Refinishing/polishing a stainless Sig

May 05, 2020, 09:43 AM

I purchased a used P220 Match Stainless Elite from an individual yesterday. Overall, the gun is in excellent shape. Outside of needing to be cleaned, the only issues is some holster wear. The guy I bought it from said it has less than 200 rounds through it and by the condition of the gun, I believe him. There is some evident wear along the top of the slide, the frame on both sides and bottom of the rail, and on the sides and bottom of the trigger guard. He carried it in the woods in a Galco kydex and leather holster.

My question is, how can I bring this gun back to factory finish? It is not horrible wear by any means but if i can fix it....I would love to.

I will try to post pics of the wear and the holster.

Thanks in advance!!

May 05, 2020, 09:48 AM

stoic-one

You can send it to SIG for a factory bead blast,
$109.95 for slide and frame:

https://www.sigsauer.com/custom-shop/

May 05, 2020, 10:02 AM

Wintergreen

May 05, 2020, 10:24 AM

Nipper

quote:
Originally posted by stoic-one:
You can send it to SIG for a factory bead blast,
$109.95 for slide and frame:

https://www.sigsauer.com/custom-shop/

Yep, Sig factory bead blast. It'll look brand new. I've had five SS slides done and they all looked great.

I did a SS M60 revolver once by hand with ScotchBrite pads.Came out well. With pistols and all the flat surfaces, it's nearly impossible to duplicate the factory finish.

While some may have done it, it seems that DIY touch up only would be difficult. Might look better, but not perfect.

OP, welcome to the forum.

May 05, 2020, 11:52 AM

Wintergreen

Another attempt at the pics

May 05, 2020, 12:04 PM

Mustang-PaPa

quote:
Originally posted by Wintergreen:
Another attempt at the pics

you will need to use a photo hosting site for your pictures to work here.

https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...0601935/m/8190046364

May 05, 2020, 12:18 PM

stoic-one

quote:
Originally posted by Mustang-PaPa:
quote:
Originally posted by Wintergreen:
Another attempt at the pics

you will need to use a photo hosting site for your pictures to work here.

https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...0601935/m/8190046364

His pictures are on flickr, he just needs to use the proper share/links. I don't use flickr, so I'm not sure of the procedure there...

Try the BBCode example here:
https://help.flickr.com/en_us/...-or-albums-rJBx6mjyX

Regardless, having looked at the pictures, I have no doubt the factory service I linked above would be able to make that pistol look all but new.

May 06, 2020, 11:31 PM

Wintergreen

https://photos.app.goo.gl/eyF87gXnd6pgcab1A

Lets try this

May 06, 2020, 11:36 PM

Wintergreen

So I couldnt get the flickr link to work. Google pics came through though.

Those pics are as soon as i got it home. I ended up cleaning and lubing it all up. That is one big Sig.

May 06, 2020, 11:53 PM

monoblok

Maybe this works...

EDIT: I posted the direct addresses to four of your images.

-MG

May 06, 2020, 11:58 PM

12131

Yeah, that looks like it deserves a bead blast job to look like new again.

May 07, 2020, 01:24 AM

dogmush

I bead blasted my stainless 220, and it came out really well. If you don't already have, or know someone, with a bead blaster, ~$100 to Sig is a good bet.

May 08, 2020, 11:54 PM

markstempski

quote:
Originally posted by Wintergreen:
I purchased a used P220 Match Stainless Elite from an individual yesterday. Overall, the gun is in excellent shape. Outside of needing to be cleaned, the only issues is some holster wear. The guy I bought it from said it has less than 200 rounds through it and by the condition of the gun, I believe him. There is some evident wear along the top of the slide, the frame on both sides and bottom of the rail, and on the sides and bottom of the trigger guard. He carried it in the woods in a Galco kydex and leather holster.

My question is, how can I bring this gun back to factory finish? It is not horrible wear by any means but if i can fix it....I would love to.

I will try to post pics of the wear and the holster.

Thanks in advance!!

I have a couple kydex holsters one for a matte finish CZ that get used quite a bit, nothing like that on mine, admittedly different gun but that on the pictures seems excessive. worth a bead blast methinks I love the P220 Stainless models which I had a couple more. Match Stainless elite a wonderful gun you will love it. They are heavy though which is why the previous owner likely went with the holster he did. I always have tactical style belts because of my stainless steel frame pistols and N frame revolvErs being a little heavier than most

May 10, 2020, 11:11 AM

Nipper

IMO, that doesn't appear to be normal holster wear. If the pics are accurate, there are severe striations that go below the finish surface. Identical wear pattern on BOTH sides.

Since it was a woods gun with only 200 rounds, how many draws did he do with it? Makes no sense.

Wonder if the prior owner used the wrong holster or made his own.

I have an alloy frame P229 with over 47,000 rounds through it. Used exclusively with draw/fire defensive shooting drills. Frame looks nearly new. Same with my P226.

Given the pics, this is a job for the pros.

July 10, 2020, 06:19 PM

HawkeyeJohn

I just had the custom shop bead blast the slide of a 2 tone P229. I'm not impressed.

Photographers here will know what I mean when I say the finish gets gradually darker - about a 1/4 stop - back to front.
The muzzle end of the pistol looks dirty on one side.

I've tried Prolix - no effect. Any suggestions?