Norc 1911 Refinishing question

Refinish My Norc 1911A1 how???

  • Parkerize

    Votes: 13 37.1%
  • Dura-kote

    Votes: 14 40.0%
  • Tremclad (ick!!)

    Votes: 2 5.7%
  • Powder coat

    Votes: 1 2.9%
  • Re-Blue

    Votes: 5 14.3%

  • Total voters
    35
  • Poll closed .

notsorichguy

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I bought a Norc 1911A1 from Gunnar at Armco.

It is a real good shooter, the only problem, is the hammer bite...... Bad hammer bite, I bleed after 50+ rnds!

So I go onto Brownelles web site and order up a bevertail, and while I'm at it I order a extended mag release, extended thumb safety and a mag well. I already have a Houge wrap around grip (thus the reason for the extended mag release) and I do a little "tactical" style shooting, thus the mag well. Besides I want to, I really don't need any other reason! :rockOn:

So I decide since I have to relief the frame a bit (for the braver tail) that I would also remove any and all markings off the slide and frame (except for the serial #)...... I mean I have to refinish anyway... right?

Long story short I now have to refinish my Norc.

I started with the plan of sanding it down, with progressivly finer papers (200, 400, 600) then polishing the heck out of it (I have a polishing wheel attached to a bench grinder).

After removing the stuff I want to remove, reliefing the frame where it needed it, I started to work on the slide. 24 hrs of Labour into it...... and I start polishing, 3 hrs of that and I have a very shiney slide, but I can still see fine scratches in it from the sanding process. AAARRG!!

I assume this will show up when I have it re-blued....... This is turning into a bunch more work than I had anticipated...... I haven't even started sanding on the frame yet!

So now I am leaning more towards Duracoating or Parkerizing..... I just want to be shooting this thing as opposed to sitting there in pieces.

A fellow at the Club made the obseravtion that no one ever powder coats their pistols....... I figgure it would look cool (and be a really durable finish).... Is there any reason why no one does this as opposed to parkerizing?..... I only ask as a member of my club has a good friend who does powder coating..... so I think I have someone willing to do it, but it will be next to impossible to remove later, so I NEED to be sure.

I assume that the rails would have to be left bare, as would all of the internal areas, so would i need to re-blue those areas first?

I am adding a poll to this post, I want to know what you guys would do.... Powder coat, Duracoat, Parkerize, paint (ie: Tremclad) or Re-Blue.......

Cheers!
 
If you check the picture thread for 1911's, there are a few Norcs that have been finished with dura-coat or the like....
 
Do not powder coat it. The powder coat would be the hardest of the finishes you mentioned provided its applied correctly. However it generally goes on over 2-3 mils so the very thickness of the coating will cause you to have clearance issues. Liquid type coatings can be applied at less than 1 mil, or theres always plating and parkerizing.
 
Me, I'd parkerize it. Or at least have it bead blasted & blued which comes out a matte finish very much like parkerizing. I like the idea of removing all the markings except the serial number, too. Kinda stealth it out. Would very much look like a USGI pistol then. Which kinda appeals to me.

Paulinski had a Norc 1911 redone and it's absolutely stunning. Maybe he will grace this thread with a pic of it for us.

2007-10-27_091302_1aCoffee.gif

NAA.
 
I took some before pics, I should take some pics now, so you all can see what I have done......

My advice to anybody considering doing this....... Don't, unless you REALLY want to, have a wife who is understanding, no kids and are currently between jobs....... Its ALOT of work..... I shudder to think what it would have cost to have this proffesionally refinished the way I want it........

Pics to come...... maybe even tonight!
 
Thanks USP, I was wondering what the actuall thickness of the material would be. I was pretty sure that you would have to "mask" off all the areas where things would have to be fitted but I wonder what the finished product would look like......

I had a Motorcycle frame Powder Coated once (7 or 8 yrs ago) and that finished beautifully...... Thats why I was considering it.
 
Me, I'd parkerize it. Or at least have it bead blasted & blued which comes out a matte finish very much like parkerizing. I like the idea of removing all the markings except the serial number, too. Kinda stealth it out. Would very much look like a USGI pistol then. Which kinda appeals to me.

Paulinski had a Norc 1911 redone and it's absolutely stunning. Maybe he will grace this thread with a pic of it for us.

2007-10-27_091302_1aCoffee.gif

NAA.

:D:D

DSCN0947.jpg

DSCN0949.jpg
 
I used brownell alumahydeII, i think KevinB used it on a 1911 too, its in the 1911 picture thread. Heres mine:

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q314/#####vomie/DSCN3799.jpg
 
Dura-kote in two colors, black slide, grey or green frame, and a different color for the slide catch, safety, beaver tail, mag release and grip screws.
 
Thanks USP, I was wondering what the actuall thickness of the material would be. I was pretty sure that you would have to "mask" off all the areas where things would have to be fitted but I wonder what the finished product would look like......

I had a Motorcycle frame Powder Coated once (7 or 8 yrs ago) and that finished beautifully...... Thats why I was considering it.


Theres always Chrome, im having mine chrome plated- its been away for almost a year at the shop.
 
Ok! Some really nice pieces there!

I am just about 98% sure I will be going with a Dura-cote finish. I was looking at the Duracote web site and I am really liking the Matte black finish (for that whole stealth look) I'll probably go all one color..... I may change my mind after a bit, but I really like the idea of all one color!

Where can I get Duracote, or should I just order it from their web site?

I also have a Guide rod I'm going to instal in my norc as well as I have a Comp from asimons (here on CGN) which I am kind of on the fence about (as far as looks anyway) I will probably try it out, if it doesn't help or makes no differance I'll probably leave it on the bench.

I just finished uploading some pics to bucket..... 15 in all..... I probably won't post them all, but Here is where I started and where I'm at right now.

Bonestocklh.jpg

Bonestockrh.jpg


The Parts.........
MagReleases.jpg
Thumbsafetys.jpg

Beavertails.jpg
Magwell.jpg

NewGuideRod.jpg
Compensator.jpg


Slide and Frame......

LHPolished.jpg

RHPolished.jpg

LHFrame.jpg

RHFrame.jpg


The bits all together.......

Dryfit1.jpg

Dryfit2.jpg


Thanks for the Input!
Cheers!

*EDIT**
I am planing on just bobing my hammer as Gunnar has already fitted mine...... I will probably opt for a hammer before too long..... But I figgured I could wait a bit.
 
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