Wear patterns of gold plate, Smith & Wesson revolvers

mrcvs · Oct 21, 2023

I have two examples that are gold plated and I xhibit wear to the gold plating. Both shipped in the year 1904.

Both these examples letter as factory engraved. This first example, a Model of 1903, does not letter as gold plated. In my sample size of two, the next example which does letter as gold plated, the area under the gold plating, as worn, is oxidized (rust). In comparison, any areas worn on this Model of 1903, appears to show nickel plating. The letter simply describes the revolver as special order Grade 4 engraving and part of the special order, as per the letter, was probably the mother of pearl stocks and the gold plating. I’m not convinced this was the case, unless it was the practice, especially if needed in short order, to take a stock nickel Model of 1903, as ready for retail sale, and engrave it and then gold plate it???

mrcvs · Oct 21, 2023

In contrast, here’s a .32 Safety Hammerless revolver, which letters as engraved AND DOES LETTER as gold plated, also having shipped in 1904. You can see, as previously stated, any areas of gold plate loss demonstrates oxidation/rust. I can see no evidence of nickel plating beneath the gold plating.

mrcvs · Oct 21, 2023

And so, any comments are welcome. Was it standard practice to apply gold plating 12 decades ago to a no finish revolver? Is the nickel plating beneath the gold plating irrefutable evidence that this revolver left the factory nickel plated and the gold plating was applied later, probably by the distributor? The lack of a finish in the letter is unusual, as most letters describe the type of finish. Maybe this does support the hypothesis that the special ordered part relative to this revolver is the gold plating?

Or, is there actually nickel plating beneath the gold plating of the Safety Hammerless revolver and it’s just not evident due to wear and subsequent oxidation in a humid climate? Or, in times of dire need, could a revolver be engraved and gold plated atop a nickel finish, this being unusual unless only a finished revolver was available for a unique rush order?

I suppose that a discourse of how gold plating was applied to Smith & Wesson revolvers around the turn of the Twentieth Century would be helpful. Something I don’t have a very good knowledge of, at this time, but I’m confident that the readership of this forum, individually, or collectively, may be able to provide insight.

2152hq · Oct 22, 2023

It may have been aftermarket Gold plated over Factory Nickel.

I know nothing of what the S&W factory did as far as plating.
I can only add this..that I used to use a plating shop in MA that had been in business for just about 100yrs before being recently bought out by another larger plater (from out of state IIRC).

When I used the older shop for plating on occasion, the owner told be that they Nickel plated under both finish plating of Silver and Gold.
I was surprised when I heard that and asked him about the idea of the copper plating often said to be done under any of those. He said that copper plate was the first step over the raw steel,,then nickel.
Then Silver or Gold over that Nickel if that was what was wanted as a final plate.

Did that same shop do it that way 100yrs ago?,,Don't know.

They did a fantastic job on the pieces I sent them and never a complaint.

(Seems like I read or saw where Nickel is also plated under Chrome as well. At least w/decorative chrome plating)

That's about all I know 'cause that's all I was told!
I would guess that like most finishing, there are several ways to get to the same final effect.

mrcvs · Oct 22, 2023

2152hq said:
It may have been aftermarket Gold plated over Factory Nickel.

I know nothing of what the S&W factory did as far as plating.
I can only add this..that I used to use a plating shop in MA that had been in business for just about 100yrs before being recently bought out by another larger plater (from out of state IIRC).

When I used the older shop for plating on occasion, the owner told be that they Nickel plated under both finish plating of Silver and Gold.
I was surprised when I heard that and asked him about the idea of the copper plating often said to be done under any of those. He said that copper plate was the first step over the raw steel,,then nickel.
Then Silver or Gold over that Nickel if that was what was wanted as a final plate.

Did that same shop do it that way 100yrs ago?,,Don't know.

They did a fantastic job on the pieces I sent them and never a complaint.

(Seems like I read or saw where Nickel is also plated under Chrome as well. At least w/decorative chrome plating)

That's about all I know 'cause that's all I was told!
I would guess that like most finishing, there are several ways to get to the same final effect.

I don’t know, that’s why I asked.

The Safety Hammerless revolver might show ever so little nickel between gold plate and iron oxide, maybe, and it might be nickel, I’m not sure. I don’t see copper at all, but this would be expected between the gold and raw steel.

To me, that revolver seems to be gold plate on a revolver “in the white”. Is this possible—IF that’s not nickel plating under the gold plating?

jareds06 · Oct 22, 2023

2152hq said:
When I used the older shop for plating on occasion, the owner told be that they Nickel plated under both finish plating of Silver and Gold.
I was surprised when I heard that and asked him about the idea of the copper plating often said to be done under any of those. He said that copper plate was the first step over the raw steel,,then nickel.
Then Silver or Gold over that Nickel if that was what was wanted as a final plate.
.

This is also what I've heard/been told as to achieving a good gold/silver plate. first copper and then nickel plate, then finally gold or silver plating.

Aussie Collector · Oct 22, 2023

I don't know S&W process.
I believe copper reduces tarnish and nickel improved the bond.
Here is a link that confirms what I said..
How Gold Electroplating Is Done - Sharretts Plating Company

mrcvs · Oct 22, 2023

Okay, so all of this does not disprove that the gold plating found on the Model of 1903 was not factory work. I guess we will never know for sure, then, as exactly what the special order consisted of is open to interpretation, except the factory letter states that the gold plating was probably factory work.

mrcvs · Oct 23, 2023

Looking at these photographs again—there is nickel on the hinge pin and the gold plate was applied over this. So this revolver was nickel plated like all the rest would have been prior to gold plating.

So, then, if I surmise correctly, any gold plated Smith & Wesson revolver from that time frame was a stock nickel revolver that might have been engraved and then was gold plated.

The Safety Hammerless revolver was as such and letters to this effect. The Model of 1903 probably was as such and also letters to this effect.

Wear patterns of gold plate, Smith & Wesson revolvers

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