Were S&W Model 52s ever made with factory nickel finish?

[Florey55]

All,

I've seen a handful of nickel S&W 52s listed on GunsAmerica, GiunsInternational with what is claimed to be factory nickel finish?

Surely not ! Why would S&W make a target handgun with shiny, light-reflecting finish?

 

[Sevens]

This is gonna be the old "never say never!" but basically... it is safe to say that no, S&W never made a 52 of any engineering change in factory nickel.

 

[Aussie Collector]

I've seen a couple claimed to be factory nickel for sale in Australia. They all turned out to be aftermarket nickel after I checked them out.
Regardless they look good.
I would buy the one you are referring to but the fact is I have one 52 (no dash) two 52-1s and a few 52-2s.
If you don't have a 52 buy it as a shooter as it's very cheap.

 

[AJ]

This is gonna be the old "never say never!" but basically... it is safe to say that no, S&W never made a 52 of any engineering change in factory nickel.

Believeth Sevens, he know whence he speaks. Someone always likes bright and shiny things and tries to make them so........Had a nickeled P08 Luger one time, got it at a good price and then stripped the nickel off it and parkerized it. Looked much better that way and when I tired of it , sold it for twice what I had in it as a shooter.

 

[gmborkovic]

Has anybody asked Mr. Jinks? He is here to help us with questions like this and has a phenomenal memory.

 

[gmborkovic]

Mr. Jinks has never lettered a factory nickel mod-52. Which does not mean one does not exist. If a factory nickel was ordered, extra attention would have been paid to the close tolerances. Would nickel on nickel surfaces hold up like steel on steel?

 

[stansdds]

I guess nickel on nickel works well enough, plenty of Colt Coltguard 1911's worked fine, nickel plated S&W 39, 39-2, 59, X39, and X59's were made, never heard of an issue. Were any Model 52's ordered with a nickel finish? Who knows? It was not a catalog option, but I would think a special order with payment and S&W would have made one.

 

[gmborkovic]

Stan, Im right with you. Their may be a few out there, but none have been lettered. Back then cash spoke volumes. I dont believe the other autos held the tolerances that the 52 required. Was the Colt Coltguard plating the high gloss like the S&W? Or like that dull electroless they used? later, Mike

 

[stansdds]

Coltguard was a matte finish and no, Colt's 1911's were generally not made to tight tolerances.

 

[gmborkovic]

Stan, help my old memory. Did Colt make nickel plated Gold Cup match autos?

 

[stansdds]

Stan, help my old memory. Did Colt make nickel plated Gold Cup match autos?

From what I understand, some were made with a nickel finish before Colt started making 1911's in stainless steel.

 

[AJ]

Stan, help my old memory. Did Colt make nickel plated Gold Cup match autos?

From what I understand, some were made with a nickel finish before Colt started making 1911's in stainless steel.

According to the Blue Book, it states "Add 10% if satin nickel" in the Series 70 Gold Cup section. So there must be a few out there.

 

[gmborkovic]

AJ, thanks. My old gin soaked brain is not as bad as I thought.

 

[AJ]

AJ, thanks. My old gin soaked brain is not as bad as I thought.

You are welcome.