[rWt]

In my search for older S&W's, such as Model25-5's and 58, I am finding some with a factory nickle finish. I have never had a gun with a nickle finish before so don't know how to think about these guns from a useability/durability of finish perspective or even collector value/desireability.

Searching this topic brought up some threads concerning care with solvents.

Can someone help me understand the usefulness and finish durability for a using gun?

Thanks!

Dick

[Marshall]

IMO, the nickle finishes are not as desirable as the polished stainless finishes. Easier to rust, pit and tarnish.

[Monkeyleg]

Desirability is in the eye of the beholder, I guess.

I don't think that nickle is any more or less durable than blued. It does show marks and flaws more easily, though.

As for solvents, you want to stay away from anything containing ammonia, or any other solvent that dissolves copper. Underneath the nickle is a layer of copper. Should the solvent get under that, it will cause the copper to lift off the steel. Then you've got a problem.

It's no different than having a cycle with chrome goodies on it. Wipe down carefully, and apply a non-abrasive wax.

I have just one nickle gun, a 6" Python. I saw a nickle S&W at a gun store a few weeks back and had to restrain myself. It was sure purty.

[pythonguy]

There is nothing prettier then a nickel gun that has been properly taken care of. I have a 6" nickel Trooper Mark V and a 6" nickel Python and they look and function perfectly. You can clean most marks on a nickel surface with flitz polish. After shooting, I clean mine with M-pro7 in the bore and eezox or breakfree clp for the rest of the gun, and it comes out clean and shiny like new. I like having a couple of nickel guns in my collection, and they shoot every bit as well as any other finish. All in how it was, and is, taken care of.

[Standing Wolf]

Nickel.

Trust me, eh?

Not nickle.

Nickel.

[thatguy]

I like the shiny guns. This one looks pretty good for being 54 years old. I don't think nickel is more fragile than blue but when nickel does start to let go it looks worse than a similarly worn blued gun, IMO. I have always just wiped mine with Hoppe's #9 but I don't allow the solvent to stand on the metal for long before wiping it down.

http://www.fototime.com/B992FFDE907CF19/standard.jpg

[pythonguy]

Hi Standing Wolf,

How've you been? I wish I had a nickel for every time you posted. :D I thought of mentioning the spelling, everyone seems to spell nickel wrong, but they always shoot the messenger in here. ;) Makes a beautiful gun though.

[BigG]

A nickel S&W or Colt is a thing of beauty. :)

[Ala Dan]

Nickel firearms demand a degree of special care, some solvents are not
compatible with nickel finished weapons. Thus, I would try to avoid any
that contained amonia; certainly with older nickel finished weapons. I
have no data to back this claim up on the highly polished stainless type
firearms?

[rbernie]

Not that I want to be the negative voice in the crowd, but I see nickel plating as the worst of all worlds - a surface coating that can be readily damaged but without the ease of maintenance of other surface coatings (enamels, bluing).

If I want shiny, I'll polish a stainless steel gun. If I want durable, I'll go with either stainless or a surface finish that's readily touched-up. In neither case does nickel plating seem like a good idea.

[rWt]

Thanks for the advice...and the spelling correction-it is appreciated.

I believe that I'll hold out for a blued gun.

Dick

[patentnonsense]

I like stainless, but I think that nickel (in good shape) is much better looking than ordinary stainless finish - super-high-polished stainless pieces are uncommon and expensive. Nickel is more durable that blue - it isn't going to rust anywhere the finish is intact. I like the better hand-fitting on the old S&Ws, but the rust susceptibility of the blued finishes make me nervous, so I really like the older guns in a nice nickel finish.

Just my .02...

[pogo2]

I have noticed that nickel plating on guns comes in both electroless and "other". The electroless is a matte finish that is not shiny, while the more traditional nickel plating is quite shiny. I prefer the look of the electroless.

Here is my Sig P226 with factory electroless nickel finish (circa 1991) and Hogue cocobolo grips:
http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=156

[Henry455]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This 29-2 is going on 30 years old and while its not used often, it is a shooter. This gun has gone as long as a 5 year period without ever being touched (guess I have been lucky). The finish still looks new. If they are taken care of, a nickel finish gun will last as long as a blued gun appearance wise.



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v691/Henry455/Model%2029-2/Guns013A.jpg

[pythonguy]

Nice Henry455,

That is a perfect example of how beautiful a nickel revolver in minty condition can look, and I know its way better in person. Nothing looks as shiny and good as a fine nickel finish. That is not to say if you are only buying one or two guns to shoot should you get a nickel gun, but if you have a collection of 5 or more revolvers, its nice to have a fine nickel example.

[Ash]

Almost all of the suicide specials and top-break revolvers were nickel-plated. Some of the plating was crap and the revolvers show it. Many were pretty decent. At the time, stainless wasn't perfected and enamels were non-existent in firearms (at least, almost non-existent and Parkerizing did not yet exist), nickel was just about the only finish other than bluing. It looked pretty, at least it did new, and was reasonably easy to maintain. It didn't rust as readily as bluing and, well, it was shiny. It was fairly easy to apply and didn't really cost that much to apply.

Today, there are much better finishes and alloys, from stainless steel to polymer finishes, that do a better job. That said, there are very good nickel finishes today, CZ uses it and it is very durable.

Ash

[Hammerdown]

Hello:
I have read all the responses and would like to add mine. I am a Nickel "FREAK" to me there is not a better finish nor easier on to take care of ! Most guy's that say it scratches easy or is hard to keep looking nice either never had one or got one that was mis- treated and did not know how to over come blemishes. I like it as you "CAN" polish most scratches out of it where if you have a blued revolver you are out of luck once they are scratched or start showing holster wear. I bought a model 57 That was in tough shape. I wish I had taken pictures of it before I started my polishing as the previous owner did not believe it was the same gun. I got it and it had holster burn on the end of the barrel along with plenty of scratches all over it. Three hour's later and I have a beauty. I also sent this K-22 for a nickel finish over the original blue as I said to me it is easier to keep looking good. now if you carry any revolver in a holster it can and will show wear. I carry mine in a "PADDED" holster and they seem unaffected by it I also shoot them plenty and clean them with Hoppes then finish with "FLITZ" metal polish and a soft rag. Most guy's that complain about nickel finish are the same ones that do not clean or properly care for there revolver's. If you clean and polish them when you are done with them they will look good for a lifetime.. Regards, Hammerdown.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v258/hammerdown-7/DSCF4655.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v258/hammerdown-7/DSCF4654.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v258/hammerdown-7/DSCF4651.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v258/hammerdown-7/DSCF4067.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v258/hammerdown-7/DSCF4069.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v258/hammerdown-7/DSCF4070.jpg

[thatguy]

The top gun is 88 years old and has not been pampered. Shows lots of honest wear and many handling marks. Yet the nickel finish is not bad all things considered. Not as shiny as new, but not falling off, either.

http://www.fototime.com/200B8CC50970ECD/standard.jpg

[rWt]

Some guns I've seen advertised have had, "a small pinhole in the finish".

Do you stay away from these guns because the finish has already been violated/penetrated?