Silver nitride vs blued finish on Citori

[JMPhoto]

Just a quick question. I am deciding on a Citori lightning 12g and they have a silver nitride finish or blued on the receiver. The silver is $60 more which is no big deal, but which one wears better? I like the look of the silver, but does it hold up over time?
Thanks.

 

[PA4476]

I have seen a lot more blued guns with wear than silver ones.

I think it's really just a matter of taste.

If you like the silver, by all means, get the silver.

 

[ArmedBear]

Blue will wear with normal use. I've had a Jap Browning that had a very worn finish on the blue receiver. VERY worn. Cold touch-up blue wouldn't fix it, either. It doesn't "take" on the Browning receiver steel.

The silver nitride will keep looking like new unless it's abused. It also won't rust when you carry it by the receiver on a hot day, sweat on it, and don't oil it immediately after. A blue one will. BTDT.

While I have bought used ones, I would not buy a new-in-box blue-receiver O/U.

Some "blue" guns like the light Guerinis are actually anodized aluminum. I'd get one of those. But blued steel is for hanging on the wall, not actual use.

 

[oletymer]

I don't worry about it. I have several guns that are 30 to 90 years old. They bluing is worn and the metal grey, like me in my old age. Together we break clay and down birds just like we did when we did not have the wear marks on us. Buy the gun and enjoy the years together.

 

[ArmedBear]

With a 12 Gauge Citori Lightning, I'd worry about only one thing: keeping the resale value high.

My nomination for the funniest name for a shotgun, ever.

What possessed Browning to put a PoW stock on such a heavy, bulky clunker of a gun and call it "Lightning" is beyond me. It's sure no upland gun in my book.

It's a good design, wonderful in 20 Gauge, though.

 

[Pete409]

The Silver Nitride finish holds up just fine, and that would be my pick.