Parkerizing, pros and cons?

[Pyd]

I just bought a new/used shotgun, and the best I can understand is that the finish is "parkerized", what does that mean to me? How do I care for it? what is it's purpose besides making a really tough looking finish. Does it need special attention?
Thanks!

 

[Wendell]

No special attention necessary, the parkerize will help hold the protective coating wax/grease/oil in place and minimize reflection of light.

A side benefit, from a manufacturing standpoint, is that the firearm does not require the same degree of (expensive) polishing preparation for the blued finish.

Beware of imitations, however. Many people mistake a blasted and blued finish for parkerizing. (E. The Remington "P" suffix means it is (parkerized); the Remington "Express" suffix means it isn't; the current Marstar-retailed Norinco HP9-1 is parkerized.) Real parkerizing - on whatever type of firearm - offers improved resistance to corrosion (when compared to the blued finish).

 

[iconfig]

Actually the remington P suffix means Police.

 

[jamiejaf]

nope, that finnish is pretty corrosion resistant and non reflective.