ltwguns.com

Some of you may remember this pistol from my previous posts, which can be found here: http://www.louderthanwords.us/forum/vie ... ht=norinco

Anyway, when I learned that Virgil was going to be getting out of the custom gunsmithing business, I decided to send the Norinco back for a little more work. I had Virgil replace the standard GI-type barrel with a match fit Storm Lake piece. I also had him reshape the front sight a little and asked him to serrate the front strap.

Once the work was completed, I had the pistol coated with black Cobra Coat. I've got about 150 rounds through the gun since I got it back and am very pleased with the finish.

what was the wait time and the cost of the black chrome?

Very nice looking finish tokarev. If I may, what kind of grips are those? They look nice.

That finish looks great! Correct me if I am wrong, but those grips look like VZ "Diamondbacks". I probably am wrong, but it's a great looking pistol regardless.

Thanks for the kind words, guys!

More info on Virgil's "Cobra Coat" can be found here: http://www.trippresearch.com/coat/coat.htm

The grips are VZ's but they're the Operators, not the Gatorbacks.

Looks like a great GI gun.

Something on Tripp's finish work. I have had several chrome and a few of the "Cobra" coat over the past several years. I highly recommend them for finish or refinish work.

One client uses a Novak BHP as a duty with hard chrome lower and "Cobra" coat slide for several years now in the north Texas heat and humidity and service has been exceptional.

Another comment on finish work. My clients and I find that a "known" or established entity is usually the best route. i.e. Armortuff, Cobracoat, Black T, and a few others out there. One has to be good to stay in the finish business.

Be prepared for a bit of a wait for someone with a reputation because the reputation was earned and not given.

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Be safe and keep the brass flying

Terry Peters

Do your research but you get what you pay for front end or back end
http://www.pt-partners.com
@ptpartners_tx

+1 for Virgil! He is an outstanding professional, and offers great finish work in my opinion.

I think his HC is second to none!

Of the three popular polymer black finishes that I know of, Cobra Coat, Black T and Armor Tuff, which is the most matte finish and which is the most semi-gloss?

Judging from pictures, it looks like Cobra Coat is more glossy (though cerainly not 'shiny') than Black T or Armor Tuff.

Can anyone who has seen all three give a comment on this?

Joe,

I have 1911's with all three finishes you mentioned in my guns, the Armor Tuff finish, while a satin finish, has the most gloss. The Cobra Coat finish is in the middle of the satin black range, being a smooth semi gloss type finish. My Black T coated gun is the least glossy, but still has a satin sheen to it.

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Ted

Ted,

Thanks for the info. I'm leaning toward getting one of mine done in Cobra Coat (because of the quicker turnaround) but would you recommend one of these finishes over the other two?

Joe,

I haven't had the Cobra Coated gun long enough to say how durable it is. I had the frame and lower hard chromed and the slide and upper Cobra Coated. I have about 500 rounds through the gun and perhaps 150 to 200 presentations from a Blade Tech Kydex holster and the front corners of the slide are shiny but not worn through. That's about what I'd expect. My Black T coated gun has more rounds and draw through it and seems to be holding up very well.

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Ted