What Finish Is Right For My 1911? Part 3 - DLC

[@benji9871]

In industry Ive worked with DLC for extreme wear applications. I’ve never been more impressed by a surface coating. If you polish the steel you can get mirror finish since the DLC grains are nanoscale. The coolest version I’ve seen was called rainbow DLC, smoother than glass & had a glossy rainbow look, kind of like the rainbow from oil on the road. It’d be badass to see a gun finished with that coating 💯

[@theprepperrevelator]

Just got my first Nighthawk with the black DLC and so far I’m really pleased with it. I had the flats polished and it looks similar to a blued gun but seems to be much more durable. I carry the gun daily in a leather holster and absolutely zero wear so far. I’m more of a traditionalist in regards to the finish and prefer a blued gun in 1911’s but this DLC is really fabulous, and a great alternative to bluing in a gun you plan to carry and use. I will probably have all my future 1911’s done in DLC unless something better comes along. Thanks Scott and the rest of the Nighthawk team for building me a true family heirloom! Rick

[@NighthawkCustomFirearms]

Thank you. We'll pass along the message to Scott.

[@bobhill3941]

I always appreciate a real world review from actual users of a product, so thank you for that. I'm a traditionalist too and grew up loving bluing, but I really like the look of the black DLC too. I appreciate your opinion on wear resistance. Even though I'll never afford it, I love the 1911 (Commander length, bushing barrel. I like the stainless too.

[@Sams911]

Ok Bob, I'm sending my beloved Tri-Cut with the inferior Nitrite finish to you so we can get this DLC on.... can't wait to see the results!

[@NighthawkCustomFirearms]

DLC is an excellent finish. Nitride isn't bad either.

[@arborist460]

Think I’m gonna save for work on my 6”trp…that one takes my breath away

[@philapop5269]

Nice video Bob, good information. I have the DLC finish on the Chairman you show in the video and it seems like a tough finish to me. I would suggest combining the earlier videos into a single video on finishes, or minimally including a link to the other videos. I've already sent this out to a few friends. Thx for the series, good stuff to know.

[@NighthawkCustomFirearms]

Thanks, Pop!

[@asplmn]

I have a NHC in the queue right now with Black DLC, but after checking out some of the other PVD "colors", I'm really curious if you guys can also perform some of these others like DLC Duplex Stainless?

[@NighthawkCustomFirearms]

We've never had a gun finish in the DLC Duplex Stainless so far.

[@al-eteos-imhotepheru-bey3271]

Can you cerekote over a DLC coating? If I had ideas to color my pistol with an all DLC finish, should I just drop it or can I do a type of cerekote over the DLC? I don't want to lose any durability and protection from the DLC finish.

[@NighthawkCustomFirearms]

In order for the Cerakote to adhere properly to the pistol, the DLC finish would need to be stripped off. Cerakote will not adhere to the DLC finish.

[@al-eteos-imhotepheru-bey3271]

@@NighthawkCustomFirearms I greatly appreciate your answer. Thank you very much.

[@frankanthony593]

How does DLC compare to Nitride with respect to cleaning solvents?

[@NighthawkCustomFirearms]

We recommend Gibbs for cleaning, regardless of the finish. DLC may be fine with other solvents, but we haven't done any testing to see how other solvents do. We know Gibbs works and we stick to it.

[@frankanthony593]

@@NighthawkCustomFirearms I guess I have to rephrase, the nitride finish is sensitive to solvents correct? Is the DLC as sensitive to hoppes #9? I’ve seen some blemished Nighthawks with nitride finishes cause by cleaning solvents that were sent back. Not everyone had Gibbs available to use.

[@NighthawkCustomFirearms]

We don't recommend the use of any other solvents. They could result in streaking. Whether its a nitride finish or a DLC, the only thing we recommend using is Gibbs, which is why we send a bottle with a new pistol and offer it on our website. Gibbs is the only cleaner we know will not damage a finish.

[@Bulldog75stp]

Interesting. I thought DLC only came in black.

[@NighthawkCustomFirearms]

True DLC will be black. But, DLC is a form of PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition). Other forms of PVD can come in various colors, such as gold.

[@Bulldog75stp]

@@NighthawkCustomFirearms oh. Gotcha.

[@mbenjamin292]

I have a G.R.P never fired how much would it run to have this done to my Nighthawk G.R.P.

[@NighthawkCustomFirearms]

Having a DLC finish applied to a pistol will run somewhere around $450. Bob in our Custom Shop would be able to give you a more accurate quote. Give us a call and dial extension 243 to get straight to Bob.

[@614XJ]

How much to get my 1911 all DLC black and the barrel to a gold finish. Lead times and how long does the gun stay at the shop?

[@NighthawkCustomFirearms]

That would be a question only Bob in our Custom Shop could answer. If you give him a call, he can get your all that info.

[@dcfunnies4281]

Can you guys put the black DLC finish over an older NHC which has the black nitride? Results?

[@NighthawkCustomFirearms]

We can do that with no issue!

[@ZeeCaptainRon]

So a multi part series doesn't really need a 30 second intro on every part, just saying. Could you please show some of the colors as you are describing them, instead of just the black?

[@Melissa.712]

How much is the black DLC finish?

[@NighthawkCustomFirearms]

On a new build, it's an additional $400.

[@ishaqali7982]

I want buy tht sir price tht