Parkerized or stainless for my next 1911?

[bernie]

I am preparing to buy my next carry gun and it will be another 1911 (I sold my last one recently). I used to have a stainless loaded Springer and liked it. But I really like darker finished, non shiny handguns.

I live in Arkansas and it gets hot and humid in the summer. So hot, that the slide serrations on that stainless 1911 will pick up surface rust in them in the course of one day. Will a parkerized gun resist rust reasonably well, or do I need to just get another stainless weapon?

 

[deltaopwong]

I'd go with the parked gun but you could always have your stainless NP3'd by Robar Companies..

 

[Norton]

I like the look of the parkerized 1911s....particularly if it's a Mil-Spec type gun. It looks very business-like and is pretty easy to take care of as well.

 

[Gunsnrovers]

Parkerized.

 

[Old Dog]

For carry, get the parkerized. Of course, once I got a parkerized SA Mil-Spec ... I had to get a stainless to keep it company. I carry a park'ed Mil-Spec up here in Washington (you could say we have some humidity up here) and home in Tucson ... never a problem with rust (just wipe it down at the end of the day, keep it cleaned and lubed).

 

[kikilee]

Well I am going to buck the trend. I too live in Arkansas and I prefer stainless due to our high humidity. The parkerized just doesn't hold up well for carry. (at least for me) I have both stainless and parkerized guns, all of the stainless look as good as new even after being carried a lot. I can't say the same is true for my parkerized guns. I love the look of the parkerized guns, but for carry give me stainless. YMMV.

 

[Longbow]

Parkerized! Me too, is getting tired of stainless look.

 

[Brass Balls]

The finish with the best corrosion resistance, that I know of, is Roguard.

clic pic




From Robar's website: Originally formulated as a protective coating for firearms applications, Roguard provides the lubrication and corrosion protection necessary to meet U.S. Military Machine Gun Dry Firing Requirements after 60 days sea water immersion or 1000 hours salt spray MIL-STD-TEST.

 

[stealthmode]

get the stainless

 

[Seraph]

Parkerized, and without front cocking serrations.

 

[Mute]

Blue.

 

[Tom C]

Another vote for the parkerized version.
Stainless is just too darn shiney!

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I carry a blued Kimber Custom Classic (and have for about 10 years) in very hot weather. I used to live right on Chesapeake Bay in Virginia and now live in Arkansas. I have carried M1911s for longer than I care to remember, and finally designed and made my own holster.


My IWB and instructions for making it can be found at http://paul.desertskyone.com/gunstuff.html (Scroll down and look for the link to instructions.)

The key is simple -- keep leather between gun and body. My holster has a backing the prevents the gun from touching the skin, even when worn under a T-shirt. The leather is water-proofed (with Sno Seal) to prevent sweat-through. As a bonus, there is a button or leather cam on the backing that ensures the safety lock is always engaged when the gun is in the holster.