Abstract: A dart barrel comprising a body, a surface on the body; and a coating deposited on the surface by physical vapor deposition, said coating comprising a layer of titanium, aluminum and nitride, whereby the dart barrel has improved hardness and wear resistance. The body is metal and the coating on the surface of the body has a thickness of between about 1.5 ?m and about 5.0 ?m. In one embodiment, the coating is a mono-layer coating. In another embodiment, the coating is a multi-layer coating.