Finish - Black Diamond and Tungsten DLC?

[mickeyfinn]

What is the difference between the finish used on the Black Diamond PM9 and the tungsten DLC finish on other black PM9s?

Thanks

[Bawanna]

I'll have to try and confirm unless someone here knows for sure but I don't think there is a difference. I think the Black Diamond has a little engraving, don't recall what other differences.

[mickeyfinn]

I was wondering because I see a Black Diamond version PM9 with regular sights - NOT night sights, and then I see "black slide PM9 with tungsten DLC," and the Black Diamond(again with regular sights) is always priced higher.

[mickeyfinn]

I'm not talking about engraving on the finish but the finishes themselves.

Same finish but different names and prices?

I wish someone from Kahr would clear this up. The finish is either the same or it isn't.

AND if the finish is the same, an explanation of the price difference would be interesting.

Remember, we're talking pistols with regular sights, NO night sights on either.

[berettabone]

I believe, some years ago...........Kahr decided to discontinue carbon steel firearms and make all slides and steel frames from stainless steel. They flirted briefly with a baked on Teflon used by many other makers, but found it less than satisfactory. They tried another process that required substantial heat. It actually changed the molecular structure of the metal and made it brittle. They finally developed their tungsten diamond like coating (DLC) which uses a process called Plasma Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition. It's applied in a vacuum chamber where cathodes transform tungsten into a gas that plates parts. It increases the hardness to a 90 on the Rockwell C scale. Your average 1911 frame will register about 28 to 30 on the same scale. The parts are never heated over 300 degrees, so they don't lose their temper. About 2 microns of material is deposited on the metal. That is about 80 millionths of an inch. Supposedly scratch proof. Supposedly will not wear from holster carry. So, I believe that they are one and the same.

[Rubb]

Same thing....Diamond Like Coating.


http://www.policemag.com/channel/weapons/articles/2005/09/arsenal/page/2.aspx