Hi,
We are getting oh so close and I am as ready as anyone for this to come to a close. As to making them look a bit beat up..... Decided to have an impromptu test of the resiliency between good old high temp enamel paint - closest we can get so far to the "stovetop lacquer" call out on the original finish - and the glossy black cerakote. We put the enamel on a steel rod and all we had that was cerakoted that looked like an equal was a barreled shop receiver.
So.... Whack them against the big oak tree and throw, pitch, sling, etc a number of times down the rock driveway to see what happens. I was pretty surprised really, and got to smile about getting to throw that barreled receiver for effect.... lol As usual I am sure I will get accused of being too gentle and all but it did bounce and flip pretty respectably a few times for the camera, all in good fun.
When we put it up I will post a link. Short story is you can get the worn look but it is going to take a little, or maybe a lot, of effort. One spear throw had a rock stuck in the rear of the receiver hard enough it had to be pried out with a screwdriver. Once out a buffer assembly snapped right in. Nothing bent / distorted on the receiver and that cerakote stuff held up pretty amazingly well. Neither the cerakote or the enamel chipped cleanly like the stuff we see on the original rifles.
Not sure what the magic is there or if it is the application or just the age of it. I am showing signs of chipping and flaking as time goes on so maybe thats it! Ok, my fun time is over, back to work! Night...
Rick