Even though Tanaka is trying very hard to stay active in the industry, but it seems they're at times getting out of hand - especially the surface finishings...

Their "Midnight Blue" looks good on vintage guns such as Colt DS, S&W revolvers introduced during the 50s~70s as well as their Lugers, but applying it on modern semi-autos such as SIG P228/229 is a bit too much - real steel wise the surface is matt instead of glossy finishings.

This time they turn to Browning Hi-Powers - older models such as Vigilante & Military models are fair enough but definitely not MKIII...from what I've learnt modern Police/Military pistols tend to be in matt finishes otherwise the glossy (or stainess) finishings will attract opponent's attention during battles...

Jim,

I hear you.
Old guns looks nice wiht blue but modern one, it is matt or painted color which is boring though.

shaz,

I would love to get my hands on a good GBB browing but i hear Tanaka GBB pistols have problems with leaky mags and never get good reviews. I agree jim some models need to stay a matt colour, but my service pistol (a Browning) was a strange colour more like a painted gloss black than a matt finish.

Claymore,

Your's is a MKIII as well isn't it? The real steel that I used to own (the very early ones made and assembled in Belgium instead of Portugal - and now I suspect it was actually a MKII because of the rail on top of the slide linking the front & rear sight) was in matt grey finish. And you're right, I'd just recalled that the ones reproduced later is in glossy finish but I think they don't cater for the law enforcement market anymore (everyone's using SIGs & Glocks or something with the shape of Colt .45). Browning Hi-Powers are now becoming "vintages"...

Tanaka guns are good - and extremely fragile. If you treat it as some century-old antique then you won't have a problem with it...