Whoever NHC uses seems to do a great job and I am a huge fan of their smoked nitride

 

H&M Blacknitride+™ | The New Standard in Steel Hardening

 

I only have experience for black nitride guns done by Nighthawk (actually their finish source).... and I've been pleased with all of them.

 

Will you send me a PM with their finishers contact info.? Thanks 🙏

 

The DW up top is Black Nitride by NH.

 

Are you sure your Colt is Nitride and not PVD? I've used Richter Precision (I'll never use them again but that's another story) and I'm pretty sure they only offer PVD coatings. My 'smith has used H&M successfully for many years, though he has now gravitated towards PVD unless customer requests it. I don't think there's any magic to the prep work, it just happens to not interact well with certain cleaning chemicals.

 

Are you sure your Colt is Nitride and not PVD? I've used Richter Precision (I'll never use them again but that's another story) and I'm pretty sure they only offer PVD coatings..

I was wondering, too, as I'm not aware of any stock Colts nitrided and I assumed OP's was done aftermarket. Colt has indeed offered several PVD (aka DLC aka IonBond) models.

OP, if we're talking an IonBond Colt here, totally different. For that, I'd go through our very own Evolution Armory.

 

Of the three big 1911 makers who offer ferritic nitrocarburizing standard (Dan Wesson, Nighthawk and Guncrafter), the only one I'm not aware of requiring special cleaning and lubing care, nor has had reports of the hazing problem with some solvents, is Nighthawk.

Yes, there are different approaches to nitriding yielding different results, including what solvents they can stand up to.

That said, it isn't really difficult to avoid certain solvents. What's important is going through an outfit that knows about nitriding firearms specifically, and so for that I'd go through one of the three manufactures mentioned.

Use a place that nitride's but hasn't had a lot of experience nitriding firearms and you might end up disappointed.

It can be a tough unto not-advised process for small parts, too, and better make sure you firearm's in the configuration you'd like to keep it because after nitriding modifications to the metal are challenging, as you discovered dimpling.

Read around here, there are varying opinions on nitriding for firearms, with some prominent 'smiths taking a dim view of it.

 

NH recommends using Gibbs lube and cleaners with their black nitride to prevent discoloration

 

In answer to the question about my Colt gun finish. Yes it is a black nitride finish specified & sent out by CCS. Probably the only model Colt has ever done in that finish to my knowledge. I was told Richter Precision did the job, but unless I contact the colt custom shop to verify it who knows. But one thing is for certain 'black nitride' is on the box label from Colt and there is a HARD finish on my pistol. I own a CCS pistol IonBond (smoked grey) finish too and its nothing like the black nitride.

Also, I could understand 'why' some smiths may be biased against this surface hardening finish.

I started the post because I wanted another gun done up in the exact same finish. I like it that much.

 

NH, WC, STI makes the best black nitride finish 1911, I love the look of black more than stainless.

 

For a long time WD-40 was recommended as a cleaner on black nitride. That's what my friends at Novak's advised me to use on one of my full-house guns from them, and so far seems like good advice.

 

For a long time WD-40 was recommended as a cleaner on black nitride. That's what my friends at Novak's advised me to use on one of my full-house guns from them, and so far seems like good advice.

Your comment has brought cleaning & lube for black nitride finishes to my attention. What is recommended, Gibbs spray bottle?

I have Slip 2000 & Ballistol, are either of these okay to use on a nitride finish? At least until I can get some Gibbs?

Thanks

 

Never had any issues with Slip 2000 as a lube on my Novak black nitride. Also use a dab of SlideGlide light grease on the frame rails and barrel lugs. No signs of wear/change in color/etc. Just stay away from any chlorinated spray cleaners.

 

Slightly off topic.... How well does black nitride hold up to holster wear?

 

Properly done nitriding is incredibly resistant to abrasion. You can get holster wear, but it takes work. And because nitriding is a metal treatment that changes the surface hardness and chemical composition of the metal, corrosion protection remains even after wear occurs.

 

Didn’t realize you can have a polished finish with black nitride but fire4effect seems to play around with all sorts of polishing combos for design patterns.

PVD & BLACK NITRIDE COATING RANDOM PARTS-PVD BN-RANDOM