M41: nickeled or hard-chromed?

VictorLouis · #1 10-04-2021, 10:15 PM

Dates to late '69 production, with 6-digit s/n and cocking indicator.
I figured I don't have to worry too much about my acidity, and having
to wipe it down carefully each and every time.

I took a bunch of pics, but I'll just post these 5.

What's your learned guess?

John F. · #2 10-04-2021, 11:02 PM

Hardchrome to me... in certain light, some electroless nickel has a slightly gold-ish tone, vs. stainless steel appearance of hard chrome. With
pistol in hand, I could probably tell you with a high degree of confidence.
Just playing the odds, hard-chrome is more likely, too, in my experience.

Nice pistola!!
John

M29since14 · #3 10-05-2021, 09:17 AM

I agree with John F. - can’t tell from the photos, but I am betting electroless nickel. For a Model 41 normally used indoors, I think I would prefer electroless nickel, but it’s hard to beat industrial chrome if expertly applied. Either way, certainly a “different” Model 41. Apologies for contributing to the thread drift.

VictorLouis · #4 10-07-2021, 12:09 PM

My inattention lead me to put my OP as a reply to some other members unrelated post. Thanks to the mod Tom who moved it. SOme more....

CH4 · #5 10-07-2021, 12:29 PM

Looks hard chromed to my eye. Hard chrome is more white where E nickel has a yellowish tint.

Here's one of my 1911s with E nickel finish.

glenwolde · #6 10-07-2021, 01:45 PM

I'm going with Electroless Nickel. Unless they bead blasted it before they chromed it. EN has more of a matte finish, chrome is usually bit smoother. The 41's are usually polished up pretty good.

Color is so hard to discern digitally.

Mike, SC Hunter · #7 10-07-2021, 01:58 PM

That is FANTASTIC!!!!........Wish mine wuz like dat.

minconrevo · #8 10-07-2021, 02:37 PM

HC finish mimics the smoothness of the finish to which it is applied. If smooth, then it looks smooth. I can't venture a solid guess if it's EN or HC simply due to not having it in hand.

Looks like the slide sides of the 41 are polished somewhat smooth. The frame and slide top is lightly bead/sand blasted. About what a 41 is finished as it leaves the S&W factory.

Tom_R · #9 10-07-2021, 04:30 PM

Hard Chrome.

My favorite finish for an old school pistol like that.

It looks excellent.

chief38 · #10 10-07-2021, 05:02 PM

To me it looks like Electroless Nickel but it's hard to tell from the pic's. If you can find out who did the job, they could probably tell you from the serial number.

wproct · #11 10-07-2021, 05:13 PM

Don't know what it is, but I love it! Would love to have one just like it.

mag318 · #12 10-07-2021, 05:30 PM

I think its Hard Chrome, but whatever the finish it looks fantastic. Whoever did the plating did a very good job.

TOM BECKWITH · #13 10-07-2021, 07:29 PM

Have an AF 5" 46 that is EN and looks about same finish. Have had it and used it when hunting for 50 years, and still looks 98%+

Exaviator · #14 10-07-2021, 08:13 PM

I can't comment on the kind of finish other than to say it looks great...

bph9 · #15 10-08-2021, 07:36 AM

Look inside the barrel as only Elect. Nickle will adhere to the inside of something like a barrel and Chrome will not.

VictorLouis · #16 10-08-2021, 10:54 AM

BPH, how on earth would you be able to tell in the barrel, with shadow, and light, and all that?

sceva · #17 10-08-2021, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bph9

Look inside the barrel as only Elect. Nickle will adhere to the inside of something like a barrel and Chrome will not.

I did not know this. I wonder how they did Chrome lined barrels then? ( Rifles and Shotguns)

I like this Mod 41, The only thing I would have done differently is that I would have asked them to mask the front sight so it stayed black.

Jim Watson · #18 10-08-2021, 11:23 AM

Right, I would want a black front sight on even a plated target pistol.

There was a store near here that had a plated M41 and several other guns you would not normally expect to see with a plated finish. The dealer maintained they were special order, not aftermarket; but since I wasn't buying, I did not push for paperwork.

505Gibbs · #19 10-08-2021, 11:45 AM

Here's one of John Nowlin's hard chromed 45's. Obviously, the side of the slide was polished afterwards.

Jim Watson · #20 10-08-2021, 03:18 PM

The slide flats were undoubtedly polished first. Plating is THIN and does not cover flaws and cannot be polished much.

Wolfie4570 · #21 10-09-2021, 01:14 PM

It's hard chrome, if fact I think it's my old gun. Traded it off back in the 90's in Phoenix. Great looking, but a jam o matic with anything other than Ely match ammo.

stansdds · #22 10-09-2021, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wolfie4570

It's hard chrome, if fact I think it's my old gun. Traded it off back in the 90's in Phoenix. Great looking, but a jam o matic with anything other than Ely match ammo.

If so, wow! Small world.

Drm50 · #23 10-10-2021, 10:21 AM

If I caught somebody near my handguns with some shiny finish, I would put their paws in a vice and tighten with a cheater bar. I know of two cases, both Colt target guns that were tack drivers before plated and not afterwards. A Woodsman Match & Goldcup. Might be ok for service type handgun.

WR Moore · #24 10-10-2021, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bph9

Look inside the barrel as only Elect. Nickle will adhere to the inside of something like a barrel and Chrome will not.

Where have you been that you haven't noticed all the shotgun/AR bores that are hard chromed? They may need to put an anode/cathode down the bore, but it's still done on a regular basis.