Just to add to the cacophony of opinions:

Firearm Plating -Mahovsky's Metalife

If you can negotiate the price a bit lower ($300-$350) and wait for its return (probably 6 months), you could have a very nice (reliable, corrosion resistant and hopefully accurate) handgun for a reasonable price (~ $500) and with the satisfaction of having saved an ugly gun from the dustbin of obscurity.