Ron Ankeny Posted October 16, 2002 Share Posted October 16, 2002 I need some suggestions on what to do with my Les Baer Premier II. The pistol is about 8 years old, and I bought it used 2 years ago. When I got it the gun was pristine. To make a long story short, I have shot about 15,000 rounds through the gun (probably 20,000 total) and I have dry fired it extensively. The problem is I have been using a Kydex (Ky-Tac) holster and the bluing is horribly worn. In fact, the slide is becoming extremely worn on the flats near the muzzle. I added a Caspian fiber optic sight and I also added a Wilson magwell, the kind that slips over the grip bushing. Here's the rub, if I send the gun to Baer he wants $220.00 for hardchome and he insists that only his company can properly prepare the pistol for refinishing. I know for a fact that he sends the entire pistol out to a third party (Tripp) for hardchrome. Tripp will refinish the gun for $150.00. I asked Baer about a magwell and they want $190.00 for a two piece magwell installed. The well looks exactly like a Wilson speed shoot and I can buy one for $89.00. So what would you do? If I send the gun to Les Baer I will maintain the "warranty" and the factory receipt will verify who did the work thereby maintaining resale value. On the other hand, I can send the pistol to Tripp for hardchome and save a ton of money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiG Lady Posted October 16, 2002 Share Posted October 16, 2002 Seems the dilemma is: Do you really want to sell it or really want to keep it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Ankeny Posted October 16, 2002 Author Share Posted October 16, 2002 Sig Lady: I want to keep it, for now. But I guess the question is will having work done by a party other than the maker reduce the resale value? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiG Lady Posted October 16, 2002 Share Posted October 16, 2002 Right... was understood. Perhaps only purists would be hard-core concerned about that; or perhaps there's more to it than that. Though I clearly see why it is a concern. But: How long a lifespan do you anticipate it to have while you "keep it for now"...? If you see it getting 'too old to sell' after you've had it for a while, perhaps the non-warranty work wouldn't matter as much. Another question, however, is exactly how much difference in resale value is at stake with this firearm if you alter it as described...? I've had to theoretically ask myself this same question....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flexmoney Posted October 16, 2002 Share Posted October 16, 2002 "he insists that only his company can properly prepare the pistol for refinishing." - What a joke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhgtyre Posted October 16, 2002 Share Posted October 16, 2002 I agree with Flexmoney. Besides how could anyone tell one quality refinishing job from another? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Ankeny Posted October 16, 2002 Author Share Posted October 16, 2002 Thanks guys...I am sending it to Tripp. Funny story though. Les told me personally that only he could prepare the pistol because some idiot might hit the rails with a buffer. I shared that story with Tripp and he just kind of snickered because... guess who does Baer's hard chrome?? Kinda funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhgtyre Posted October 16, 2002 Share Posted October 16, 2002 How about some before and after pics? I am thinking of sending my SA 1911 off for hard chroming and I would like some pics other than the ones the chromer provides. Thanks, -jhgtyre Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dunn Posted October 17, 2002 Share Posted October 17, 2002 Ron: I've got a Kimber with quite a bit of holster wear from a Blade-Tech holster, and I like the well worn look. I guess my love for the "broken-in" look dates back to my days in a lumber yard when I would have to take all sorts of measures to protect the bed of some dude's pickup. God forbid the bed of a truck have the slightest mark. I always loved the regular customers who said, "Just throw it in there, after all , it's a pickup." I view the dents and dings of firearms and trucks as badges of honor, I suggest wrapping some athletic tape around the grip to make it nice and ugly. OTOH my D&L .45 is hard chromed, and it sure is pretty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcoliver Posted October 17, 2002 Share Posted October 17, 2002 I don't know much about gun finishes so I was wondering if any of you care to explain what black chrome really is. Is this a regular chrome treatment then the black just applied after? Will the black resist the normal scratches from kydex wear better than ordinary blue? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianH Posted October 17, 2002 Share Posted October 17, 2002 Black chrome is so thin that they first have to plate with grey then with black over it. It's just for cosmetics....not as good as grey chrome. I did a .38 Super several years ago from a place called (I think) Shootist Supply, and it sucked something fierce. I still have the comp and barrel and it's rusting out in my garage. Maybe someone can do better these days, but I doubt it...nobody's doing it. With all due respect to Les B., saying that he's the only one who can prep a 1911 properly for plating is....well...he should just be ashamed for saying something so rediculous. People who plate guns seem to think they are the ONLY ONES who understand the hardchrome process. ("Don't buff the flats!"....there...that wasn't hard, was it?) Also, in my opinion, $190 for a 2 piece mag well should get you sexual assault charges. That's about $90 for the part and $100 for the 'hour minimum' shop rate you're paying them to take the 15 minutes to do it. Was shipping included? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Ankeny Posted October 17, 2002 Author Share Posted October 17, 2002 John: My .45 is well past the well worn look (so is my pick up truck). I am to the point that I am grinding grit into the flats on the slide. I like the broken in look, but I am at the trashy, abused look, kind of like a toothless 60 year old hooker. Time for a make over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErikW Posted October 17, 2002 Share Posted October 17, 2002 I just had some mag tubes done by Tripp. They came back kind of weird looking, with a kind of patina on them. I took some Scotch-Brite and rubbed them a bit. It really helped. The weird thing about them is they get my hands all black, like they are oxidizing on the surface. The only other thing that does that is my aluminum motorcycle frame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dunn Posted October 18, 2002 Share Posted October 18, 2002 "Toothless 60 year old hooker"--I actually shuddered when read that. Hardchrome away my man, and quickly. Has anyone given thought to an ugly gun contest? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newguy Posted October 19, 2002 Share Posted October 19, 2002 Ron, Just a suggestion..... Don't get the internals hardchromed, including the disconnector. Baers have tight tolerances in the disconnector hole, and after mine was hardchromed the disconnector started to bind. If I had to do it again, I'd just get the slide and frame done. Maybe the barrel if it were a little loose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Ankeny Posted October 19, 2002 Author Share Posted October 19, 2002 Newguy: Trip doesn't hard chome the internals or the barrel on Baer pistols. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newguy Posted October 19, 2002 Share Posted October 19, 2002 Ron, It depends on the gun. On my Baer, Tripp hardchromed the barrel and disconnector. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Ankeny Posted October 20, 2002 Author Share Posted October 20, 2002 Newguy: Wow, I talked to Virgil Tripp and he told me they won't do the barrel or the internals. I better call him Monday and double check. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flexmoney Posted October 20, 2002 Share Posted October 20, 2002 Maybe he came up with that policy after doing Newguys gun? Ron, are you going to have two gun under the knife at once? (Your LB and your new Super?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newguy Posted October 20, 2002 Share Posted October 20, 2002 Ron, If you need/want any gunsmithing done on the Baer, I highly recommend Virgil. He's a very talented gumsmith. Virgil did an incredible job of checkering the underside of my trigger guard, installing a new STI grip safety, recrowning the barrel, and recountouring the frame. He also hardchromed the barrel. The Baer went from being very accurate to being VERY accurate. His turnaround time was in weeks not months. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianH Posted October 20, 2002 Share Posted October 20, 2002 The Baer went from being very accurate to being VERY accurate. interesting distinction..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Ankeny Posted October 21, 2002 Author Share Posted October 21, 2002 Flexmoney: Yep, two single stacks in the works at once. The new ESP pistol (.38 Super) and the refurbish job. I really like single stacks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flexmoney Posted October 21, 2002 Share Posted October 21, 2002 That's like having two kids in the hospital at once...gotta be hard on the nerves. Who is building your 38S ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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