Nickel Plating wanted

[calaverasslim]

I have a close friend that has a break-top 38 S&W that started life nickeled. He wants to have it redone. It has to be in the South, Central part of Texas due to the obvious reasons. We live in the San Antonio area.

Any help will be appreciated.

 

[dfariswheel]

It has to be in the South, Central part of Texas due to the obvious reasons

What obvious reasons??
He's allowed to ship his gun to a firearms refinisher himself using UPS or Fed-Ex and they can ship it back to him.

I don't know of anyone in that area who does good nickel work.
To get a good job he'll need to send it to someone like Cogan or Ford's.

 

[Barry the Bear]

Agreed with the comment above me. Im from the same area and couldnt find anyone reputable.

 

[bannockburn]

I would recommend Ford's Custom Gun Refinishing for the bright nickel plating. My only reservations would be if the gun was too old or in poor condition to be a candidate for replating. The work that needs to be done to get it ready and then replated might be somewhat expensive as well.

Fords is located in Florida but it's not a problem for your friend to ship it to them and for them to ship it back to him when it's done.

 

[CraigC]

I'd be looking for somebody good, with no concern for their location.

I'd also suggest Accurate Plating & Weaponry in Alabama.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

X2 on Fords

 

[StrawHat]

These fellows are recommended by S&W for repairs on the old guns the factory can not work on.

http://www.oldwestgunsmith.com/

 

[Old Fuff]

I agree with StrawHat for a perhaps an unexpected reason.

Depending on what model top-break is involved, they can be very tricky and difficult to disassemble and put back together. Many outfits that do excellent refinishing have little experience with what's required to get them ready for plating.

 

[Steve CT]

I took on having a gun nickel plated several years ago. I got very lucky because my gunsmith did all the disassembly and reassembly, and he sent it out very locally (here in the Hartford, CT area) to USFA. I got great results with I love, but maybe that's because it was all done locally, quickly, and at a good cost.
If I had to send a gun out to be done, I think it would be to Ford's.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Why not send it back to S&W for a new Nickel coat? IMO there's noting better than the orifinal finish but second best is from the manufacturer. The price is right too.
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...4_750001_750051_775657_-1_757896_757896_image

 

[Old Fuff]

Why not send it back to S&W for a new Nickel coat?

They won't touch it because of its age, and the fact that they have no parts. The exact model and serial number has not been presented, but it highly likely it was made sometime in the middle/latter 1800's.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

They won't touch it because of its age, and the fact that they have no parts. The exact model and serial number has not been presented, but it highly likely it was made sometime in the middle/latter 1800's.

Oh, OK... Never mind!

I wasn't suggestion you send it back for warrant work. I was suggestion sending it to the Performance Shop for paid work.