Stripping nickel chrome off the Registered Magnum and re=finishing.updated 9/8/09

Allen-frame · Sep 7, 2009

I have this Registered Magnum. It was chromed sometime in its life. The estimate to restore it was twice what I paid for it and would take a year or more.

I thought if I could find a way to have the nickel stripped and just re-finish it in blue without doing any restoration at this time I could live with it much easier. And then invest in some pre-war magnas for it.

I started the process last month on 8-11 ,my birthday. I will go to see the gun and take pictures tomorrow, as the finish stripping is now complete.

Here are the pictures, before , during , and I will of course post the final result.

And here are the pictures as it was being stripped. Half-denickeled ,so to speak. A very slow ,gentle process so as not to harm the metal.

I will post the results of my meeting tomorrow. Update 9/8/09 :
Went to see George Roghaar and the gun. Very strange how it looks very much like it was nickel ,but in the white. I took some crappy pictures without even wiping it off.

Today I decided to send it to the engraver and have the trademark and lettering cleaned up. This will be costly and take some time, but if well done I am convinced will be well worth the effort.

Here are the last pics as it goes off to the engraver.

This is in the WHITE.

Regards ,,Allen F.

DCWilson · Sep 7, 2009

Allen, that's an interesting project. Can you fill in the details on the de-nickeling process? I know zip about metallurgy and plating technology and couldn't even guess how to begin on something like this.

They sure have to look worse before they get to look better.

diamonback68 · Sep 7, 2009

Hellava project. That'll keep you busy for a while. Know what I mean?

RKmesa · Sep 7, 2009

Great Project

I look forward to the updates!

Muddyboot · Sep 7, 2009

Allen-frame
Can you give a little history on the revolver, is it lettered. How did you find it? serial number, reg number. Thanks

Wyatt Burp · Sep 7, 2009

Allen frame, I'm the guy who wrote a thread asking if it's rude to ask what something cost. I'll leave that at that. But i'm curious about the de'nickleing as I just got a re- nickled 1926 .44 Special. It's a good candidate to bring back to original.

jag312 · Sep 7, 2009

If it was my revolver, I would pay someone like Doug Turnbull to properly restore it. The gun is too special for someone inexperienced to do a restoration that is worthy of the gun.

BruceM · Sep 7, 2009

Stripping nickel from a gun is one of those jobs best left to an expert IMO-especially on a gun if that nature. Any minute specs if nickel left when the piece if placed in the blueing tank will destroy the new finish.

That said, I hope that everything turns out for the best on your restoration.

Bruce

Wyatt Burp · Sep 7, 2009

I've never seen a RM in person. But I love seeing all the ones you guys and gals have. I think this is the first one I'v seen with this type of hammer. All the others seem to have "hump back" hammers. What's the story on this hammer on your "chromed" gun?

2152hq · Sep 7, 2009

That goop dripping off the frame in the 'stripping in progress' pic looks like some stuff I have to do the same process.
I have no idea what mine is concocted of but it does have an ammonia smell to it.
It was gifted to me a long time ago by a gunsmith I once worked for. Used cold, the parts are just left so soak in it till the nickel is gone. Won't touch the steel at all. Sometimes takes a week or more to work and is completely reuseable.
Takes copper and gold off too but won't touch chrome.
Safe but slow, but that's OK with me.

Nice restoration project. Certainly a gun that deserves the work.
A careful, proper polish, the markings picked up and appropriate blue or renickle will bring it back nicely.
The hammer looks worked over but pre-war N frame hammers are around,,though a humpback is going to be pricey if that's what origianlly was on it.

Keep us updated!

added...I'd pull the barrel, hammer and rebound slide studs & front site blade for the stripping process. They'll be removed for the polishing process anyway.

Raider · Sep 7, 2009

I am interested in the de-nickeling/de-chroming process also because I have a couple of guns that need to be returned to their original finish. There seems to be only a handful of people who are qualified to work on firearms.

Looking forward to your next report and photos.

Charlie

wraco · Sep 7, 2009

You guys most likely know this already, but just by chance you all don't, my understanding of a good method of removing nickel or chrome is to have the gun reverse plated. Meaning, the anode and the cathode are reversed. Instead of adding nickel to the gun from the source of nickel, the nickel is removed by plating it back to the source, leaving the gun nickel free without corroding or abrasing the metal.

Regards:
Rod

BruceM · Sep 7, 2009

That's my understanding as to how nickel is removed professionally. It's essentially reverse electroplated.

Bruce

Allen-frame · Sep 8, 2009

Just so you all don't worry, the process is being undertaken by a professional here in Florida. George Roghaar in Boca Raton. He has 18 years practical experience and I've seen examples of his work. It is superb.

Update later today, when I go see George and we determine a direction to go in. Whether to the engraver to have the logo re done, or just bluing.

The gun will not be 'polished' anymore by anyone. It has already been over polished by whomever did the chrome job. All the surfaces need to be put back to their proper angles and flats. This is an involved process undertaken only by the best, like Dave Chicone and his crew.

At this time I only wanted to strip and blue it. To do any more I'd have to sell a couple of guns.

I have no history on the gun. The hammer and trigger are original to the gun but have been extensively re worked to a target configuration. Both very wide and flat, and checkered on the surfaces.

I very much enjoy shooting this wonderful old pre-war magnum. If I spent $1200. on restoration I wouldn't shoot it anymore.

The serial # is 478xx and the registration # stamped in the crane cut is 969. A good guess would be 1936. I believe the barrel is original at 4" ,and does not appear to be modified.

REgards ,,Allen

JOliver · Sep 9, 2009

Great ...I too have done the same in the past and I'm glad that someone is taking the time to post it ...everyone will have thier opinions as they did when I did mine but ...its mine and will always be right here in the safe.
George Roghaar is the same I send all my work too he has done several different guns for me over the years for different reasons and does an EXCELLENT job and is very reasonable on prices...I had a blue Python that I needed nickeled(long story but it was for a good friend of mine that lost his nickel Python and I replaced for him)and I sent it to George.A task that is Nickeling a Python and George did one OUTSTANDING job...I couldn't have been happier and my friend still raves about it years later.
Allen Frame please keep us posted
Jason

bettis1 · Sep 9, 2009

Allen-frame,

Let me encourage you to pause the process for about a month until you have had a chance to get a letter on your gun to see just how it originally shipped. If you are going to go through the cost and trouble of restoring it, it makes sense to put a gun of that quality back as it was originally.

I can make the point by showing you an RM which I received that was a worn and badly done blue. The condition was such that I would have kept it as a shooter only. Roy's letter changed my mind when I learned that it was one of only a few (perhaps only 20-25) non-Registered Magnums which originally shipped as a nickel gun and it went to a State Trooper. I had Gene Williams restore it to the original form.

It is difficult to determine just how badly your gun was refinished. The third picture of the original nickel finish shows that the front of the rib and sight boss is rounded, but later pictures don't indicate that. Even if it has been over polished a little, a good restorer can correctly restore much of the sharpness. I can tell you that that hammer is NOT the original hammer and trigger for a Reg. Mag. When it comes to finding one, it will be difficult but not impossible. You will pay about as much for the hammer as the refinish may cost, but the value of the gun will be raised by the proper hammer.

There are limited reasons and circumstances where restoring makes sense. Returning a badly handled rare gun to better condition is one of them. Refinishing, just for the sake of refinishing isn't necessarily one.

Bob

Allen-frame · Sep 11, 2009

Bob ., on your advice I am pausing the process and requesting a letter. I understand this will take a couple of months as Roy is taking some much deserved time away from issuing letters.

I will start a new, or ,dig up this old thread when I resume the process along with the information garnered from the letter.

If this revolver was originally shipped with a 4 in. barrel ,in 1936, would that make it a very rare variation and worth doing a complete ,all out restoration?

Is this the kind of decision that separates a gun 'accumulator' from a true collector?

Thank you all in advance for your opinions.

Allen

bettis1 · Sep 11, 2009

Allen,

Regarding the question about the rarity of the 4" barrel, I can only tell you that Roy has reported that there were approximately 337 of the Registered Magnums of that length. That represents 6.5% of the total production. I might add though that if that gun originally shipped as a nickel gun, there were only a total of 29 four inch nickel guns made. (That's one reason that I suggested that you get a letter before proceeding.) I don't believe that the breakdown of the barrel length by year is available. If you ask Roy in your letter request, he very well may tell you. He loves these things and has a good bit more information at hand than he did when he wrote his monograph several years ago.

A lot of factors enter into whether or not to do a "full house" restoration. Of course the first factor is the condition of the gun, but that isn't a consideration in this case. Second, I would rank the provenance of the gun. By that, I mean was the gun originally a rare configuration, was it shipped/used by a historic figure, etc. The financial concern is always there also. If the other factors point to a complete restoration, the owner must decide if that is practical in his/her case. Sometimes the better part of valor is to allow someone else to do that project rather than to do it half way with the risk that it might prevent any future complete restoration.

Regarding the cost of restoration, that must be looked at in relation to the gun/item being restored. To put that another way, the cost of returning a common M&P to pristine shape might be very close to doing the same work on a Registered Magnum. However since the M&P value is in the range of several hundred dollars, and that of the RM might be ten times that, it obviously might be worth while in one case and not the other.

Finally, you aren't gonna suck me into that "Collector/Accumulator" argument

. That is in the "eye of the beholder" and I think you should be "comfortable in your own skin".

Bob

Nframe357 · Sep 11, 2009

Allen you have some of the sweetest Smiths my friend! I look forward to seeing your RM post restoration.

RKmesa · Sep 11, 2009

Doing the Right Thing...For Yourself

Allen:

I have followed this discussion with great interest, and I finally have to chime in with my $0.02 (probably not even worth that much).

I agree with Bob on this matter but I have a slightly different perspective. I am glad that you are taking the time to discover a bit more about the history of the gun that you have. If it were my pre-war 357, I would fork over the cash and get it done right, not because someone else wanted me to, BUT because if I did not, every time I took it out of my safe I would feel the need to apologize - to myself, and to whomever I was showing it too, for doing only half of the job. I have always appreciated Bob's nickel Non-RM and the effort/craftsmanship that went into restoring that beauty. When he displays it, there are no apologies, only an explanation of the effort that went into the gun and justified pride in a job well done.

You're already in up to your waist. Take the plunge and make it the prized piece of your collection! GO FOR IT!

I look forward to your next installment...

Stripping nickel chrome off the Registered Magnum and re=finishing.updated 9/8/09

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