Usually when I think of Cerakote, I think camouflage, or something like that. Well, cerakote can be anything you can think of. Midwest Firearm Solutions is just one of those places that can make your cerakote dreams come true. I gave them the task of figuring out how to make an AR pistol look like an X-Wing from the Star Wars franchise. They managed to do it!

If you are new to firearms coatings, I’ll try to give you a quick rundown. Cerakote is a thin film coating. Because of this, it lends itself well to firearms. It does this because it doesn’t build up like typical paints. This helps to keep all of the firearms parts working as they should. Another advantage of Cerakote is its chemical resistance. So gun cleaning solvents and such won’t cause it to melt off. It is abrasion and wear resistant. A good thing for moving firearm parts. Lastly, it adds a level of corrosion resistance that is better than most factory firearm finishes. Plus it looks cool.

Midwest Firearm Solutions coated the entire AR pistol to look like a X-Wing fighter from Star Wars movies. They started with a Snow White base coat. Added on some Graphite Black to give the pistol a “blasted” look, typical of the X-Wings you might see. The top rail portion is Cerakoted NRA Blue and it matches the striping of the fighter well. There are some yellow accent colors on the “nose” of the forearm, as well as the buffer tube and magazine. These are in Corvette Yellow. The small parts of the AR, including the barrel, are coated in Gunmetal Gray. They also did some small “rebel” markings in Firehouse Red. When seen, side by side next to a X-Wing picture or model, you can definitely tell that Midwest Firearm Solutions did some stellar work!

Being that the AR is cerakoted, I am sure the finish will hold up well. Even though I try to be gentle with this firearm, it has been used. So far, not even a minor scratch in the coating. If I do scratch it up, this design lends itself to not show imperfections because of the “blasted up” look.

When doing patterns with spray on coatings, there can be some problems that arise. The most notable, to me, is seam lines. These happen where the pattern changes. Midwest Firearm Solutions does not have this problem. Their attention to detail provides beautiful, seamless, transitions between colors and patterns. The quality of the coated small parts is excellent also. The Gunmetal Gray, of the small parts and barrel, really stands out. This color gives it almost a sparkled industrial look. You really have to see it to understand.

The X-Wing gun, as I call it, is really only for fun. Having firearms coated can be that way. Or you can go for something that is actually useful, like certain types of camouflage. Another option is just to restore an old firearm to like new standards. The days of only having one color are gone, unless that is what you are looking for. Midwest Firearm solutions can supply you with a fantastic coating. Either simple, or out of this world.

Midwest Firearm Solutions is a top notch Cerakote applicator. This X-Wing gun turned out awesome. So good that I might need a themed pistol to go with it! MFS also does laser engraving along with tons of other stuff. Check out their website at https://www.midwestfirearmsolutions.com/ to see all the great stuff they have to offer.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Custom Cerakote coatings

Target Market:

Anyone wanting to change the look of their firearm

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

Customer designs ideas are unlimited
Durable
Chemical resistant
Protects firearm from the elements
Various color options
Thin film - doesn’t build up and stop firearm from working
Cerakote trained and certified

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Pretty much anything you can imagine

What others are saying?:

From FaceBook

Tristan did a fantastic job with the cerakote for my slide. Wouldn’t go anywhere else for the quality, price, and friendliness!

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found, but lots of mini reviews at Cerakote.com

Price point:

MSRP = $600.00

Retail = Base rifle color - $225, Each additional color - $65 each, small parts are extra

I need it now! Availability:

Midwest Firearm Solutions

Our Rating:

Pros:

Certified Cerakote applicator
Can do almost any idea you have
Looks amazing
Cerakote seams are almost not noticeable

Cons:

Cerakote jobs like this aren’t cheap

Score: 9.00 Amazing

Favorite Link: Axeon Optics

If you haven’t heard of Freedom Flag Products, you should go look them up. About a year ago, they collaborated with Nevada Cerakote to send me one of their G17 slides. When they ask what model or cerakote I wanted, I left it up to both of them. Freedom Flag also makes AR products, as well as other Glock style slides. The review slide they sent me is in their “Track Style”, without an optic cutout.

I can’t really describe the “Track Style”, but it is not a typical cookie cutter slide. It has some oblong, straight up and down, cuts at the rear for cocking serrations. Then down the rest of the slide it has, what I like to call them, mathematical shaped recesses. At the front of the slide, there are also 2 angled cuts with 3 slots cut in them. On the top front, is also a diamond shape recess with 2 slots. So a compensated barrel might work with this slide. Freedom Flag’s slides are for Gen 3 style pistols, this includes Polymer 80’s. They also come in 5 more standard cuts, in case you don’t like this style. An RMR cut is $50 more, if that’s your thing.

As I would expect, the machining on this slide is spot on. I couldn’t detect a single mill mark. Yes you can see marks through cerakoted parts. The Glock slide parts kit installed with zero problems and everything works smooth as butter. This is the second slide that Freedom Flag has sent me, which is why the review has taken so long. The first slide they sent had a very, and I mean very, small tool mark on the angled cut. I was okay with it, but they pretty much demanded I send it back, so I did. That’s top notch service. I don’t know if this slide is the same one, or a new one, but I suspect it’s new. The rear sight cut was spot on, and I had zero problems installing the rear sight. The front slot seemed a tiny bit larger than I needed, I could twist the front sight ever so slightly when tightening it down. I measured it, and it was within Glock factory specs, so it must have been the front sight and not the slide. All in all, they do an excellent machining job.

All Freedom Flag’s slides are Cerakoted. As mentioned, this slide was sent to Nevada Cerakote for some magic. I told them to also surprise me and that it was being installed on a gray Polymer 80 frame. Nevada Cerakote did not let me down. They did a 4 color gray/black camo on it that looks amazing. The colors are blended together so smooth that you can’t even feel where one ends and the other begins.

Nevada Cerakote is pretty big in the cerakote market. They have their hands in lots of one off coatings for trade shows, like SHOT. They are factory trained and certified by Cerakote. But really, they just do a great cerakote and have great ideas for patterns. If you are looking to have something coated, please go check out Nevada Cerakote.

The Track Style slide is a great addition to my Polymer 80. In fact I purposely bought the Poly 80 frame for the original slide. The slide mounted up easy. It slid right on and cycled smoothly. Frame to slide fit was phenomenal. Not so tight that I needed to break it in, but not loose either. I can barely wiggle the slide. To top it all off, the pistol cycles fine, even when the slide was brand new. When I first installed the slide, if you rode the slide closed on an empty magazine, it would stop about ¼” from going into battery. After 50 or so rounds, that stopped. It never did it using the slide release or sling shotting the slide. I’m using as Faxon barrel with the Freedom Flag slide. As expected, it shoots great. Both a testament to the slide and barrel.

When using the Track Slide, I used it in a few OWB holsters. It fit fine in both of them. I did have to loosen the tension screws on both. I attributed this to the fairly squarish style of this slide. Not a big deal at all, more of just a heads up. To go along with this, the cerakote has not worn off the edges either. Another testament to the Nevada Cerakote quality.

If you are in the market for a Glock slide, Freedom Flag does a fine job. They even make a slide that converts a G19 size frame into a G17 length slide and barrel. The slide is 100% made in the USA and at a competitive price. Definitely go give Freedom Flag a look, as well as Nevada Cerakote.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Fully machined Glock Gen 3 slide with cerakote

Target Market:

Those wanting a unique, quality slide for their Glock or Glock style pistol

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

“Track Style”
Designed for Gen3 guns, will not fit a Gen4
Cerakoted
Optional Laser Etching
Tighter tolerances for increased accuracy, reliability, and performance
Precision machined from heat treated 4150 barrel steel
Barrel lock-up manufactured with tighter tolerances
When used with a match-quality barrel, accuracy will be greatly increased
100% Made in the USA
Compatible with Polymer80 Frames
Tested for function

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Lots of single colors, or ask about special Cerakote

What others are saying?

5/5 stars - Fantastic and Durable Slide

I bought a graphite black slide a few months ago to go with a Polymer 80 G17 I built. Taking it out of the box, it's a really good looking slide. The front serrations are very tactile and the back are equally good. When fitting it to the gun, it was indeed a very tight fit, but that really is a good thing. I did have to file a little bit on the inside of the slide around the barrel lock-up, but that was primarily due to the aftermarket barrel being a little out of spec. Once I fixed that, it worked great. I now have over 1k rounds through the slide and no issues. I've used it in the Limited Division at a USPSA match and it was great there, even got a couple compliments. I highly recommend filing in the logo on top of the slide with white to make it pop. Overall, I could not be happier. The customer service is very good and personal, and the shipping was quick. If you're on the fence about it, just do it! You won't find a better custom slide for the money