[mokster]

I have an old colt police positive,and its a really good shooter,it just looks like heck. I bought it at a gunshow a while back pretty cheap and have been working off the years of neglect its had. Its nickel and possibly been renickeled but its flaking in places and had a little surface rust that Ive cleaned off pretty well. I wondered if I could get it blued and what the going rate for that would be? If I cant get it blued maybe renickeled even and what I should do to it before I take it to the gunsmith.

[Old Fuff]

You can't get it blued untill all of the plating is stripped. This is done by reversing the plating process to take the plating off. Once the pistol has been stripped it should be buffed - or better yet, polished by hand. Thereafter it can be either blued or plated. As you can see a lot of work (and therefore money) is involved unless you do the polishing yourself. I prefer elbow grease to paying out bucks.

[mokster]

Thats what I wanted to do,as much of the work myself as I can. Whats the best way to strip off that old nickel plating and what do I use to buff it out and get it all ready?

[Old Fuff]

For help with removing the plating, and to buy refinishing supplies go to:

www.brownells.com

You can also talk to one of their technical people by calling (800) 741-0015 for expert advise.

And see the following link for a thread on hand polishing.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=159165l