Previously, I had posted the information that I received personally from HEFUSA about Melonite vs Tenifer (LINK).

This is often a hot topic and I recently have seen claims that Glock is no longer Tenifer hardening their Gen4 slides, that the slides are made in the U.S. and it is illegal to Tenifer them, etc. etc.

Well, according to my conversation with Glock yesterday Gen4 slides (as well as the entire pistol) are indeed made in AUSTRIA and are assembled here in the U.S..

The slides and barrels are still Tenifer treated. The "top coat" however as most people have noticed has changed. Glock calls it their "matte" finish instead of the Gen3 "glossy." Yes, it is more silverish than the previous deep black. I didn't ask why or for details. The coating has nothing to do with Tenifer. Now back to my story...

Arguments about Tenifer/Melonite/etc. such as this one on XDTALK always seem to boil down to a lot of  "I heard..." and "I read..." or "I know because Gaston told my uncle's friend's coworker..." and NOT a lot of fact or verifiable informtion.

I post this thread because it contains all that conjecture but also because it contains some new information and new conjecture! I warn you, it is not until about page 6.

So, I found that HEF India offers Tenifer AND Melonite as finishing options! This kind of conflicts with what HEF USA told me - that Melonite is exclusive to the U.S.

We know that Tenifer is used in other industries (there is a link in that thread to some BMW parts literature that references it). So, what I suspect (here is where I cannot provide any proof) is that the name Tenifer is licensed to GLOCK exclusively in the firearms industry and Melonite to everyone else. Remember, Glock entered into this agreement with Durferrit, who owns the trademarks to both Tenifer and Melonite, back in the 80's (if not earlier). No one in the firearms industry did anything remotely similar.

I have requested some additional information from HEF India to clarify if there is a difference. In converse, I have also requested some information on Springfield's XD to see if they are Melonite'd here or in Croatia since HEFUSA said Melonite is exclusive to the U.S.. This may be of limited value though since the pistols are for the U.S. market and for a U.S. company. Oh, I also asked if they could/would/will offer Melonite on 1911's for those curious (I am).

And so, the great Melonite/Tenifer debate(s) continue!