Touching up the melonite finish

[Coc]

Hey folks, just had a quick question. I've kept my XD in very good cosmetic shape (as well as mechanical), but at my Halloween party a couple weeks ago, I made the grave mistake of allowing a brain-dead partygoer one of my roommates brought over to examine my .45 (after properly showing unloaded, of course). Within two seconds of holding it, he immediately stuffed it in his waistband in a futile attempt to reach "gangsta" status (more like wanksta) and put a three inch scratch into the slide with his belt buckle. I managed to have a good night despite wanting to throw his ass out on the curb for being such a colossal dumbass (he later denied it when I called him out on it, then bragged about owning a Sig P220... in 9mm )

All aside, I've got a scratch all the way through the finish on my gun and I'd like to now if there's any home remedies short of sending the whole slide off to be refinished. A cosmetic scratch isn't detrimental to me in any way unless I decide to sell the gun some day (nevar!), but I am an OCD perfectionist and seeing the scratch in my otherwise pristine personal firearm breaks my heart every time. I took a silicon cloth to it and got the less-deep part of the scratch mostly buffed out, but the other half is gouged to deep to buff out with a cloth. Any suggestions?

[Frenchy]

It is cosmetic, as the Melonite is a metal treating process and not part of the black color. I've actually use a Magic Marker on occasion.

[CTrider XD]

Originally Posted by Coc

Hey folks, just had a quick question. I've kept my XD in very good cosmetic shape (as well as mechanical), but at my Halloween party a couple weeks ago, I made the grave mistake of allowing a brain-dead partygoer one of my roommates brought over to examine my .45 (after properly showing unloaded, of course). Within two seconds of holding it, he immediately stuffed it in his waistband in a futile attempt to reach "gangsta" status (more like wanksta) and put a three inch scratch into the slide with his belt buckle. I managed to have a good night despite wanting to throw his ass out on the curb for being such a colossal dumbass (he later denied it when I called him out on it, then bragged about owning a Sig P220... in 9mm )

All aside, I've got a scratch all the way through the finish on my gun and I'd like to now if there's any home remedies short of sending the whole slide off to be refinished. A cosmetic scratch isn't detrimental to me in any way unless I decide to sell the gun some day (nevar!), but I am an OCD perfectionist and seeing the scratch in my otherwise pristine personal firearm breaks my heart every time. I took a silicon cloth to it and got the less-deep part of the scratch mostly buffed out, but the other half is gouged to deep to buff out with a cloth. Any suggestions?

Coc,

I use gun blueing from WalMart for small wear marks or fine nicks and scratches. The glueing is actually a blue black color. It won't replace the factory finish but it beats a black marker.

[Mercmar]

Haven't tried cold bluing Melonite, but have tried with Tenifer. Doesn't work on Tenifer. Isn't Melonite supposed to be the same process?

[shipwreck]

Make him pay to have the slide hard chromed.

[Coc]

Originally Posted by shipwreck

Make him pay to have the slide hard chromed.

This is the correct answer.

I tried using a magic marker, and it looked stupid, so I rubbed it off with an alcohol pad... I might try some of that blueing stuff from Wal-Mart.

Also, I was thinking about getting my barrel hard-chromed since I don't have the financial clout to hang on to my threaded bar-sto barrel... it'd be the next best thing, and I can do a slide and barrel combo for like $135.

[XD45Compact_NY]

I'm actually about to send off my XD45 slide to Tripp Research to be hard chromed. I can post a photo once I get it back so you can see if you like it.

What I can't figure out....is why in the HELL would this guy not OFFER for you to get the thing refinished. Just a totally classless move, IMO. It's irrelevant if it affects the function of the item, no matter what it is....car, motorcycle, piece of furniture. The guy should have offered just as a stand-up thing to do, after acting like a total ass.

[Bill in San Jose]

Contact Springfield Armory customer service via email, ask what it would cost to have it refinished. Forward the email to the A-hole and tell him that's his cost for playing "gangsta" with a real gun. Get the cash, then do what you want, I don't think you'll ever be showing the idiot the gun again, would you?

It shows the guys real colors when he refuses to acknowledge he damaged your property in a stupid action. If he still refuses, send him a demand for payment, or you'll go to small claims court.

Reminds me of the saying, "with friends like you, who needs enemies?"

[Coc]

The problem is, it was one of my roommates' co-workers he brought over for the party, and I had no idea who he was except for that he was an acquaintance of my friend's when I handed him my firearm. Big mistake. Also, another reason I know he won't pay for it is also one of the reasons I could get in trouble on this forum for mentioning, namely his heritage.

Either way, lesson learned. I probably will send the slide off with the barrel to get hard-chromed. XD45C_NY, if you were to post a picture of your results I'd be forever in your debt

[kraigster414]

Originally Posted by Coc

Also, another reason I know he won't pay for it is also one of the reasons I could get in trouble on this forum for mentioning, namely his heritage.

What are you implying here? On the surface, I am uncomfortable with your "another reason...". And I am a bit suprised that I'm the first to say so.

And not to be b--- buster but a good rule of thumb when it comes to gun ownership is to fly under the radar screen. Save the "show and tell" for folks you know and trust.