What is Parkerizing?

2074 Views 5 Replies 4 Participants Last post by dsk, Jul 26, 2001

Inspector Callahan

Discussion Starter · Jul 25, 2001

Excuse the dumb question, but is it a coating or what? I met an old fellow once at a gun shop that carried a Remington-Rand. He showed it to me and I remember a well worn greenish tint. When I bought a 1911A1 Springfield it was supposed to be parkerized according to the brochure but it turned out to be some kind of oxide, still very durable but not the "real thing".

Anyway, what is parkerizing? Why did the old gentleman's Rem-Rand look green? How durable is it? Would it cost much to get a 1991A1 Colt parkerized by a decent 'smith?

Just wondering

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Jim V

· #2 · Jul 25, 2001

Parkerizing(tm) is a phosphate finish developed by the Parker Company. The color of the finish depends on the type of phosphate used. Brownells sells a gunsmith Parkerizing set up but there are several do-it-yerself kits being sold in SHOTGUN NEWS and GUN LIST.

Not all 'smiths that do bluing do the phosphate finishes.

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Ne Conjuge Nobiscum
MOLON LABE
Leonidas c 480 BC
FFF

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Inspector Callahan

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 26, 2001

Thanks.

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jpwright

· #4 · Jul 26, 2001

Is a Parkerized finish simply "on" the steel, like paint would be? Is it chemically bonded to the steel at the interface? Or is the finish mostly the steel itself, changed by the process?

(My first exposure to Parkerizing was my dad's "Army .45", which has the greenish-gray finish. Way back then, I thought they all looked like that.)

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If God didn't want us to own guns, why did He make the 1911?

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Jim V

· #5 · Jul 26, 2001

IIRC, Parkerizing(tm) is a chemical bonding with the steel of the firearm.

dsk, I can't remember where I read an article on DIY Parkerizing. It was not that hard to do however not something that Mrs. dsk would like to have you do in the house. I don't have any idea on which DIY kits would be the best. There was an article on Parkerizing in one of Brownell's "GUNSMITH KINKS" books. FWIW

------------------
Ne Conjuge Nobiscum
MOLON LABE
Leonidas c 480 BC
FFF

[This message has been edited by Jim V (edited 07-26-2001).]

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dsk

· #6 · Jul 26, 2001

No Mrs. dsk here, so I wouldn't have any trouble as long as if it blows up it won't take the neighbor's house with it.

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D. Kamm
USGI M1911/M1911A1 Pistols Website
http://www.geocities.com/M1911_M1911A1

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