nickel or blued?

[Allist816]

What's a more durable finish on the CZ-83? One with the nickel finish or one with the high gloss blued finish? I read on one forum that a guy bought a CZ with the nickel finish and when he got it home he saw that some of the finish was coming off. He said the gun was new and unused. Can the nickel finish come off? How easily would a high gloss blued finish rust?

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Nickel plating is more wear- and corrosion-resistant than bluing, but not nearly as durable as stainless steel or the various aftermarket platings. As for the solitary report of nickel coming off, if it happened at all, it was either not plated properly or had cleaner containing copper solvent left on it for a long period of time. (Proper nickel plating has copper plating underneath, to give the nickel something to adhere to. Copper solvents will penetrate the porous nickel, attack the copper and cause the platings to lift off.) I would be guided by whatever you prefer the appearance of. And IMO there is no need for a personal defense handgun to have a nonreflective finish.