Glock handguns, and aftermarket parts, like Glock 17 barrels, sport a wide range of different finishes and coatings that impact their appearance, performance, corrosion and wear-resistance, and ease of maintenance. This short guide will cover some of the more common barrel finishes in the industry.
Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC)
We’ll start with DLC, or diamond-like carbon, since that is the finish applied to Generation 5 Glock 17 slides.
Diamond-like carbon utilizes graphite, an allotrope of carbon, arranging it into a diamond-like structure that is then applied to the surface of the metal, usually steel.
This gives a host of benefits unique to both graphite and diamonds. For one, DLC coatings are extremely hard (like diamond) but they also provide very high permanent dry lubricity (like graphite). This means less liquid lubricant can be used on them.
Because they are so hard and corrosion resistant, it is fairly easy to keep them clean, and they are resistant to scratching, scuffs, and gouges.
Black Nitride
Another common finish applied to gun barrels is black nitride, which is an option on both our Glock 19 and Glock 17 barrels.
In the case of our black nitride barrels, the finish is applied using a process known as physical vapor deposition, or PVD, in which the finish is vaporized and then condensed onto the surface of the steel.
Once on the surface, it diffuses into the steel; unlike some finishes, this makes it physically integral with the top layer of steel. It cannot be scraped, buffed or rubbed off.
It also converts the surface of the steel to a nitrogen-based compound known as “nitride” which like DLC is extremely hard and corrosion and wear-resistant. Also like DLC, it offers a high degree of permanent dry lubricity.
Titanium Nitride
Titanium nitride, or TiN, is another finish that can be found in our Glock 19 and Glock 17 barrels. Like black nitride, these finishes (in our case) are applied using physical vapor deposition (PVD).
However, in the case of titanium nitride, the resultant finish is composed of titanium and nitrogen (hence the name) an extremely hard ceramic material that is like black nitride diffused onto the surface of the steel.
Like black nitride, it cannot be scratched or buffed off. It is also extremely hard, giving it good wear resistance, and very resistant to corrosion. It also exhibits excellent permanent dry lubricity.
In terms of performance alone, TiN is similar in nature to black nitride, but there is a big bonus selling point: whereas black nitride is shiny and black, TiN is shiny and gold, providing a flashy aesthetic that many users love, and which confers no small part of the popularity of TiN finishes.
Bluing
Bluing was once a very popular finish for gun barrels (and other hardware) and is now no longer as popular as it once was. However, it is still fairly commonly encountered.
The process of gluing a firearm barrel (or some other piece of hardware) requires an oxidative process whereby the surface of the steel is converted into “magnetite,” also known as black oxide. There are bluing solutions that are catalysts you can buy that can be used to give a gun barrel a blued finish, or to refinish it.
Bluing produces an attractive, dark blue finish on the affected component, hence the name. The main purpose of bluing is to increase the corrosion resistance of the part, but the finish is not nearly as effective as the others so far mentioned here and must be reapplied from time to time. Moreover, blued parts should still be lightly treated with oil as a preventative measure against rust and other forms of corrosion.
Parkerizing
Lastly, we have parkerizing, which is still a very common treatment of gun barrels and other hardware, and which concerns similar benefits to the other finishes mentioned here.
Parkerizing, like the other finishes here, protects the barrel from wear and corrosion. Also known as phospating or bonderizing, parkerizing a barrel involves heating up a phosphoric acid solution and submerging the steel in it. Often zinc and manganese are also used.
This process deposits a layer of “phosphate” on the surface of the steel, which usually looks dull gray to black. Unlike the other finishes here, this finish is matte and does not produce good permanent dry lubricity. In fact, parkerized finishes often have a bit of a tooth and require extra liquid lubrication, especially for moving parts.
However, parkerizing does protect the affected part from wear and corrosion resistance, and parkerized parts are much more resistant to rust than naked steel.
In the Market for a New Glock 17 Barrel?
Here for a new Glock 17 barrel? Check out NineX19’s offerings via the previous link; some of the finishes mentioned here are available there. If you have questions about our products, specifications, or compatibility, get in touch with us.
