Help with Choosing the Right Base Metal for a New Build

Now that my loooooooonnnnnngggg term DIY 1911 project looks like it will be coming to an end by the close of 2019, my mind has begun to wander and I've been thinking about starting a new build.

I'm in the initial process of spec-ing out parts and using some of the lessons I learned from my first build.

I want this to be more of a show piece than anything else. I’m again planning on doing the bulk of the work but I want to get some fancy-pants finishing done in terms of engraving, deep bluing, and color case hardening. Currently thinking that I want a deep blue slide with color case hardened frame. Right now it’s a toss-up between what finish I want for the small parts.

So my initial questions now are focusing on the material I should choose for base metals of each component

In regard to the base metal of the frame, slide and small parts: is there any advantage to carbon steel v. stainless steel when it comes to color case hardening or bluing? Can stainless steel parts be blued or color case hardened? Does one type of steel lend itself more to one processes than the other? Can smaller parts such as the main spring housing pin, mag release, be color case hardened without compromising their shape or integrity?

Can aluminum be blued? Specifically talking about coloring the trigger to match the bluing of the slide. If it cannot be blued, is there a way of getting a close color match? Or maybe someone can recommend a steel trigger? (currently looking at using a 10-8 flat)

thanks!

 

Thanks for all the replies.

Regarding stainless and aluminum's ability to be blued and case hardened: I was 99% sure that stainless couldn't be blued and suspected that it could not be case hardened, but its good to get (overwhelming) confirmation that it can't be done. The hard part now seems like it will be trying to find small parts like plugs and triggers that are in carbon steel. I know they exist but its just a matter of finding designs I like which also are made in those materials.

I also like the contrast look and I think that I will ultimately end up having contrasting small parts. Just want to do the research into what is/is not possible so I don't end up limiting myself before even getting started. I've seen some color case hardened small parts (or at least LOOK like they have been case hardened) on a case hardened frame, and if done right it looks good as well.

I'll have to look into Nitre Blue and Blackened Stainless a little bit more. One of the reasons I like deep bluing is because its more traditional and it can become *almost* black in color, which is more in line with the final composition that I'm imagining.

 

Good call on the C&S website. I have used there stuff in the past and have always been very satisfied. I was actually browsing Brownells a few days ago and was surprised to see that a lot of the offerings from C&S seem to have gone away, compared to amount they had a few years ago when I was activly buying a lot of small parts.

DLC is a good option too and honestly one that I had not considdered. It seems like a good solution in that I will have less restrictions on the parts I can choose and it will get me very close to the overall appearance I want. As stated above, I would prefer bluing because its more traditional, but I might be willing to compromise on that point if it will get me the parts combination I want. From what I understand about the DLC application process, its can also be used on small parts without without compromising their shape or integrity.

 

mmmm... pickeled 1911...