The nickel-plated revolvers look great brand new or kept shiny but they get dirty fast from lead and other exposure and after awhile you can start to see the copper plate beneath. Then they turn ugly. Comments? Are nickels worth more than SS or blued guns?

They definitely look dirtier than blue guns since the black residue blends better with a dark blue in all the nooks and crannies. I have found nickle guns clean up much faster. The outside surfaces need just a wipe down with an oily rag with mild scrubbing from a nylon brush in a few select areas.I really never use much more than a stiff bristle boar hair 3/4 inch round art brush. I've never worried much about the cylinder face burns, even on stainless guns where you can get aggressive.

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

Nobodys gonna touch this one Joe, LOL I Had a nickel 27-2, 29-2, I have a couple of Springfield Armory 45s in stainless, everything else is blue or was blue, LOL! I like nickle, I like Stainless, but the two Smith revolvers I owned a 627-0, and a 629 Classic Hunter are gone, problems with both, the 629 rear sight channel was milled incorrectly, and when Smith tried to fix it they ruined it, replaced the frame, but very poor crane to frame fit, so they are gone and I Loath the IL, sorry, but it just gripes me every time I see a gorgeous gun with that abomination on there, kinda Un American! but then I am what I am, Billy

I dislike Nickle finish. The look nice but the slightest scratch or ding and solvents can get underneath and slowly destroy the finish.

You can use Flitz on them to shine them back up.

Do not let Hoppes #9 sit on the finish for a extended period , it will cause damage. You can clean the barrel and then clean it out with a dry patch. Break Free CLP works OK on nickle,

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Still Running Against the Wind

I have several and years ago a few more. I havent had trouble with them but admit I never really carried them much and only shot them occasionaly.
Here are my three, a python, trooper and a scout.

I won't own a nickled gun. I don't like their image.

Also, the finish may flake or be damaged by some solvents.

I used to buy blued guns, but have bought stainless when possible for quite some time. Stainless is simply more practical.

That "image" you see is your reflection looking back at you!

Seriously, what is the image of a nickeled gun?

I spit coffee all over the keyboard!

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Memory of Randy Freas-Rimfired

Here is a couple more antiques I used to own. Sure you see a lot of misused junk, but properly cared for they are jewels. Many old ones were nickle for a reason. I never had a nickle or for that matter a blue gun rust on me. On top of that I am NOT a fanatic about cleaning them either. I do simply religiously wipe them down after handeling them. I have two things going for me. I do live in arid country and I dont sweat or have acid sweat as many seem to. Some people only need to touch a gun and it will rust, some like me, not.

A couple of mine: Two old timers and a repro. Also my wife's high gloss stainless. Just for comparisons. The Colt and S & W are original.







All considered, I'd go for polished stainless if buying new. But I still prefer blued steel!

Ditto. When I lived on the beach in SoCal, we had some rust due to the salt air but my sweat is pretty mild. I did have a rifle rust on an elk hunt when I brought it into a mud room from the snow. Cleaned up OK.

A good old fashion non-gel toothpaste works good for cleaning and shine. Flitz and Simichrome work , but I wouldn't use them too often. I cleaned many a dirty trade-in nickeled revolvers with Simichrome if I was gonna display them for show or sale. Plus , Simichrome contains ammonia , which may attack the copper underlayer if there's any nicks or pitts in the nickle top layer.

TS.. I also would ask.. What is the image you imagine ?? Your statement is pretty firm.. curious as to the reason??

Just curious....

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

I can't imagine why anyone would spend their hard earned money on them either. What a waste.

27-2 (5") 15-4 (4") 27-2 ( 3 1/2") 36-1 (3") 19-5 (2 1/2")

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RIP Shipmate

From what I have read years ago indian scouts for the army and the early reservation police were issued nickeled colt saa`s and remingtons. I belive the reason really was because they werent into cleaning them like the soliders were and nickle wont rust as quick. That is my lone theory. Never read that was why, but I belive it.

Yep, Rags, they're pretty as a peacock, but do you shoot em much? They look like wallhangers.

I was under the impression that Smith and Wesson didn't use a copper wash underneath their nickel.

I have a nickel 19-5 that I haven't treated especially gently, that gets carried often. No problems so far.

I've shot 3 of them. Which ones? I have Blue versions of the ones I've shot and they get the most range time. Never thought of hangin' them. Thanks for the idee!

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RIP Shipmate

Ya know boys, I used to kinda shy away from the nickled ones my own self.........

Now in days I'm broke out in 'em, it seams.

Got plans for a nice nickled RM in my older days as well.

A few of my usin' ones,




Why, I've even carry 'em two at a time....Sumtimes.




Image be damn'd....I'm here on business!


Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

Yuh got me hanging my head in shame dave! Beautiful guns!

S&W used a copper substrate in thier very early nickel finishs but quit useing copper in short order. Any newer nickel guns I would say post WW1 do not have a copper substrate. Colt used the copper on thier nickel guns but not on thier satin nickel guns and perhaps thier electroless nickel guns. I like a nickel gun but cleanup is a chore and they do not get shot as often as thier blued brethren.

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Stay safe people!

I am NOT speaking for "Texas Star" but I have heard disparaging remarks about nickle plated guns for many years.

Some guys have referred to them as "pimp guns" or said they look like they "belong on a Tijuana cop."

Again, not speaking for Texas Star or implying that is how he feels, just saying that some people do look down on nickle guns and they do present a preconceived image to some.

When I was a youngin' the old fellers that came around in the evenings to shoot their pistols with my Dad and chew the fat on occasions...
As best as I recall, several carried nickeled pistols and revolvers.

Back before stainless handgun became the rage, a lot of folks carried nickle plated handguns.....

I think it must have been TV and pulp hacks that used nickeled guns to dubious effect in their own plots.

I carry/use 'em purty often now in days...And I ain't never pimped nothing...Except, did have a extra nice runnin' quarter horse stud that we had standing for a spell.

Of course the good General carried one....






So my take on this taint'd image thing, is it's jest a load of horse manure.


Su Amigo,
Dave

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"IN GOD WE TRUST"

"I have two things going for me. I do live in arid country and I dont sweat or have acid sweat as many seem to."


So you telling us, your sweat don't rust? Un huh.

PIMPILICIOUS!!!! J/K

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Sure you did

Here's mine, go good with my diamond sudded bill fold.

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Sure you did

Pretty guns

Attached Images

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I've always swore by blued guns, but one day I was snoopin' in my safe and realized that 6 of them nickel guns had snuck in there.

Worse yet, it occurred to me that I been carryin' one ever day for over a year.

One thing about it, when you see the BG's eyesballs click on that shiny gun, you know you've got his undivided attention.

You're talking about me. I can rust stainless pistols by carrying them, or simply looking their direction. It's a terrible curse

I, also hate nickle.
I love hard chrome.
Blessings

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TEXAS, by GOD

The "image" thing does bother me. If the only way I can get
the gun I want is to buy it in nickel, fine. Otherwise, it's
blue steel for me.
You fellas sure do have some pretty guns, though.
TACC1

Skeeter had a nickel 29 and when I bought my first new Smith I thought why not, so I got a nickel 57. Since then, all of my Smiths are nickel except for one. This is a 58 I had the factory renickel 3 or 4 years ago. It is so pretty I have not fired it since.

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RIP Shipmate

Shoots spectacular.

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It's really blue, I painted it.

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Sure you did

Refer to Gen. Patton's well known comment re pearl grips.

The reason is that I think nickel is too flashy and I identify it with Pancho Villa and other persons whom I wouldn't invite to dinner.

I also won't drive a pimp-style Cadillac. And I prefer basketweave stamping to floral carving on leather.

Of course what I see as a negative image and what someone else does may vary. Tastes aren't the same.
I was appalled at the engraving and gold inlay on Larry Hagman's Purdey (?) shotgun, which was too gaudy and in poor taste by my standards. I prefer traditional scroll and tasteful, precise gold inlays of game birds or animals.

I don't drive red cars, either.

That's all I'd better say here. But I think it gets the point across.

I understand that the FBI used to let agents carry about any model of blued or stainless all steel S&W .38 or .357 revolver, but banned nickel. That didn't surprise me.

Jeff Cooper said that Nickled Guns have an intemadating effect in a combat situation and Jeff Cooper was one of my hero's. (Along with Jack O'Connor on long guns). I still respect both of their views.

Art

If you ever been on the lookin' end of a nickel gun, that hole in the end sure looks bigger than on a blued one.

Actually Patton's quote was "Only a pimp from a cheap New Orleans whorehouse would carry a pearl-handled pistol." And having been is several cheap New Orleans whorehousesAnd from what I'm told, there ain't no such thing as a "cheap" New Orleans Sporting house.

And as far as the FBI not allowing Nickle gund-I think that was J Edgar's call

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Forum consigliere

I stayed clear of nickel guns for years and then finally bought one a year or two ago, a result of an offer I couldn't refuse and I must admit, I do like it. .

Colt Python




Rod

.

LOVE a nice nickel revolver.

HATE cleaning and maintaining them.

A "cloudy" nickel gun is an awful mess, whereas a blue gun with similar wear has "character"

It's an awful double standard I know...

Nope, Hoover was long dead by that time.

As for the man citing Jack O'Connor, I seriously doubt that he owned a nickled gun. Such things gave him what he called "attacks of the vapors." I saw a number of his handguns in a photo, and all were blued. I read his material for 40 years and corresponded with him a number of times, and I'd expect nothing but blued handguns from him.

His opinion of Weatherby style rifles was also less than appreciative. He was the primary champion of the classic look.

Your answer deserves a response.. Thank you for your explanation..
Again civility rears it's head..

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SWCA #2306
DAV in honor of POP

Personal preference and freedom my friends, is what makes America great.

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Memory of Randy Freas-Rimfired

Wasnt there a amish type group in the northeast called "Black bumpers"?
They wanted the convienace of cars so kind of compromised with their simple lifestyle by painting all the chrome black on their vehicles.
Whats wrong with a little bling that I can take off? I dont cover myself with tatts, pierceings and purple mohawks. Dad always said the world would be in trouble if we all wanted the same woman.

i have nickel smiths and i dont see them as anymore difficult to clean...i dont use an ammonia based cleaner and wax the exterior with renaissance wax...no big deal

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

Nickel plate is pretty. (Is it nickle or nickel?) I don't know if it is true, (although it sounds logical) that in the old BP days long before SS nickel guns were more popular then blued due to corroision resistance.

I was in my lgs this morning and they had a Colt trooper w/ a nickel finish in the case for $499. I was reaching for my wallet when my brain kicked in. I already have a detective special in nickel and it's the only gun in my safe I've never shot. For the life of me, I don't know why. Just too pretty I guess.

I have several nickel guns. I like them, with the exception of a Colt with the electroless nickel. The brushed finish get shiney spots way too easy, and makes the finish look kind of ratty. My Model 13 and Gov't Model have been shot a lot and spent years under the seat of cars and trucks and they still look good.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

OK, I stayed out of this discussion back in December. The reason is I prefer nickel to other finishes. Yep, I prefer the nickle finish. I shoot some of my nickel Smiths. I wax them so when I do shoot them, the residue is much easier to clean, and I use Prolix which is safe for nickel finishes. Seriously, I find the finish no worse than a blued finish when it comes to scratches, but again, I like nickel Smiths so I am somewhat prejudiced on this subject. Each to his or her own.