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S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 3-Screw PINNED Barrel SWING-OUT Cylinder Hand Ejectors WITH Model Numbers


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  #1  
Old 03-07-2012, 10:19 AM
*chris* *chris* is offline
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Anyone try home nickel plating? Anyone try home nickel plating? Anyone try home nickel plating? Anyone try home nickel plating? Anyone try home nickel plating?  
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Default Anyone try home nickel plating?

I have a model 10 heavy barrel with the typical wear on the barrel and some freckling. I was thinking about picking up a Caswell nickel plating kit and giving home plating a try. Has anyone done this? What were the results?

I wonder how far I would have to take the gun apart, should I unpin and unscrew the barrel?

Chris
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Old 03-07-2012, 10:57 AM
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diamonback68 diamonback68 is offline
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Don't know about the plating kit, but don't even think about removing the barrel.
You do know you'll have to completely strip the gun of the old finish first.
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Last edited by diamonback68; 03-07-2012 at 11:07 AM.
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Old 03-07-2012, 12:02 PM
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Default Hi Chris

Hi Chris,
Here is a 1911 that I plated years ago w/ Caswell kit. Just the lower, the slide is factory plated and new to the gun.
This gun has seen a ton of severe service and the plating is still good. After the Argentine army retired it I plated and checkered it. It has served as a bullseye pistol twice. Then as a carry/IPSC single stack gun. Then as a heavy load comp gun for pins, re-tuned and used as a steel plate gun with light loads, and then set up again as a bowling pin comp gun where I blew the rails out of the old soft slide. It sat around in a box of parts and I just put it together a couple of weeks ago. The patch on the dust cover hide the holes drilled for the once used C-More sight
I have shot the dickens out of it and the plating is tough as woodpecker lips.
I also did a 94 Winchester. One of those with the sintered receiver that specks up so bad. The walnut and barrel blue were good and after I plated the receiver I thought it was a cool looking gun.
Next up was a Russian bullseyegun. It was a project with poor results. I prepped everything like I did on the first two jobs but it came out looking worse than the Russian finish.
It is kind of fun to monkey with.
Good luck if you try
Thanks
Mike

Last edited by mstuhr; 03-07-2012 at 12:10 PM. Reason: spelling/error
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Old 03-07-2012, 02:13 PM
*chris* *chris* is offline
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Looks good, did you do the electro-plated nickel or the electroless nickel process?

If I want a mirror like finish like a Colt Python, do I need the electro-plated process?

Additionally, is removing a barrel from an older gun an impossibility?

Chris
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Old 03-07-2012, 02:32 PM
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Default Howdy

Hi Chris,
I just looked in my library and can't find the book that came with that stuff.
You might look on line. They had a lot of good info and told how much build up for how long in the tank kind of stuff.
I used the electroless nickel.
As far as taking barrels off, it happens all the time.
I have done it maybe 20 times. Mostly, it is easily done. I did run in to a 27-2 bbl that was silver soldered on from the factory. It was a reddish looking solder of some kind.
I'd read all you can before you start any project. The internet is your friend.
Good luck
Mike
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Old 03-07-2012, 02:38 PM
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diamonback68 diamonback68 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by *chris* View Post

Additionally, is removing a barrel from an older gun an impossibility?

Chris
No, it isn't impossible on any revolver, but to remove and reinstall a barrel I would suggest you have all the proper tools and clamp devices, which are not cheap and are available from either Brownells or Numrich, can't remember which.
If you try the old "vise and hammer handle" method, you stand a good chance of warping/twisting the frame.
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Old 07-25-2017, 12:57 AM
azdave35 azdave35 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mstuhr View Post
Hi Chris,
Here is a 1911 that I plated years ago w/ Caswell kit. Just the lower, the slide is factory plated and new to the gun.
This gun has seen a ton of severe service and the plating is still good. After the Argentine army retired it I plated and checkered it. It has served as a bullseye pistol twice. Then as a carry/IPSC single stack gun. Then as a heavy load comp gun for pins, re-tuned and used as a steel plate gun with light loads, and then set up again as a bowling pin comp gun where I blew the rails out of the old soft slide. It sat around in a box of parts and I just put it together a couple of weeks ago. The patch on the dust cover hide the holes drilled for the once used C-More sight
I have shot the dickens out of it and the plating is tough as woodpecker lips.
I also did a 94 Winchester. One of those with the sintered receiver that specks up so bad. The walnut and barrel blue were good and after I plated the receiver I thought it was a cool looking gun.
Next up was a Russian bullseyegun. It was a project with poor results. I prepped everything like I did on the first two jobs but it came out looking worse than the Russian finish.
It is kind of fun to monkey with.
Good luck if you try
Thanks
Mike
mike..i just have a question...when you plated your 1911 frame...did you tank plate or brush plate?
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1911, brownells, bullseye, colt, ipsc, model 10, russian, walnut, winchester

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