Parkerizing is the process of protecting ferrous metals from corrosion and wear by applying a chemical phosphate coating. Parkerizing is an excellent gun coating in its own right and it also makes a perfect base for other finishes.

Depending on the metal components in the various parts of the firearm there may be some variation in the colour achieved. The finish is usually quite uniform but there can be some differences between the barrel and other metal parts. The chemical analysis of the metal involved (i.e. more or less chrome, iron, etc.) will determine the colour. When oiled it naturally takes on a slightly darker appearance but if you use the formula as instructed on the bottle, you can achieve the colour desired. With the Zinc solution you may get a variation on the gray colour but usually the finish is light to medium gray. With the Manganese solution, the finish colour will be dark to charcoal gray (almost black). NOTE: The colour shading can be manipulated by two variables:1) the length of time the item spends in the Parkerizing bath and 2) the amount of concentrate added to the solution.

Only carbon steel can be parkerized. You can’t parkerize stainless steel, brass, aluminum or any other non-ferrous metals, these metals will contaminate the Parkerizing solution.