Nickel Plating My Model 14

h8rsMadEf4mou5 · #1 12-10-2012, 01:29 AM

I just bought a very good cond. Model 14-4. I am looking to put a "bright nickel plat. finish" on it, and was wondering where I could go/send it to for that. I heard S&W do NOT do the bright/mirror nickel finish, and was wondering if that was true, and/or where I could send it to to get it done the way I want it. Thanks in advance.

Oh, and its a late 70's, 6in, sqbutt .38 spl for those of you in here like myself, who dont know serials. I'll try to find my digital camera and snap some pics.. shes def. pretty thing.

h8rsMadEf4mou5 · #2 12-10-2012, 01:52 AM

Some pictures...qualities not that great, I could only find my cheap camera.

TexasRider · #3 12-10-2012, 02:23 AM

I have thought about the same thing. On a 14 and or a 17. But I knew on the 17 no dash it wasnt going to be a recommended procedure. I like the bright guns though.

Yep I am new convert here to the SW Forum. While I have had a few Smiths , I had many more Colts. But a big Colt sale just went on

and I am concentrating on the Smiths now.

If Smith does not do the finishing then I would think Fords would be the next very best option.

BUFF · #4 12-10-2012, 05:27 AM

Call S&W's service department this morning and ask. 1-800-781-8300.

That already looks like a pretty nice gun.

h8rsMadEf4mou5 · #5 12-10-2012, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasRider

I have thought about the same thing. On a 14 and or a 17. But I knew on the 17 no dash it wasnt going to be a recommended procedure. I like the bright guns though.

Yep I am new convert here to the SW Forum. While I have had a few Smiths , I had many more Colts. But a big Colt sale just went on

and I am concentrating on the Smiths now.

If Smith does not do the finishing then I would think Fords would be the next very best option.

Welcome to the forum! Hope you enjoy your stay here. I just called S&W first thing earlier this morning and they said that they DO in fact nickel plate to a bright, mirror finish.

So this is good news, S&W does offer this. However.....the gentleman I was talking to said it would probably take around 2 months and run me towards $300 something by the time it was all said and done.

So it looks like I have an option but if there is any place I can send it to to get it done cheaper or faster..or even both lol I am open to suggestions. "A penny saved is a penny earned."

-DO you have any more info on this Fords establishment you were referring to? If anyone has any other/more info regarding a good place to get my 14 refinished Im all ears.

TexasRider · #6 12-10-2012, 02:33 PM

Thank you for your Welcome.

Fords is widely recognized as one of the top finishers, if not the top refinisher. There are a great many S&W owners that have guns done there and there may be (used to be) some before and after pics of various jobs etc.

Ford's Custom Gun Refinishing - Ford's Desert Eagle Sights

I just clicked it and it is Full though. It might be worth calling them though. I am not sure what their costs are now.

I had a couple of older Colts done and it came out great. On at least one of them, when I sold two Colts one which was refinished and one not, the buyer wanted to tell me it was NOT refinished but the other one (Not) was refinished.

Duke426 · #7 12-10-2012, 09:53 PM

From many reports on this forum, you will NOT get it done any faster at Ford's. In fact it will most likely be a much longer turn around time than the 2 months estimated by S&W. Likely not much cheaper either.

By almost all accounts, Ford's does top notch work but their customer service leaves much to be desired.

Let S&W do it and I"m certain you will be happy.

Moonman · #8 12-10-2012, 10:21 PM

If S&W will will do it, let em'.

Ford's won't be cheaper and it wii probably take a year.

S&W should send you a pick up slip that will save you on shipping,
you'll be going to factory and factory to you.

Otherwise you're going FFL to FFL (factory).

OR You OVERNIGHT AIR Fed Ex or UPS about $75 one way to factory
on your own.

Talk to S&W and let them Hook You Up, it will be cheaper in the long run.

nipster · #9 12-10-2012, 10:22 PM

Last person I talked to that had Fords do work said it took them over a year. Work was top notch. But apparently there are only so many hours in a day and all that.

DAinTX · #10 12-10-2012, 10:59 PM

Personally, I'd go with S&W. I had Ford's refinish an 1894 Winchester a few years ago and they dished the screw holes on the left side of the receiver. Probably a rare mistake on their part, but that was my experience.

feralmerril · #11 12-11-2012, 01:00 AM

Just for the record about 30 years ago I bought a brand new model 14 that was bright nickle. I thought they were never cataloged. After I bought it you could see 14 stamped over 15 in the crane. I should have kept that one!

TexasRider · #12 12-11-2012, 02:55 AM

I was thinking of having S&W do mine originally. I would much prefer that to Fords. I just posted Fords as an alternative. I realize all of these independent shops have ups and downs. I have seen good work from Fords, and have heard of less than good too.

I have had a least two different shops keep my guns for a LONG time, like a year , and like 2 years so I am keenly aware of this. I would much prefer S&W do the work. Both for original manufacturer and for timing.

I once asked one of the parts sellers for Winchester parts and he told me that a lot of parts are sold when guns go in for "refinish work" as parts are lost and mispalced. Made me think about it.

One of us will post up what we find out from S&W.

h8rsMadEf4mou5 · #13 12-11-2012, 07:21 PM

Wow, "missing parts" from refinishing and smith work? 2 years waiting? Even more expensive? Sounds like horror stories to me. I guess I will just go ahead and send it to S&W and have them do it...

I was going to do this to one of my other pistols about a year ago but decided against it, looking into it again, almost makes me reconsider, but I really want this thing done.

I really want to do to my 14-4 what this guy did to his-

Smith & Wesson model 14-4 Nickel .38 Special revolver - YouTube

Jim NNN · #14 12-11-2012, 08:05 PM

Okay, I guess I'm missing something here - nobody has yet tried to talk the OP out of this unwise course of action. My personal interpretation of "she's def. a pretty thing" is that the finish is in good condition. If that's true, and the finish is original, then I think it would be a shame to put a new finish on a classic Smith when the old one is good. And invest several hundred dollars in something that may decrease it's current value. It's hard for me to tell from the rather grainy pics the quality of the finish.

Maybe taking that $300 and adding another $200 would buy a decent second revo with a nickle finish. If the gun has been refinished, then I guess it doesn't matter.

Regardless, good luck in your endeavor, as I believe everyone should do with their own property as they please. Enjoy your gun.

h8rsMadEf4mou5 · #15 12-11-2012, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim NNN

Okay, I guess I'm missing something here - nobody has yet tried to talk the OP out of this unwise course of action. My personal interpretation of "she's def. a pretty thing" is that the finish is in good condition. If that's true, and the finish is original, then I think it would be a shame to put a new finish on a classic Smith when the old one is good. And invest several hundred dollars in something that may decrease it's current value. It's hard for me to tell from the rather grainy pics the quality of the finish.

Maybe taking that $300 and adding another $200 would buy a decent second revo with a nickle finish. If the gun has been refinished, then I guess it doesn't matter.

Regardless, good luck in your endeavor, as I believe everyone should do with their own property as they please. Enjoy your gun.

I am sorry, I should have specified.... when I bought this I checked it extensively, and the gentleman at the gunshow even let me remove the grips and "peek under the hood" One of the very first things I had noticed was that this HAD in fact been refinished. That is the only reason why I am not leaving as is.

Although the bluing is very nice and looks almost perfect minus some very small and hard to see spotting < you cant notice it unless you hold it up to your face in the light or sun.> It DOES have some holster wear on the end of the barrel just barely. All in all like I said, very, very good condition. However since it has been reblued I do not think it will take a hit to the value to refinish in a heavy mirror nickel.

If it was still the original blue I wouldnt even think of it, :P but its been refinished <no frame wear or anything> and has some minor problems, however hard to notice. Once again sorry for not clarifying.

pharmer · #16 12-11-2012, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h8rsMadEf4mou5

However since it has been reblued I do not think it will take a hit to the value to refinish in a heavy mirror nickel.

Let's say you paid $250 for the gun. You spend $300 for the nickel. You will then have a nice $350 gun. Value is where you put it. Joe

Jim NNN · #17 12-11-2012, 10:28 PM

If the finish isn't original, then it's a non-issue. It's only a matter of investment vs. value.

Though I like blued better than stainless, I do think a nickle finish on a model 14 would be cool.

kamloops67 · #18 12-11-2012, 10:49 PM

do whatever blows your hair back man, seriously what are we talking here? a couple few hundred bucks?you could blow that in a weekend and have nothing but memories to show for it ! shes been refinished so all bets are off from any purists point of view . id be interested to see how this turns out. i vote yes for shiny!