Seems to me that what it needs is a good manganese phosphate parkerizing. But that's just me...I have the workshop to do it. When one of mine gets beat up, it gets a trip into the shop and comes out looking new. Another option would be to DuraCoat it in some interesting color pattern -- perhaps similar to the RSR duo-tone versions. Or...something in between, say a medium-gray zinc phosphate finish on the frame and near-black manganese phosphate on the slide. I'll bet you'll get rust if you don't refinish it.
