View Full Version : Help me Choose
I've had my eye on the Dan Wesson V-BOB for quite a while, and think I'm getting close to biting the bullet. Need some opinions, hopefully some with experience between the two finishes, but opinions on looks are fine too.
I need to decide between the stainless finish and the black "duty-coat" finish. The black finish is roughly $250-400 more depending on where you compare.
Also, any ideas of a place that might have them both to compare side by side. I've only ever seen it in black, never in stainless.
Pics, for fun (ignore the fact that the stainless is obviously an inverted image):
http://www.semperfisupply.com/INCLUDES/01982.jpg
http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/497/70770385.jpg
blacklabel
07-17-2012, 19:23
I carried a stainless 1911 for a while and wasn't a fan of it. The other option is to go stainless and then refinish it in black if you get tired of it. I'd expect that you could have it finished in black for a lot less than $250.
Indeed. I don't have any experience with it, but I have heard their black "duty finish", they call it, is ultra durable and somewhat impervious to holster wear. Was hoping for confirmation/rebuttal on that point too. I'm skeptical, but if it is so, might be worth it.
Tinelement
07-17-2012, 19:37
I owned the stainless one. Although, it is a coated finish as well. I carried it daily and it really didn't bother the finish. Normal I would say.
If I did it agin, which I probably will some day [ROFL1], I'll go with black. Only reason. I think it looks bad ass.
Either way, you will not regret the purchase of the VBob! They are get shooters.
Indeed. I don't have any experience with it, but I have heard their black "duty finish", they call it, is ultra durable and somewhat impervious to holster wear. Was hoping for confirmation/rebuttal on that point too. I'm skeptical, but if it is so, might be worth it.
There really isn't any finish out there impervious to holster wear. It's either a pain, blue, parkerizing, or a mix of parking and then bluing or painting over it. Get the stainless, you can always have it blued later.
There really isn't any finish out there impervious to holster wear. It's either a pain, blue, parkerizing, or a mix of parking and then bluing or painting over it. Get the stainless, you can always have it blued later.
From everything I have read on current processes, and my engineering background, I don't believe this is an exclusive list.
The duty coat on the DW, for example, is a ferritic nitrocarburizing process. Which is different from park, paint, cerakote, and bluing.
The ferritic nitrocarburizing is more closely compared to color case hardening than any of the other treatments you listed. If you would compare F-NC to something else, I'd welcome the discussion.
From everything I have read on current processes, and my engineering background, I don't believe this is an exclusive list.
The duty coat on the DW, for example, is a ferritic nitrocarburizing process. Which is different from park, paint, cerakote, and bluing.
The ferritic nitrocarburizing is more closely compared to color case hardening than any of the other treatments you listed. If you would compare F-NC to something else, I'd welcome the discussion.
That is the same stuff (nitrocarburizing) that Hk, S&W, and Glock use to treat their slides. Glock uses a salt bath to do it, Hk uses a gas chamber to do it. The finish on each of them however (black color) is due to the finish process which is usually one of the three I listed above. The nitrocarburizing is a metal treatment, not a finish. If they left it as the finish, the gun would be a shade of gray, not black. A lot of companies are using some form of nitrocarburizing, even my Volvo's engine and tranny parts are done in it, just depends on which company you are talking about and the name they give it. Gun manufacturers don't do nitrocarburizing to stainless parts as they don't need the protection (that I know of).
Interesting... I didn't realize those fancy names like Tenifer were ferritic nitrocarburizing.
I do know that the black DW is stainless, so whether it needs it or not for protection, they do the treatment to it. Perhaps whatever they use to do the black finish sticks better to it? [Dunno]
Thanks for that lesson, learned something new.
Based on nothing other than looks, I would say go with the black one. [Awesom]
hghclsswhitetrsh
07-18-2012, 22:26
Based on nothing other than looks, I would say go with the black one. [Awesom]
Cause one you go blac... Sorry. [Flower]
/thread trolling
Black for sure though.
Jensen's usually carries blems, you can grab a coated vbob for about what'd you'd get a stainless unit and likely won't find the blem.
SideShow Bob
07-18-2012, 23:24
Yes, black is beautiful...
Have you actually handled a "Bob job" 1911 ?
To me, they just don't feel "right". I'm sure after owning, handling and shooting one you will get accustomed to the feel of one.
Just my stinking opinion.........[Tooth]
Yeah. I've handled a few bob-tails, I love them. Have handled the black VBob, never seen the silver outside of pictures.
Thanks for the lead at Jensens. They are a drive from here, but if they have what I want in a very minor blem, might be worth it. I should probably call first to make sure they have a unit or two to look at... but knowing me I'll just go. Whats the worst that could happen, they don't have one and I get stuck looking at a bunch of other guns for an hour or so... Terrible waste of time [Beer]
Interesting... I didn't realize those fancy names like Tenifer were ferritic nitrocarburizing.
I do know that the black DW is stainless, so whether it needs it or not for protection, they do the treatment to it. Perhaps whatever they use to do the black finish sticks better to it? [Dunno]
Thanks for that lesson, learned something new.
Tennifer, Melonite (S&W), it's all nitrocarburizing. The "duty coat" is just a ceramic coating (Cerakote). Nothing more. I decided to look it up and on the CZ-USA web site, I quote:
The Valor can be had with either a matte stainless glass bead finish or our super durable black Duty finish. This finish is a ceramic base-coating that has set the standard for all coating tests. No polymer-based coating can compare.
I looked quickly, but I didn't find any mention of any kind of actual metal "treatment" like nitrocarburizing. The duty coat is just a finish, paint.
I am curious, did finding out that the duty coat was nothing more than Cerakote (or similar ceramic coating) help you choose? I figure with that known, the stainless would be the way, especially since you can make it black with either Cerakote, or by bluing it if you get tired of the silver color.
Yeah. I think so. Might as well save a few bucks since there won't be much difference other than looks.
Still hope to see both in person.
Zombie Steve
07-28-2012, 11:57
Holster wear is sexy.
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x214/sbecht/IMG_0512.jpg
Pretty guns are for sissies.
CO-SpAr72
08-19-2012, 14:40
From the pics you supplied I'd say go stainless. I like the look of stainless to begin wih but as stated earlier you can always coat it later if you don't like/grow tired of the stainless look. I think you can't lose either way. Good luck with your decision :-)
SideShow Bob
08-19-2012, 15:11
Saw a couple of Dan Wessons in the case at Jaks in Lafayette......[Tooth]
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