Thanks! - Ray