Inglis Chinese Hi-power restoration questions.

[mattgunguy]

I traded for this pistol & now I need some advice about how to go about restoring it back to how it should be.

Chinese contract Inglis hi power 3CH serial number. It's in overall good condition aside from the frame. Was cerakote or durakote by someone (this is sacrilegious to me). The magazine safety has been removed & the thumb safety has been changed. The hammer & trigger have had some kind of faux color case hardening treatment done.

I the mag safety & original thumb safety with it, so no big deal there. Doest seem to difficult to source original hi power hammers & triggers. Could refinish as them as well.

Big question. Is there a way to strip the coating on the frame short of media blasting? If the original parkerizing is under the coating, I'd like to preserve it. If I do end up having to take it down to bare metal, what is the correct parkerizing for these pistols?

Thanks for any information y'all.

[browningautorifle]

I don't think anything else will take that stuff off. I have a small model 71 Beretta that was cerakote and couldn't get it to dissolve or scrub off. I think bead blast is the only way to remove it.

[Brian Dick]

A bead blast and Parkerize with manganese phosphate is about all you can do to bring it back to military spec.. I've done a few over the years and still own one 4CH. The only way you can tell it's not original finish is because the serial number engraving and proof stamps are finished over and not "in the white" as original.

[mattgunguy]

Well, I reckoned that blasting was gonna be needed. Was just hopeful I suppose. I do appreciate the confirmation.

[Warren]

glass bead blasting will do it but turn down the pressure and use small size glass media.
After bead blasting and refinishing send it to an engraver hand have him HAND CHASE the engraving and some proof marks.
I will check on mine to see what markings are not coated in finish and in the white.
Drop me a PM when you are ready to proceed.

[AD-4NA]

"...send it to an engraver hand have him HAND CHASE the engraving and some proof marks."

With respect, restore it but please don't make a fake, MHO.
But it is your pistol to do with as you please.

[rcathey]

What exactly is this finish? If the consensus is over the counter paint strippers won’t take it off (even the nasty burn your skin types) I’m more impressed by these finishes than I thought!

For somethin leg as small as a pistol, I’d be tempted to just dunk it for a week or so in a tub of stripper.

[browningautorifle]

If the consensus is over the counter paint strippers won’t take it off

If it's a duracoat or ceracoat then the harshest paint strippers still won't touch it. I have a Beretta 71 that had the slide and barrel done and it's permanent...unless you bead blast. Even the nasty strippers like Circa 1850 won't do it with steel wool added. Just takes off at the corners.

[rcathey]

Well, color me impressed!