SD9VE Custom Slides
Currently, there are no accessories on the market for custom slides for our SD9VE. The only way to truly achieve the ‘custom look’ may be to literally customize the slide you currently already have on the gun!
You can go about this in a couple different ways.
Coating
Types of coatings:
Black Oxide
Anodize
If you’re just looking to change the color of your slide, look for a coating company. You’re not going to want to just take a rattle can to your slide. It may look like it can do the job, but with all the action that is involved in shooting your pistol, your paint job will begin to literally fall apart in front of your eyes! Putting a coating on your slide, such as black oxide, anodizing, etc. will ensure a long lasting protective finish!
To achieve this process, you can look for ways to do a coating yourself OR find a coating company to do this for you. Most of these companies will be specific to your area. A company that we have used is AlumiPlate. If you are willing to ship your slide out yourself, feel free to give them a call. You may also fill out their contact form on the anodize page on their website. Tell them which type of finish you would like on your slide, and they should be able to take care of you! You will get a quote based on what you want done. They may ask that you remove any other attached pieces, such as your sights.
CLICK HERE to visit AlumiPlate’s website! Please be sure to tell them that the people at SD9VEAccessories.com sent you.
Custom Machine Work
Ah, this is where the true customization of your SD9VE comes into play. If you’ve ever seen any pistols out there with some custom work done to their slides, it is likely this customization was made in a machine shop.
For the lucky ones
So where do you start? Well, some of you may work in a CNC machine shop, tool and die shop, or know someone that does. If this is the case, you are in luck. Chances are, to do the type of custom work you want to do to your custom slide, that machine shop may need 4th or 5th axis capability. THIS CAN GET PRICEY. If you know someone in the field, or are in the machining field yourself, you are one of the lucky ones and can probably get the work done fairly cheaply.
For the unlucky ones
If you are not one of the lucky ones, you will have to find a job shop to do this work for you. Make sure you’re not looking at tool and die shops to do the work. They usually will not take this kind of work. What you want to look for in your local area is a shop that is committed to machining only (or a ‘job shop’).
A great online oriented company we use is JL Machining Works. They specialize in customizing your guns, and truly making your pistol, yours. If you go to their website, check out their ‘pricing’ page and check out all the options they have available for your customization needs! Here are a few examples of some of their work:
CLICK HERE to visit JL Machining Works‘ website. Please be sure to tell them that the people at SD9VEAccessories.com sent you.
The nice thing about going this route for you is that most of these shops are tied in very well with other shops in your area! Say you want some custom machine work done, as well as a coating. Just specify those things with your chosen machine shop and they should be able to tie it all into the same quote for you.
Need a new slide? Want to keep the original, ORIGINAL?
Are you looking to just purchase a new slide? CLICK HERE to see what Ebay has to offer! Or CLICK HERE to get in contact with Smith and Wesson to order your slide directly from them!
SD9VE Custom Barrels
Threaded Barrels
No those aren’t SD9VE’s in the pictures above. Why? Well there are no options available online for SD9VE threaded barrels. Oh the agony!
Like most accessories for our pistols, they are almost impossible to find.
What’s the solution?
We need to do the customization ourselves.
To achieve this process, first, you need to get in touch with a CNC machine shop near you. If you cannot find any CNC machine shops available near you, try searching for a ‘Gunsmith’ near you in Google (or CLICK HERE). In fact, most gun shops can easily point you in the right direction for gunsmiths as well! Our local outdoors retailer actually has a gunsmith in the building at all times to help you out with any customization needs.
The only things your machine shop or gun smith should need to thread your barrel is: The barrel itself, and the attachment you want to add to your gun. This is where finding a gunsmith may come in handy. Obviously you’re not going to be able to take a breacher choke from a shotgun and throw it on your SD9VE. The sizes will not match. You need to be sure your attachment you’re looking to add to your pistol, will actually work for your pistol.
If you are lucky enough to have a Cabelas, Gander Mountain, or any other big outdoors retailer near you, don’t be afraid to go in and ask them ‘will such-and-such attachment fit my SD9VE after threading the barrel?’ Not only should they be able to give you a yes or no answer, but they should also be able to point you in the right direction as far as where to get the threading work done!
Your online barrel threading service:
ANOTHER place that specializes in threading barrels is ADCO Firearms LLC. The service runs at about $75 per barrel, as well as some service fees if applicable. If you CLICK HERE you will be brought right to their ‘barrel threading’ page! Here you will specify the thread size needed. BE SURE that the thread size you choose coincides with the attachment you want to put on your SD9VE!
In conclusion…
Sadly, until a threaded barrel hits the market, we will be stuck with having to customize the barrels ourselves. All in all, I am not opposed to going through the processes of getting this work done ourselves. It really engages you in how the gun works, and will hopefully bring you new connections in your journey with your SD9VE!
Tying in your customization!
Most of all, we want this page to bring you hope. Sure the SD9VE is a great gun as it sits. Were here for those of you that want to make that standard SD9VE, YOUR SD9VE.
Check out some of the pictures below to get your own inspiration! (No they are not all SD9VEs, but the concept is all the same)
