By Scott Smith | Contributing Editor
A pair of well-traveled stainless pistols, Springfield Armory 1911 and Sig Sauer X5 awaiting a new look.
With the arrival of the SHOT Show in January, which for the first time in 20 years I missed thanks to the blizzard and flu, we start thinking of spring and warm weather hunting. I am the first to admit I do not head out to the woods in search of a turkey because I am not patient enough for that. However, one of the things I know is successful hunters use camouflage from head to toe as well as their firearms.
If you are like me with many firearms to choose from, we find it hard to justify a new purchase. The option is to upgrade what we have. While it is easy to head out to your local big box store for a can of spray paint which wears poorly, I suggest having a professional do a finish that will last. One of the leaders in the industry is BDL Custom finishes in Clinton Township, MI (Phone: 586-335-1649; Online: blowndeadline.net).
The pistols with their new look: X5 in Multicam and 1911 in custom red/blue/black Kryptek.
I learned of BDL a few years ago when I saw several ARs at the SHOT Show finished, copying Boba Fett firearms from Star Wars and other futuristic looks. A few questions of the various manufactures about the finishes, led me to Blown Deadline aka BDL finishes. BDL is a family run business, doing some of the finest and most innovative work I have seen.
The shop keeps low profile, which with all the firearms and parts that come in and out of the shop is a good idea. When I ventured up to BDL, what I found was a large garage type building with paint booths, drying ovens, file cabinets full of stencils, loads of finishes and dozens of parts in various stages of preparation and/or finished. There were vaults with numerous one of a kind finished firearm, helmets with a wide array of camo patterns and auto parts. It seems Michael Sigouin, the proprietor of BDL, has a passion for fast sports cars.
BDL prints their stencils on site so they always have a steady supply to meet the job.
Michael and his family bring their passion for art, firearms and sports cars to finishing firearms and various shooting/outdoor kits. The company is so well thought of they are one of the few Cerakote authorized shops that is licensed to do Kryptek and Crye Multicam’s various patterns and to use the pattern to create unique camouflage patterns for the consumer or OEM vendors.
According to Michael traditional Multicam and Black Multicam are the most popular bulk finishes. The various flag-themed patterns and crazy multicolor finishes are also very popular. They also do many single color or combination solid finishes such as a black slide and grey frame on a pistol. No matter the finish the work is art for your firearms, knives, or whatever you need done.
BDL’s shop, big enough to handle all the work yet small enough to not attract attention.
Turnaround times vary as to the quantity of in-process work that is in the shop and what you are requesting. If you want your items to be done in Multicam and BDL is doing that version of Multicam, odds are your parts will be in that batch. Your in-shop time will be decreased if you have your firearm in its component parts, so they do not need to have their gunsmith come in and take it completely apart. BDL will not simply finish over pins and sights; they want complete thorough coverage. Cleaning solution and oil left in the small holes will prevent the Cerakote from properly adhering to and curing on the metal or polymer.
BDL can do parts or hard hats. Whatever you need to have finished, BDL can help.
I took two of my hardest use pistols and a few AR magazines up to BDL to have them give them a new look. The pistols were stainless steel, which is fairly boring. I wanted to give them more oomph. Folks tell me stainless steel is a pain to coat, so I knew this would show just what BDL can do. The magazines were to just show the various patterns BDL does.
Michael and I decided that the Sig X5 would be done in Multicam and he would do a red/blue Kryptek on the 1911. While I would have liked a brighter pattern, Multicam would show just how much attention to detail and the quality of finish BDL can do.
The Boba Fett helmet is one of the pieces that put BDL on the map.
Several weeks after I dropped off the pistols and magazines they arrived at home. I opened the magazines first since they were on top of the box. The finish was smooth and flawless. What was amazing is how the various blacks and grays could be seen. Do not let it be said that these dark colors are all the same, they are not. BDL proved that. These magazines also proved that BDL ensures the stencils are properly applied into each groove. This ensures the camo pattern is distinct and there are distinct lines not blurred lines where the colors bled into each other. Having applied a number of finishes to magazines and firearms, I can tell you this takes time. BDL made sure each and every magazine was finished perfectly. After perusing BDL’s photos section on Facebook, one can see they do this for every customer’s job.
These magazines show how much attention to detail BDL gives even the simplest projects.
Next up was the pistols. First the Sig X5 finished in Multicam. This pattern is a five color pattern with numerous small detail colors which takes care and time to duplicate. The dark brown is the “shadow” or highlight and least represented in the pattern so BDL did the controls, mag well and base pads. Doing this brings the color out of the base pattern more and just looks good.
The 1911 was finished in a dark blue, red and black Kryptek. While subdued the each color stands out and when needed properly over laid giving the bleeding affect you find in Kryptek. All the controls were done in black, which again brings out the color in the pattern.
This is a pair of BDL’s battle-worn Glocks that show just how stylish and artistic is the work BDL does.
Both of these pistols are my go-to pistols for action pistol and 3-Gun so they have been used hard the last year. I am amazed that the finish has not shown any signs of wear and erosion from holster wear. Both have seen extensive use and even a few drops; the only wear marks are on the magazines. This is the first time I have not had pistols show wear and tear, thanks to BDL clear coating the finish, a step not taken by others.
If you wish to get your turkey shotgun or varmint rifle finished to match your surroundings or create a firearm that will stand out at a match or the range or become an heirloom, let BDL help. BDL will create a one of a kind firearm and the Cerakote will protect it from the elements. Only your imagination will limit what you and BDL can create, check them out on Facebook @bdlcerakote. Not only will you see some of the finest “battle worn” finished firearms and amazing OEM work but Michael’s Mustang which is also a work of art is show cased. When it comes to the passion and love of the work showing, BDL Custom Finishes is one of the finest, dedicated operations I have dealt with in twenty plus years. You will not find a more dedicated crew or an operation that works harder to make the customers visions come true.
