[Crusader Smithy]

Is corrosion that much of an issue here? I carry daily in a leather holster and have seen no evidence of rust on a stainless slide. If whatever I'm carrying gets wet, I dry and lube it (springs rust). To me, it seems to be a non-issue.

I would have to agree

 

[Crusader Smithy]

I'm not expert on the topic, but I would have to say that what you were told is hearsay at best. I don't know how much you can rely on it.

I think you've hit the nail on the head. I've run into quite a bit of that at Doug's and Get Some both. Stainless is very rust resistant, not rust proof. Under normal carry conditions stainless shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Crusader Smithy]

I just looked up melonite to find out a little more about it. Melonite is a metal treatment/finish. It can be applied to carbon or stainless steel. To have the ultamate effect I would use it on stainless. It has the rust prevention of parkerizing and the added lubracity of Teflon finishing. I would say between carbon/melonite or stainless it comes down to a matter of preference. Under normal carry conditions stainless is more than fine. Carbon/melonite under normal carry conditions is more than fine. They're 6's to me. I think the bigger question is whether you want a finished metal or not.

 

[Crusader Smithy]

I think it's a great way to deal with carbon steel. Against stainless I just don't see a greater advantage of either one.

I think you're right. I think they will be equally rust resistant. I really think it comes down to Doug's trying to sell the pistol with the more expensive finish. Since it isn't a common finish (bluing) they are going to charge more for the Melonite. Pick the one you like the most and sales pitch be darned.