Idle 1st model question

delcrossv · #1 03-01-2021, 11:54 PM

For those early 1st, 1st's that still have the silver plate, do collectors remove the tarnish or leave them tarnished?

(all the ones I've ever seen the silver plate is gone- hence the idleness of the question, but I imagine there may be some with the plating)

iby · #2 03-02-2021, 01:28 AM

The one I have is kind of polished where you would handle it but it is dark in the protected areas. That is how it came to me 7 or 8 years ago. Who knows whether it was polished before in 160 years, but it does not show it.

mrcvs · #3 03-02-2021, 05:47 AM

Polishing would use abrasives, albeit mild ones. You polish too many times, the silver plate is eventually gone. Plus, the tarnish provides an aesthetically pleasing patina. Lastly, if you polish it, it will eventually tarnish again, meaning repolishing is required, leading to potential wear to the silver plate.

And so, leave it as is.

glowe · #4 03-02-2021, 09:36 AM

I learned from others that a polished gun often looks "too new" and that is something that collectors do not expect. In the case of those like yours with 100% silver plate look like they were re-plated likely lowering value and many collectors would not want them. I am all about cleaning up guns and doing what is necessary to make sure the finish is protective and not removed. Patina is fine and expected on silver that is 170 years old and putting a new car shine on your revolver will only lower its value and collector appeal.

H Richard · #5 03-02-2021, 10:16 AM

That is one reason I bought the 1, 1, 3rd I had. It was an auction locally and was so black no one else recognized what it was. I couldn't stand it that bad so I put a coat of renaissance wax on it which polished it up some, but it was better protected.

iby · #6 03-02-2021, 03:13 PM

I have never polished my pistol and the finish has not tarnished much if any since I got it. I have applied R-Wax
It is not re-plated.

first-model · #7 03-02-2021, 03:24 PM

I agree with the sentiments about not polishing the gun. It's tempting, but it removes the patina of age (and it removes a very small amount of the original plating).

Mike

delcrossv · #8 03-02-2021, 10:26 PM

I wonder about using chemical converters. Supposedly no abrasives, but I do get the "it looks too new" issue.

merl67 · #9 03-02-2021, 11:56 PM

For me it kinda depends on the rest of the gun, and the color of the tarnished silver. Say if you had one the barrel and cylinder was just about perfect. I might be tempted if the tarnish was completely black, but the silver plate was perfectly intact. Now if Silver was the color of some of my Morgan, and my Peace Silver dollars which is a rainbow color I absolutely would not touch it. Then again I might not touch it at all. Since I am not likely to acquire such an example not much of a chance of me having to make that call. I do have a decent 2nd model with quite a bit of Silver remaining I have not touched it as it looks "right".