bluing/ refinishing a pistol without coving serial number?

SubtleAggression · Jan 13, 2014

i recently got an older Taurus PT-22 metal frame pistol. nothing special but the coating on the frame ( looks like paint rather than parkerized because it comes off easy) doesn't look so great. id like to re do it but it looks as if the serial number is maybe painted on as well? anyone have an ideas or been through this situation before? i don't want to cover it up of course but would like to make it look nice/protect it.

BoomStick · Jan 13, 2014

SubtleAggression said:
i recently got an older Taurus PT-22 metal frame pistol. nothing special but the coating on the frame ( looks like paint rather than parkerized because it comes off easy) doesn't look so great. id like to re do it but it looks as if the serial number is maybe painted on as well? anyone have an ideas or been through this situation before? i don't want to cover it up of course but would like to make it look nice/protect it.

Most gun coatings are between .05 and .8 mil thick. If you have it Cerakoted or something they will remove the old finish and redo it. It wont fill in any of the markings.

So in other words. If you want to have it professionally done you could have a gun coating place in the area remove the old finish for you.

SubtleAggression · Jan 13, 2014

the problem is, the serial isnt stamped. it looks as though it was painted on. this pic isnt the actual pistol. just an example of the same model.

Mark W · Jan 14, 2014

Pretty sure it has to be engraved to pass ATF regs

BoomStick · Jan 14, 2014

Could it be lightly etched in? Is the there another copy of the serial number on another part of the frame?

SubtleAggression · Jan 16, 2014

BoomStick said:
Could it be lightly etched in? Is the there another copy of the serial number on another part of the frame?

if there is it isnt visible. i may just have to accept it the way it is. was thinking if i ever sold it id like it to look nice (and im kind of OCD about my firearms looking the best they possibly can) guess i will just put it back in the box and put it away till i can figure it out. out of sight out of mind? lol

Tigershark · Jan 23, 2014

I may be able to fix that. Having it re-blued may be the best way to go because bluing isn't a coating. Everything will come out sharp and crisp. I do hot-salts bluing and can get back to factory finish.

Let me know if you need any help with this.

TINCANBANDIT · Jan 24, 2014

I'm not 100% sure, but I believe the Taurus PT22 and the Beretta 21A have aluminum frames, which you cannot blue.

If you are concerned with the scratches you could try the Birchwood-Casey touch up pen, looks like a Sharpie but with different "ink"

FWIW a lot of manufacturers now a days are laser etching serial numbers. The depth is not near what they used to get with roll marks

SubtleAggression · Feb 10, 2014

TINCANBANDIT said:
I'm not 100% sure, but I believe the Taurus PT22 and the Beretta 21A have aluminum frames, which you cannot blue.

If you are concerned with the scratches you could try the Birchwood-Casey touch up pen, looks like a Sharpie but with different "ink"

FWIW a lot of manufacturers now a days are laser etching serial numbers. The depth is not near what they used to get with roll marks

i tried the birchwood casey pens but never seemed to dry correctly, or left streaks in the paint. now that could be from the house being too cold or im just not a pro at painting lol. it just didn't seem to come out right. as for it possibly being aluminum, it sure looks like the same material as the barrel and the slide. but i suppose i could be wrong.

SubtleAggression · Feb 10, 2014

SubtleAggression said:
if there is it isnt visible. i may just have to accept it the way it is. was thinking if i ever sold it id like it to look nice (and im kind of OCD about my firearms looking the best they possibly can) guess i will just put it back in the box and put it away till i can figure it out. out of sight out of mind? lol

ok, kewl. i will keep that in mind. thanks

bluing/ refinishing a pistol without coving serial number?

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