Hard Chrome Vest Pocket Autoloader
- Thread starter Mr. Mosin
- Start date
Dave DeLaurant
Member
Not exactly. My first M1903 Pocket Hammerless was electroplate nickeled over a belt-sander polish job when I bought it. I sent it to Ron Mahovsky for a strip and hard chrome, but after he inspected it he called me and recommended electroless nickel as a better choice to hide the pitting and overenthusiastic buffing flaws. I plated this Colt because it reached me in poor condition -- it was basically a salvage job. In addition to refinishing, I had to replace the shot-out barrel, cracked grips and all the springs.
I kept it almost 20 years until I found a couple more examples in better condition -- it belongs to my buddy Bob now. He now has both .32 and .380 barrels for it, and it shoots fine with both.
I wouldn't consider plating any vest pocket Colt or Browning that is in reasonably good condition -- they're pricey nowadays and it would ruin their value.
If you're looking for a more resistant finish on something like this, consider hunting down one of the stainless steel Bauer .25s instead:
en.wikipedia.org
I kept it almost 20 years until I found a couple more examples in better condition -- it belongs to my buddy Bob now. He now has both .32 and .380 barrels for it, and it shoots fine with both.
I wouldn't consider plating any vest pocket Colt or Browning that is in reasonably good condition -- they're pricey nowadays and it would ruin their value.
If you're looking for a more resistant finish on something like this, consider hunting down one of the stainless steel Bauer .25s instead:
Bauer Automatic - Wikipedia
bannockburn
Member
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2007
- Messages
- 26,299
Mr.Mosin
Many years ago I had Ron Mahovsky hard chrome several guns, most notably a Beretta Model 20 and a Model 70 S. I don't have the Model 20 any more but I still have the Model 70 S. After some 40 plus years the gun still looks as good as the day I got it back from Metalife!
If you're looking for a rust resistant finish in a .25 ACP vest pocket pistol, maybe try a Lightweight Baby Browning. The frame is aluminum alloy and the slide and other parts are bright chrome plated over a layer of electroless nickel.
Many years ago I had Ron Mahovsky hard chrome several guns, most notably a Beretta Model 20 and a Model 70 S. I don't have the Model 20 any more but I still have the Model 70 S. After some 40 plus years the gun still looks as good as the day I got it back from Metalife!
If you're looking for a rust resistant finish in a .25 ACP vest pocket pistol, maybe try a Lightweight Baby Browning. The frame is aluminum alloy and the slide and other parts are bright chrome plated over a layer of electroless nickel.
Last edited:
Dave DeLaurant
Member
A couple available at Simpsons right now:
