Hard Chrome for Colt

you don't want to chrome a gun, if you shoot it it will turn a bright blue color.

chrome doesn't have a very high heat tollerance, thats why they nickel plate guns instead of chroming them.

Yes, refinishing it will harm the value, except in rare cases where the finish is almost completely gone.
That said, you will never recoup the cost of the refinish, regardless.
My rule of thumb is I refinish guns only when the continued use of the firearm in the manner I wish to use it will, or is likely to, result in actual damage to the workings of the arm. I have a Sig P220 that is close to that now. Almost no finish left on the slide from years of carry in all weather conditions.
That said, a little holster wear on a DS I see as a badge of honor from actual use. I would not refinish such an arm.
That said, it is your gun to use and enjoy how you see fit. If you see it as an investment, do not refinish. If you see it as a tool or toy, do what will bring you the most use and pleasure.

Ro1911 said:

you don't want to chrome a gun, if you shoot it it will turn a bright blue color.

chrome doesn't have a very high heat tollerance, thats why they nickel plate guns instead of chroming them.

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Not so much with Hard Chrome. Gives it more of a matte stainless look, and does not react to heat, at least not on the guns I have seen, and I owned a S&W M38 that had this finish.

I still wouldn't use chrome hard or not, I've seen to many "chrome pimp guns" that turned out to be a bright blue.

The pimps usually think that the blue is cooler any way.

If you took it to a place that does electroplating you could get it done in nickel and it would probably add to the resale value.

still wouldn't use chrome hard or not, I've seen to many "chrome pimp guns" that turned out to be a bright blue.

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Hard Chrome is a VERY good, and rust and wear resistant gun finish. This is definitely NOT the bright bumper chrome type finish you are thinking of.

EDIT TO ADD: Check out this website for hard chrome examples and info

http://www.mahovskysmetalife.com/Metalife Finish Page 2.htm

I've shot the heck out of a bunch of my pistols that were eventually refinished in HC (Tripp in my case), and none of them have turned blue.

I once had a Hensley & Gibbs 4 cavity gang mold for casting 230 grain .45ACP bullets hard chromed.
It cast a LOT of bullets, and while the finish is slightly discolored with grayish areas, it's not a blue color.

Having your Colt hard chromed plated will "probably" lower the value. However, if the finish is worn, it has no real collector value so hard chroming it may actually raise the value to a potential buyer who likes hard chrome.

One advantage, you can carry and shoot the gun for years with no further deterioration of the gun.

^ This.

If you are planning on keeping it and carrying it, hard chrome is an excellent option. I have seen several hundred hard use, hard chromed guns and have never seen this "bluing" effect reported above, so I would not be deterred by this poster's experience - something must have been wrong with the plating process in that case, methinks.

HTH,

vanfunk

Man listen to dfariswheel !
I still have Hard Chromed revolvers from the late 70s that look pretty darn good after being to hell and back for 30 years. A good plater puts them back together sweet also. I couldn't think of anything sweeter than a 70s Dick Special hard Chromed by Metal life or Tripps.

you don't want to chrome a gun, if you shoot it it will turn a bright blue color.

chrome doesn't have a very high heat tollerance, thats why they nickel plate guns instead of chroming them.

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Pure nonsense. Learn the difference between the industrial hard chrome used as a firearms finish and cheap decorative bumper chrome.

Personally, I really like hard chrome. It offers a very high surface hardness, is very resistant to wear, is virtually impervious to corrosion, offers increased lubricity and is very easy to clean up. Had this one done, among other things, about 12yrs ago.

Satin nickel on the left, matte hard chrome on the right.

you don't want to chrome a gun, if you shoot it it will turn a bright blue color.

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Somebody's been watching too many episodes of "Sons of Guns". A revolver isn't a WWI vintage machine gun and it would be nearly impossible to get it to a temperature that would even remotely affect the chrome by simply firing it.

Do you want a gun to collect or to use. Any refinish will about destroy collector value.

IMHO, I don't like shiny guns for carry. I always felt that at night I might as well carry a neon sign with an arrow pointing at me as carry a nickel or chrome gun. But to each his own.

Jim

An already finish worn DS is not a rare item, nor is it likely to soar in collector value. Refinish if you like. It's a 400-500 buck gun as it is. You can throw 200-300 at it to refinish it. It will still be a 400-500 buck gun. The worst is you are out a couple hundred $$, but you will have what you want...I say go for it.

Personally, I love shiny guns. I don't see what it matters for a CC piece. By the time the rubber hits the road and I have to pull it out, I could care less if my intended target sees it flash in the night. Once it's gone that far, the next flash he sees could be from the muzzle.

Have you ever checked out this finish option? http://www.robarguns.com/precision_coatings.htm
Just thinking this might make it better than chrome

NP3 is excellent and well-proven. It's nickel and teflon based so it is very corrosion resistant and slick. Although it won't be as hard and won't wear as long as hard chrome. Everything is a compromise of sorts.

IMHO, I don't like shiny guns for carry. I always felt that at night I might as well carry a neon sign with an arrow pointing at me as carry a nickel or chrome gun. But to each his own.

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Ever wear a white shirt?

I would not do it.

But it is not like there are not a bunch of 3rd generation Detective Specials.

Depending on the wear of the blue, it might lower the value...which only matters if you decide to sell it.

If it is a keeper...chrome away.

Go with the brushed hard chrome. Better looking than the matte but certainly not shiny. Looks like nice Stainless steel. A good HC job smooths it up and lasts indefintely with little maintainence.

I would definitely recommend hard chrome plating, especially for a CCW. I have had a number of guns refinished by Ron Mahovsky, and after years of use, both at the range and out in the field, they all still look as new as the day I got them back from him. A high quality finish that will last a very long time, and will look great doing it.

My hard chromed Python done around 1980

Top: Tripp/ Bottom-whoever Les Baer is using. Tripp is getting out of the HC business and moving back to Central Texas to consentrate on his new adjustable sights and his magazines.

if you bob the hammer render the weapon DAO.

To not have a secure way to decock is dangerous.

I don't think you can go wrong with c&s