SAA Finish question

[berger]

Hey Guys.

I am looking to get a SAA as my first handgun, and the Uberti and Piettas are the front runners for me. So, I was just wondering what the difference between the finishes are? My options are "Stainless", which I understand, but how about "Case Hardened", "Nickel", "Blued", "Matte?"

Cheers!

 

[BCRider]

Case hardened is a treatment that is used to harden the outer thou or so of the metal. As a byproduct, if it's done a certain way, it produces a rainbow of silver, blue, brown and some yellow/gold that some folks (me included) find attractive. Blue would be polished blue so it's shiney. Matt is blued but with the base metal shot or bead blasted before the bluing so the finish has the dull black look with a higher friction to the hand or when the surface is rubbed. Nickel is a plated finish that looks shiney like chrome. I'm not a big fan of nickel plating since most plating jobs at some point start to flake. Also there's mention of some specific gun cleaning solvents that will cause the nickel plating to blister and peel so if you go that route be aware and do your homework.

Some like the shiney look and others prefer the matt "dull" look. THe case hardened finish is always shiney as this is how the colours best show. Nickel is a lot more shiney than stainless generally.

 

[berger]

Thanks!