Nickel Plating: Where do you stand?

[mattw]

I do not like nickel plated handguns. I just want to see how this poll goes so I know wether to shut my mouth or wether there are more people that feel the way I do about this type of finish.

[Technosavant]

You need an option for "not my gun."

Is it too flashy? It can be, but then, at times it can also be classy (BBQ gun?). It also serves a purpose- protection against the elements.

If I were to nickel-plate something, I would probably do it to a nice S&W L or N frame or to a nice original-pattern 1911A1. But I doubt I would intend to put that kind of plating on a gun intended for pure self-defensive duties, but the thing would sure work for it.

[mattw]

It is just a general question. If you think it can be classy then you should vote classy. I think there are better finishes for protection against the elements, like NP3.

[Kimber1911_06238]

not a big fan of nickel plated sissy pistols...just too flashy for my style. I prefer discrete....

[Nomad, 2nd]

I spent QUITE a few hours bead blasting a 1911... when I parked it I found a few spots I had missed.

Almost done...

(Will black park. it again when I'm finished.)

[ugaarguy]

Depends on the gun. On early S&Ws its gorgeous, and your options back then were blued, parked, or nickel. On a cheap no-name gun its pretty tacky.

[Redhat]

I like it on the Colt .38 Super Gov't Model's

[chipp]

I have a nickel palted sissy mod 37 airweight j frame. Or am I the sissy?
Anyway I bought it 20 years aggo really wanted a blued gun. they didn't have one and I opted for the nickel. alot of pocket carry its held up real well.
Can't complain.
I preferr black.

[.41Dave]

Anyone who would think these S&W revolvers are "tacky" or "sissy guns" is probably the kind of person that would bring a Glock to a barbeque!

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid202/pdff5740f6edb1e4fa855500064ab0ce7/efbbbfe5.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid208/p1971271a0ac05e67aaf75c5ff87ff29b/ee49b0cb.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid214/p830a8c00039a3de2a68b51623a91c577/ecfd9722.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid194/p027f14a05401053d33f99d5ed20ec123/f1740d9b.jpg

[115grfmj]

neither classy nor tacky. I had a rifle I loved (but was blued)bead blasted and plated, to make it weather proof. So I would say since it serves a purpose on a real working gun, it would be utilitarian.

[doubleg]

Where are all these barbeques taking place. I sure am feeling left out. :D

[g5reality]

.41Dave,

Sweet:)

[10-Ring]

I'm not a fan of really shiny guns - I'd go matte or bead blasted...but to each his own :cool:

[orionengnr]

Don't see the point.

Blued S&W revolvers are classy.
Stainless S&W revolvers are classy.

But to me, nickel plating is...how do I say this nicely?

Pimp-y? :uhoh:

[chipp]

Pimpy? you really cracked me up. I keep thinking of ths seen in resident evil
where the guy has 2 gold plated desert eagles and is afraid to use them.

<is probably the kind of person that would bring a Glock to a barbeque!>

Can someone explain this to me I don't get it. I want to. but I don't.

[AndyC]

I'm not a fan of really shiny guns - I'd go matte or bead blasted...but to each his own :cool:
Likewise

[GRIZ22]

I didn't like nickel plated guns until I bought one with intent of trading it off . After shooting it and carrying it I wound up keeping it.

A lot of you guys are too young to remember that once upon a time a nickel plated gun was the only answer to a rust resistant finish before stainless guns really came in the late 70s early 80s.

[Starter52]

chipp:

I'm told "BBQ guns" are fancy-looking handguns of the type someone would bring to a Texas barbeque.

Of course, no one would ever say a Glock was a "fancy-looking" gun.

As for why someone would bring a gun to a BBQ, I don't get it, either. It must be a Southern thing. :evil:

[greener]

My mom sort of liked nickel plated revolvers.

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n159/greener6/billnpete1946.jpg

http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n159/greener6/DSC02290.jpg

Still shoots well, but needs a bit of touching up on the plating.

[chipp]

starter52 Thanks I thought I was missing something.

[pete f]

Grizz has the right idea.

It was not meant to be flashy, pimpy, or otherwise subversive.

It was a way for people who needed a gun to be rust resistant and not effected by holsters(tanning compounds) moisture or otherwise poor condition. Something like 40 percent of Colt SAA's were nickeled, Most of the good condition SAA's you find are nickeled as they have fought the elements better than blue or color cased.

I have a 5 digit SAA that still has the "frontier six shooter" logo etched into the nickel.

Electroless satin nickel is a great way to make a good carry gun protected from the elements and body oils/sweat.

There is a big difference between the plating on a jennings and what you see on a factory pre-series 70 1911 or a 60's Python.

[Shell Shucker]

Pimp-y..... Thanks for the laugh! My pimp-y gun would include pearl handles!:D

[.41Dave]

oops, double post!

[.41Dave]

Can someone explain this to me I don't get it. I want to. but I don't.
chipp, a barbeque gun is like putting on your best suit. You get dressed up to go to your neighbors barbeque (Texas and Arizona mainly) with your best shootin iron on your hip. A barbeque gun is simply your prettiest gun in your nicest leather. Most barbeque guns are S&W or Colt revolvers or 1911s, but do not have to be. Finish should be polished stainless, blue, or nickel. Grips should be nice wood, ivory or stag. Engraving is optional, precious metals are acceptable in small, tasteful quantities. A gold plated gun is wrong. Pearl grips are wrong. Pimp guns are not BBQ guns.

As for why someone would bring a gun to a BBQ, I don't get it, either. It must be a Southern thing.

Starter52, apparently they do not have proper barbeques in your area. You have my sympathies.:evil:

[-terry]

Not shiny nickle, but satin nickle. It's gorgeous (IMO).
-terry

[Bob M.]

::::Wipes drool from chin:::::

...Those are some really nice Smiths. :)

[pete f]

A BBQ gun is a showpiece, a high class gun worn at holiday barbecue or politcal gathering in the southern tradition.


As to why wear a gun to a BBQ, some of us never leave the house unarmed, must be a 2nd Amendment kind of thing.

[USAFA06STX]

While I personally do not perfer nickel plated guns, I won't knock someone if that is what they prefer and I expect them to extend the same courtesy towards my preference for blued (or black) guns. As long as the owner is happy with their choice I see no harm in it because in the end the only person who's preference matters is the owner.

[frez]

Greener, is your mom pointing the gun at your dad? Violating 1st safety rule was it?

[SaxonPig]

I like nickel. When it starts to flake and peel it looks awful, worse than a worn blued gun. But when in good shape I find it very attractive and own a fair number of shiny guns.

Here are a few:

http://www.fototime.com/831063D7EC68C09/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/C23369EF8F1D4F9/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/5882584D5CB015F/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/71199A966EA7B3E/standard.jpg

http://www.fototime.com/626965F061549D7/standard.jpg

[mainmech48]

In terms of function, there is a case to be made for nickel on at least a couple of points. Where the argument breaks down is when it drifts into aesthetics-highly subjective and predicated on personal tastes.

From a functional standpoint I favor the processes which utilize an electrochemical bond with the base material over those where it's essentially mechanical, as it is in 'traditional' electroplating.

Even where no substrate material such as copper is used, the adhesion of the traditional electroplated finishes is relatively tenuous and peeling/flaking can result from nearly microscopic defects in the surface finish due to the infiltration of moisture, solvents or oils. Their practicality as an aftermarket option on machinery with typically close and critical tolerances, such as firearms, is limited to a great extent by the comparatively large dimensional changes inherent in the process and the difficulty in obtaining uniform application to all surfaces, IMO.

The 'electroless' processes offer vastly improved adhesion, more easily controlled uniformity of application, and better longterm resistance to both corrosion and wear. However, it is almost impossible to get the true 'mirror' finish found on articles using the older processes. It can come close when applied over a first-rate polishing job, but any surface imperfections will be easily seen as the contrast will be emphasized rather than hidden. IMO, that's a primary reason why most factory and aftermarket electroless finishes are generally applied over a 'brushed' or 'bead blasted' surface.

I have a couple of handguns with some form of proprietary electroless finish on them. While I don't know the exact compositions, there seems to be little difference in how well they've held up under use so far as there's been virtually no deterioration from either corrosion or wear under extended firing and carry. My Star M-43 has their "Starvel", my full-sized EAA Witness their "Wonderfinish", and an older Colt "Combat Commander" has straight electroless nickel. I also have an old customized S&W 1917 with Armolloy and a Keltec P-11 with the 'hard chrome' slide. All of them are holding up just dandy. The only thing I have with the 'traditional' mirror finish is a replica 1858 Remington .44. It's holding up well so far with limited use, too. The main reason that I use my blued replicas more often is that the way light reflects off of the nickeled one makes it tougher to shoot well as the 'sights' virtually disappear even in relatively overcast conditions.

Won't offer an opinion as far as 'decorative' value goes. All I can say is that those who like the flashy mirror finish find it to be the sort of thing they like, and if that's the way they roll - Roll On!

[gandog56]

Don't like nickel finishes, but do like the kind of stainless steel used on Ruger P-Series pistols. They don't show any fingerprints like a blued pistol, and don't get scratched like plated or shiny stainless finishes.

[browningguy]

Nickel plating can look good.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/jcm9371/Pistols/1971Browning.jpg

[mrcpu]

It's just personal choice.

One of my 1911's I'm going to get plated just to have a "contrast" with the others. But I like 'em both.

[mattw]

Greener, is your mom pointing the gun at your dad? Violating 1st safety rule was it?

Yeah let's travel back in time to 1946 and scold them!

[Cocked & Locked]

I think it's OK to have a few for attending BBQ's, Church Picnics, Deacon's Meetings and such...

http://pic14.picturetrail.com/VOL523/3082611/6259637/166278259.jpg

http://pic14.picturetrail.com/VOL523/3082611/6259637/227550030.jpg

http://pic14.picturetrail.com/VOL523/3082611/9381895/193409822.jpg

http://pic14.picturetrail.com/VOL523/3082611/9381895/145674100.jpg

http://pic14.picturetrail.com/VOL523/3082611/9381895/219223803.jpg

http://pic14.picturetrail.com/VOL523/3082611/9381895/219218728.jpg

http://pic14.picturetrail.com/VOL523/3082611/9381895/227551233.jpg

:cool:

[Dirty Bob]

I've had the slide of a P-11 nickeled. I carry IWB in the appendix position, and I had to oil the gun every single day, yet I still had occasional rust stains on my undershirt in summer. The nickel job ended that problem.

I like it!

Dirty Bob

[1BLINDREF]

:what: :what: Cocked & Locked
I think you have all of your social events covered just fine! :D
Sweet collection :cool:

[Marshall]

It looks very nice when cared for, when not, it's about the ugliest there is.

[Rod B]

Another vote for "satin" nickle.

[Rodgerp]

I've hesitated to post this but here goes:
I picked this 1903 Colt up in November. Made in 1920. It had about70% finish. I figured that since nickle was a factory option in those days it wouldn't be too much of a sacriledge. Ahlmans did the work.

Even with a frosted bore and teeny weeny sights it is one of my most accurate handguns.

(That's not a three digit serial #, I blotted out the last three.)
The photo's are not the best but you get the idea.

[AndyC]

Yikes, all the shiny guns in this thread - who's got the Visine? ;)

[Pistol Toter]

I think there are better finishes for protection against the elements, like NP3.

In the day it was most popular, that was not the case. It was the most corrosion finish available. The classic blue was and still is troublsome unless properly cared for. Stainless guns did not exist as well as many of the Buck Rogers / newer finishes like Tennifer, etc. Today, the people that desire Nickel finishes are the older folkes who can remember seeing them as they were and are often collectors, like myself.

My grandmother had an old .38 S&W not a .38 Spl. that laid under her pillow. My family was visiting, we lived in another state, and one Saturday morning she was making her bed when I grabbed the gun and ran into my gradparents living room. My Dad, my uncle and my Granddad where all there. My Granddad just stood up and said, "Let me see what you have there, Tommy." I surrendered the gun and went on about playing, never knowing what I done. That .38 was the most beautiful nickle finish and it caught that 5yr old eye. The gun is long gone, who knows where; but I'd give a pretty penny for it now, 50 yeras latter.

That reflection is or maybe the thoughts of many who desire what you now consider "TACKKY".

NO SMITH & WESSON IS TACKKY ESPECIALLY THE OLD ONES!!!
Regards Pistol Toter

[Soybomb]

I don't think it looks either way, it looks functional.

[NORTEXED]

I have always loved the Satin on my Commander, and after 30 years, it has held up great.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v368/NORTEXED/MVC-006S.jpg

[Eyesac]

I. Hate. Nickel. Plating.

[MCgunner]

Comes down to it, I prefer stainless steel, but I have a nickeled .357 Magnum. I don't think of any .357 Magnum as a "sissy" gun. :D

I think I'll find some pearlite grips for that nickeled gun. :evil:

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=45344&d=1159140177

[larry starling]

Satin Nickle any day looks great. Like on this.....
http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n202/larry0810/Project120.png
When done correctly it's hard to beat.;)

[tbtrout]

Definately tacky

[wcwhitey]

Some guns just look good with a Nickel finish. Some guns don't. I like the BBQ gun concept. Most of my guns are well cared for shooters, but I think everyone should have at least one showpiece. My personal preference is for deep blue and rich wood but Nickel is in no way tacky. Some beautiful photo's, nice collections. Bill

[rbernie]

The CZ75 looks mighty fine in satin nickel (middle row).

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=47959&d=1163648334

[XavierBreath]

Nickel guns are also appropriate for crawdad boils, and party barge launchings.

http://www.bayourovers.com/ClarkCustomColtSeries701911LEFT.jpg

http://www.bayourovers.com/SmithWessonModel19-4LEFT8788.jpg

http://www.bayourovers.com/NickelModel10-5SnubbieRIGHT.jpg

http://www.bayourovers.com/Smithandwessonmilitarypolicestag.jpg

[4fingermick]

I've never been overly sold on nickle plated guns, but rcently had a No4 I didn't want and swapped it for a NIB Armi San Marco Colt clone in 44/40, a calibre I use a lot. It is a pretty classy looking piece and not unlike my Vaquero in 44mag, but has a gold undertone which naturally is not present in the ss ruger.

[kentucky_smith]

Needs flitzed, but this is the most accurate handgun I own.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=45927&d=1160085894

This one's not too bad either. Need to take them outside sometime for pics. The old Smith nickel with the gold cast to it is sweet.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=45579&d=1159571399

[delta53]

I have my USPs slides nickel plated with a high polish with the internals NP3
I find them very easy to clean just wipe off, the only – I have seen is racking the slide can be a little harder they can be slick

[tinygnat219]

I have a couple of older Smith and Wesson Nickel plated guns and they are beautiful. If you don't like it, don't have it done and don't buy the models that you do see plated.

[Gustav]

YES nickel is SO NICE!
Some of us have the ability to turn blueing into rust by touching it or looking at it enter nickel or stainless steel.:eek:
Makes the ordinary extraordinary and the best way to highlight fancy engraving IMHO.:D
I vote YES!

[Mat, not doormat]

Something about a nickel plated Government Model, in .38 Super... Just has a certain air of elegance to it that a blued or parked .45 can't match. I don't even own one. Maybe something to look for?

~~~Mat

[Ala Dan]

but, a memory of long ago; before the stainless steel craze that begin in 1965.

BTW and FWIW, the S&W model 60 in .38 Special was the first handgun ever manufactuered in stainless steel; introduced in
1965 and saw a limited amount of service during the remainder
of the Viet-Nam War.

[BigG]

The big Model 29 S&W is right handsome in factory nickel. As some have pointed out, it was the more durable finish offered before the Stainless Steel guns came out sometime in the 80s.

[makarovnik]

It looks nice on a single action revolver, 1911a1 or maybe even a Walther PPK. It's very durable for it's thickness. Some people don't want their combat pistols to pick up that much light or glare though. Also be careful if you have to strip it as nickel dust is very dangerous stuff.

[ravencon]

Nickel? No, thank you.

[absolute0]

On the right gun I think it looks absolutely stunning, as several previous posters have demonstrated.

[Lonestar49]

...

Just last week, I put a deposit down on a Sig P220st Two-tone. It was different in both looks, to my other guns, all black, or the one P232 SL (stainless) and it was slightly longer, and 3/4" taller, because of the Grip, than my P229 carry 9mm.

I went the other day, to take some pics of it next to my 9mm Carry, when my eye caught a new Sig P220R in the display case. It had the Black Nitron finish along with the Sig Night Sights, but the slide release lever, slide lock, hammer, decocker, and trigger where nickel finish.

Never seen a Sig P220R quite like it (yet) and I compared to to the smaller Two-tone 220st, and also noticed how much thinner the barrel was in width, as well. Seemed like I had enough CCW pistols at hand, so I decided to go with the full size P220R 45, instead of the smaller Two-Tone and can't wait to add it to my collection, let along shoot it.


my 2 cents



LS

[Oldskoolfan]

It doesnt look to shabby on some guns in my opinion. I like my HKs just the way they are.