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Protects Against Rust
Parkerizing works off the basic principle that if oxygen cannot get to the iron, then the iron cannot rust. By providing a complete coating over the surface of the gun, rust is prevented. There are different levels of quality of parkerized guns, and some coatings will wear off faster than others. Constant contact, such as removing a handgun from a holster on a repeated basis over a long time, will often cause the parkerizing to wear down. Parkerizing can also scratch easily.
Holds Protective Oils
A firearm that is bead blasted and then parkerized has hundreds of thousands of microscopic pits on top of the parkerizing. This allows other protective finishes such as a light coating of gun oil or Cosmoline to adhere to the surface better. A parkerized gun by itself is only half the protection that the firearm needs.
Dull, Attractive Finish
A parkerized gun can range in color from a dark black to light gray depending upon the chemicals used and the exact process. Guns stored a long time in Cosmoline may take on a green tint. The dull appearance does not reflect light which is what many people want in a defensive weapon. The parkerized look is often associated with military weapons as it is a common coating that was extensively used in the past.
Considerations
Chemistry and the knowledge of metal reactions has come a long way since the early 1900s. New methods of parkerizing guns have developed over the years, and the finishes are getting more durable and protective. Other finishes have been developed by companies such as Glock using new techniques, and the ability to work in stainless steel did away with coatings for many guns. For some gun owners, parkerizing is still the preferred look to their firearms. It comes with a proud history, it works, and it looks good. That is just what many gun owners are looking for.