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Old 10-18-2011, 11:07 AM
LazyKB LazyKB is offline
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Default I wish I had a nickel.....

Most of my guns are blue. I do own a couple of stainless rifles and handguns, but I have never owned a nickel plated firearm. Recently I was tempted by a nickel model 58.

What are the advantages/disadvantages of nickel and are there differences in the care and feeding?
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Old 10-20-2011, 05:07 AM
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chief38 chief38 is online now
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Default Nickel guns

Other than flashy cosmetics, I see no advantage of a Nickel gun over blue or stainless. They usually either peel, chip or discolor somewhere down the line, and they are a little more difficult to clean (more caution with brushes and chemicals are required). Nickel is harder to shoot in the sun light because of the reflections, parts and screws are more difficult to get, and with Nickel there is NO touching-up as you can do to a blue or stainless gun.

I have culled my collection down to 3 Nickeled guns, which is a very small percentage of my collection. Two are Colt SAA's with Stag Grips and the 3rd. is an inherited M36 (when my Dad passed). Other than that I stick to Blue, and will go to Stainless for dedicated carry guns.

Chief38
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Old 10-20-2011, 08:47 AM
gkitch gkitch is offline
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Default five thoughts

1. Nickle is more resistant to corrosion than blue. Until the advent of Stainless (1966) revolvers it was a better way to go if one lived in the humid South, carried close to the body, etc. During the Black Powder era it was quite popular as a much more durable finish as compared to the delicate blueings of the period.
2. Some who use handguns in a non-military/hunting capacity predict to be in situations where they do not WANT to actually shoot somebody. In such situations cooperation or flight of an adversary is, perhaps, more likely if your gun is highly visible and CLEARLY a gun. Indeed, a big nickle magnum revolver stocked with hollowpoints is far from subtle when we begin a game of Sgt Simon Says. One does not want to lose this game.
3. On a few guns, it just looks great.
4. Nickle is a little easier to clean up than blue.
5. Once stainless versions of popular guns became widely available, the need for nickle was significantly reduced. The appeal of nickle declined as well.
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Old 10-20-2011, 09:51 AM
rhetlaw rhetlaw is offline
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Default Nickel 58

Barbouka, I too am being tempted by that same model 58 that tempted you. It appears to me that the front sight has had a file taken to it. It it weren't for that, I believe I would be bidding.
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colt, m36, military, saa, sig arms, stag

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