1991A1 finish problem

[CaryColt]

I just bought a used 1991A1 with the parkerized-type finish. The slide has some scuff marks on it with the silver metal showing through. I have thought about refinishing, but wondered if there is some way I can just cover these marks and make the gun look better. Everything else is in good shape.

[dfariswheel]

Parkerizing is a tough finish to patch up.
You can use cold blue to at least darken the area, but it'll be blue not dark gray, and cold blue tends to leave a permanent blotch in surrounding original blue or parkerizing that may make it look worse.
Also, cold blue is not at all durable and wears off fast, plus it can actually cause rust.

Another option is to use a marker pen to cover scratches. It's not durable either but it won't leave a permanent blotch and won't cause rust. The black ink tends to blend a little better.

Like a lot of gun finishes, once a parkerized finish is damaged there's just not much you can do for it.

[CaryColt]

Thanks. I will probably just leave it alone, then.

[JudgeColt]

What I use for such repairs is G96 Gun Blue Cream. After degreasing the area to blue, I take a small screwdriver, get a little of the cream on the end of the screwdriver and then carefully apply it to the scratches. Be as exact as you can be in applying only to the scratches. Wipe off any excess and apply an oil wipe-down as you normally would. The scratches will be well hidden, and there will be no "splotchy" spots.