Gentlemen...

I have a late 1960s blued Model 10 standard barrel I am considering having hard chromed. This gun is 98% and a current shooter. I would like to have a better finish on it than the blue. Is hard chrome my best bet for a long-lasting, low-maintenance finish (I clean every time I shoot)?

Good afternoon, sir.
Well, to me, if you have a 60's Model 10 in 98% condition, I assume the bluing is flawless, right? The bluing on those guns is gorgeous and pretty much manteinance free, just a little cleaning is all that's needed.

IMHO, chroming it would only ruin its value.

You own an iconic firearm as is. A first-class handgun which is a piece of history and considered one of the best revolvers ever made.

I would leave it as is. But that's just a personal opinion, of course.

Have had several done in hard chrome and was very happy. The finish wears like iron.

I would never hard chrome a blued gun unless the blueing was very poor, or you were going to use the gun in harsh conditions. If you clean you gun after shooting, the bluing should last a lifetime.

I have hard chromed a CZ's upper and the results are very durable. But that was a poly coated gun, not blued.

The bluing is almost flawless, yes. That's just the thing. I don't want to ruin the bluing since it's going to be a shooter. Not a beater gun, but a shooter. This is also the gun that rides in my car as a protection piece, stoked as it is with 158 grain LSWCHP. It's going to get holster wear, which is honest wear, but I'd almost rather it stayed as perfect as possible.

I've toyed with the idea of leaving it original. It's a beautiful piece.

Do you clean and maintain as normal? I use Breakfree CLP or M-Pro 7 on about everything I own. I clean and lube after every trip to the range.

Had a Det. Spl. and a Walther PP or Mauser HSc, can't remember which, hard chromed as I used them for backup guns when on the PD. Usually just wiped them down with a silicone cloth and they were fine. Colt was in an ankle holster and the other gun rode in the inside breast pocket of my cruiser jacket when I wore it.

Hard chrome is the best gun finish to my mind. But I would never HC a blue gun in excellent condition. Just maintain the blue. If it shows excess wear 10 years from now then revisit the HC.

Sir, I understand your feelings completely.
This is my Model 10:



I've definitely shot it more in 5 months than it was shot in its 27 years of life.
I loathe the idea of scratching it, I even clean it gently as not to wear off the bluing. But I don't want it to be a safe queen either.

My solution was to end up buying another handgun for defensive duty. Inexpensive, not particularly pretty, to use with no fear of it wearing out.

I thought "ok, it's ok if I wear this revolver out, it'll give it character". Pff, lies. I'm OCD and I cannot do that.

Anyway... Tough choice. If I were you I'd look into maybe getting another piece instead of the chroming.

Be safe.

Hard chrome is THE finish imo.

Never warmed to the poly's out there, Cerakote, Duracoat/bake, etc. They do wear off, and rather rapidly if you're packing them in leather or God forbid, kydex. There are some other bonded finishes such as NIB-X and Fail Zero (nickel boron basically) that produce outstanding wear resistance.

On the other foot, your Mod 10, if kept oiled, is a pretty freaking good finish in blue. Have had several over the years, I live in the salty humidity of South Louisiana, and haven't had any rust problems.

Your gun, your choice. But if I was finishing anything with anything, I'd go hard chrome.

Thank you to everyone for their thoughts on this. I'm leaning hard chrome, but will take some time to consider it before doing so, because it's permanent. I don't have safe queens and I don't collect, so any inherent value in my guns is purely their practical use and reliability. I do want my sons to get my firearms down the road, however, and in working condition.

Thanks for posting this question. I have a 10-10 and am thinking of taking it to Metaloy for a finish. Its in no way the 98% finish of yours though. It's my "money pit" gun that I happily keep doing work to.