opinion on nickel plated firearms

Status
Not open for further replies.
Pancho said:
What I really want is a stainless Remingtion pocket pistol but I haven't found a company that makes one so I might settle for nickel plate. I've never owned a nickel plated gun so I would appreciate comments.
Click to expand...
I thought they were purdy enough to snag up. :D

Pockets002.jpg
 
You might want to check the frames on some of the nickel plated guns with a magnate. They could be brass underneath. The barrel & cylinder will be steel but the frame might be brass and not hold up.
 
Probably OK for the 31s but I've never owned a 31 cal so no experience there. I was thinking of some of those shiny nickel or gold plated fancified Colt style 44s that are sold for exorbitant prices that look like someone's idea of civil war bling.
 
Many of the Italian replicas with a nickle finish are brass frames. If you do not over load them they are fine. Some are steel frames but you need a magnet to be sure. Harsh cleaning solvents can cause problems with the nickle plate lifting so exercise caution when cleaning.

Caswell makes nickle plating kits that do work very well if your inclined to DIY.

Nickle plated brass frame 1858 Buffalo.
nickrem02.jpg

Electroless nickle plated steel frame Colt.
nickle01.jpg
nickle03.jpg

I have the Caswell nickle kit and a revolver ready to plate, just need to do it.
 
I'm always concerned that silver or nickel plating will flake or peel in spots here or there. I don't have any proof that this would happen and IF it is done right perhaps it won't but it would be a big concern. For now I stick with polished SS.
 
I would just be weary of shooting real BP in a nickeled gun; I restored an Iver Johnson which I had renickeled:

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=483081&highlight=iver+johnson

And after shooting some 30 round with real black powder, when cleaning I noticed some kind of stain or decoloration on the cylinder that I couldn't remove. So I have retired the little gun, the damage is barely perceptible, but I don't want it to progress. Maybe I didn't clean it fast enough, I don't know. I guess if I had used 777 it would have been safe.

Like someone else said in the thread, stay away from modern lead & copper removers, they will harm the nickel. I'd stick to water, soap and a brush.
 
Tomahawk674 said:
I would just be weary of shooting real BP in a nickeled gun; I restored an Iver Johnson which I had renickeled:

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=483081&highlight=iver+johnson

And after shooting some 30 round with real black powder, when cleaning I noticed some kind of stain or decoloration on the cylinder that I couldn't remove. So I have retired the little gun, the damage is barely perceptible, but I don't want it to progress. Maybe I didn't clean it fast enough, I don't know. I guess if I had used 777 it would have been safe.

Like someone else said in the thread, stay away from modern lead & copper removers, they will harm the nickel. I'd stick to water, soap and a brush.
Click to expand...
Pockets003.jpg

Hmmm... I wonder if that's some of what I may have going on with this one? Just forward of the trigger and just below the cylinder.

I haven't fired either of mine yet, but one of them has been fired by the previous owner, and he uses BP exclusively... and cleans with Ballistol (no water).

Nothing I'm upset with... but I'm gonna be extra cautious with them.
 
There must be different processes or methods for applying the nickel which affects how durable it ends up being and how it looks.
The nickeled Traditions rifles have a matte finish that's extremely durable and I doubt if that would ever peel or crack like the Italian revolvers sometimes do that have the glossy nickel finish.
They seem like two whole different results having different characteristics and levels of quality.
I once saw a fancy Pietta 1860 Army nickel model for sale at the Traditions company store that had a lot of flaked off plating missing. It was either a defective factory second or a return I guess.
But the nickel finish on their Spanish made rifles really seems to be nothing short of phenomenal. Even the bore is coated with it and it seems to last.
So it's hard to believe that the same methods are being used when the 2 nickel finishes don't even look the same.
 
Last edited:
I was able to clean some black powder stains off a nickel plated pistol useing chrome polish ......it cleaned up good as new .
 
No one sells a nickel plated steel pocket remington as far as I know, if you REALLY wanted one just have a steel one plated. If you deblue and polish the gun, then plating it won't be that expensive.
 
PH0409 Dixie New Model Pocket Remington Nickel Plated $220.00
New Model Pocket Remington has 2 piece grips, European walnut stock with a nickel frame. The barrel is a .31 caliber, nickel plated, tapered octagon. 1 in 30" twist. Comes with a nickel plated blade front sight and a V-groove in top strap. Features nickel plated furniture, nickel plated cylinder pin and loading lever. Nickel plated hammer and trigger. Manufactured by Pietta/Italy. THIS PRODUCT CANNOT BE SHIPPED TO NEW JERSEY OR CANADA.
 
'Uberti' made or maybe still makes a stainless Steel Remongton 'New Model' .44 Cap and Ball Revolver ( often mistakenly called '1858' Models ).


I just got an unknown age used one recently, and am very happy with it.
 
Oh no...me too!!!


Funny...and I even kinda sorta read it more than once and still got things screwed up...


Lol...


Sorry OP...no idea about 'Pocket Pistols', I have the 'New Model permenently impressed into my Brain...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

N
  • Locked
mixing n matching colt navies?
Replies
6
Views
1K
Native shooter
N
R
  • Locked
Nickel Plated Question
Replies
11
Views
2K
Kurt
K
C
  • Locked
changing my brass frame
Replies
7
Views
2K
Busyhands94
B
F
  • Locked
Nickel plating? Scrap nickel
Replies
6
Views
1K
Chawbaccer
C
E
  • Locked
Home Plating a Pair of Remington Pocket Pistols
Replies
21
Views
2K
lackluster dave
L
Back
Top