Older/Newer and Small/Smaller

[logical]

A fairly accurate pic of a serial R38X serial gun and an R74X showing the darker frames on today's production:


A slight change to the "9 MM" lettering on the barrel (not pictured) and a slightly reshaped mag release on the newer gun, also shows frame color change well:


I used to call my Sig 239 a "small 9mm":


Not so much now:

[MountainMan]

I kind of liked the frame lighter - wonder why they changed it - this was probably discussed somewhere on the forum.  It makes sense to round off the mag latch some.  Would be nice to see a Deer Park  slide picture nice and detailed - the reflection washed it out.   Thanks logical

[MountainMan]

Now I see what bothered me about the the darker frame.  There seems to be much more contrast from the shiny slide to the frame.  The lighter frame seem to blend the gun together more.  In a few more pictures I'll probaly get used to it.

[logical]

I have to admit at first glance I like the lighter frame color better...maybe the new black will grow on me but it looks more painted where the old looked bead blasted.  I know they aren't...just describing the "look".  I'll try more pictures soon....a bunch were even more out of focus than the ones I posted.

[MountainMan]

logical - probably the flash reflection on the slide caused the high contrast

[logical]

I think it was more the overkill of 4 double tube shop lights over my workbench...I didn't even use a flash.

[MountainMan]

Sometimes I have found the best pictures come out when you use natural light on a overcast day - now do you still plan on selling the older one - would be interesting having one of each frame color and slide marking - easy for me to say not my money - right

Would be nice to have some of our photo experts on the forum do a photo shoot comparing the two frames.

[MountainMan]

Hey - post 51 just made me full member - boy am I getting old!

[R9SCarry]

Dave - no not old - just (like a good wine) more mature!!

[MountainMan]

Chris - do you know why they changed the frame color from grey to a black.  

[R9SCarry]

Dave - actually not sure on that.  The original silver finish, per my #1 R9 was dropped because of difficulty in getting consistent anodizing results - there were just too many IIRC that had to be sent back.

As for Grey to Black - not so sure but again have made an assumtion that it is geared to effective finish quality control.  Aluminum is, whilst easy in theory to anodize - is also fussy and fickle re finished result.  I forget the chem's involved with different colors but - certainly some work better than others.

I recall when my Dad was alive and before he retired (long ago), his company (aluminum stockist) had some promo stuff done in a sorta black and it was a superb finish.

Further to getting info on this from Eric or Karl - this so far is my best guess.

[MountainMan]

Chris,
The grey finish is what attracted me to the R9 - there was something special about it.  Seems like my new one on order will be black.  It should be easier to touch up I guess.  Would like to see some good comparison pictures of the two frame colors.  

I have seen some closeup photos of grey frames where there was some wear and the silver was showing through - but  would assume the black would do the same - and if it did it would be more noticabe.  Then maybe you are right and the black is more durable.

[RJ HEDLEY]

 ''Chris - do you know why they changed the frame color from Grey to a black. ''    Mountainman
__________________________________
 
 Chris won't mind if I put my two cents here, and that's all that it is, ''just my two cents''.  

I feel the Anodize process continues to be a problem.  The black "color" is a dye applied as a chemical process.   When you lower a rack full of parts [frames] into a tank of heated chemicals, you will not know the results until they come out.  Until the process is formulated, i.e., time, temperature, chemical strength, the result will vary.

Just like Forest Gump taught us,"It's like a box  of  Chocolate's,  you never know what you are going to get."  
  
The final standard has not been established.  [My words]

[MountainMan]

RJ
Are you saying that some batchs of R9s may have black frames and some more toward the grey side depending on the day they were done.

[logical]

I suspect any newly shipped gun will have the black frame regardless of serial number.  If an early number frame got out of sequence because of a plating issue it would probably go back into the process for replating along with new frames and get the black.