There's a M19-3 on GI that the seller believes is not nickel but a hard chrome finish. I don't know much but I've never heard of this type of finish. Could he be mistaken and it's actually nickel or could this be an after market finish?
Hard Chrome finish???
- Thread starter GSP Fan
- Start date
Lots of aftermarket hard chrome finishes out there. Without pictures, we can't say what it is. But it could very well be hard chrome. Nickel is much more shiny, if that helps. Also, if the hammer, trigger and extractor star are plated, you can be sure it is not factory work.
SquarePizza
Member
Hard chrome is extremely durable, I have had the internals of my J frame chromed and if I were to do it over again I would have sent in the entire gun.
.38SuperMan
Member
If you want it to shoot hard chrome is excellent. As a collectors item it’s not. I have a custom 45 I had built 30 years ago and shot USPSA with it for years. I can’t even guess how many times it’s been in and out of a leather holster and it shows absolutely no wear.
Mine is brushed chrome but it’s available in high polish and bead blasted finish. In my opinion is rather have hard chrome over nickel or stainless.
The term hard chrome is used because there were other versions of chrome like black chrome that’s soft and not very durable.
Please excuse the down and dirty photo. The chrome is very neutral in color.
Mine is brushed chrome but it’s available in high polish and bead blasted finish. In my opinion is rather have hard chrome over nickel or stainless.
The term hard chrome is used because there were other versions of chrome like black chrome that’s soft and not very durable.
Please excuse the down and dirty photo. The chrome is very neutral in color.
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hkcavalier
US Veteran
Shooters in hard chrome are terrific. Unless they're customs by Behlert or Jovino, et al, they're not collectible, but how else are you going to get a finish that durable on an older S&W?
minconrevo
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Shooters in well done hard chrome are a great low wear choice. The hard chrome finish will mirror the state of the metal beneath it. Matte will be matte, etc. If the gun shows some care was done in the metal prep, such as matte along the sighting surface, that's a good sign. HC is thin; only a couple 10,000" Can't recommend a HC front or rear sight blade. Should not HC springs. Cannot HC aluminum.
I just took a look at that item. If that's hard chrome, it's a version I've never seen, and I've seen a few. I suspect it's really an aftermarket nickel, but that's just me. Too "clean" looking for original nickel, too shiny for hard chrome. Only way to be sure is in-person inspection, and for the almost $1200 he wants I doubt most people will take a chance. (Probably double what it's worth, give or take a few $.)
$1200 for a refinished model 19 is out there. Maybe a like new in box factory pinned and recessed 4" at today's high prices, but wow.
I had my '70 Series Gold Cup refinished in hard chrome by the now gone Checkmate in Florida...I specified the rounds in matte and the flats in high polish...It came back to me as requested and I could shave and comb my hair in the flats...After a couple of decades of everyday carry there are a few minor scratches, and it now resides in the custody of an old friend who knows and will preserve its history...
...Ben
...BenAttachments
If the price is right, a hard chromed firearm makes a great field firearm. Hard chrome provides the hardest surface and most corrosion resistant surface you can put on a firearm. S&W firearms were available in blue or nickle, they never used hard chrome, so that would be an aftermarket finish. I would not pay any sort of collector price for a refinished firearm.
gwpercle
Member
For a shooter or carrier ... Hard Chrome isn't a bad thing .
Very durable and some look like stainless steel .
Has a trigger shoe ...belonged to an older shooter ...SWEET !
If the price was right I would be all over that one .
Gary
Very durable and some look like stainless steel .
Has a trigger shoe ...belonged to an older shooter ...SWEET !
If the price was right I would be all over that one .
Gary
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Thanks to everyone here I appreciate your input. I want a M19 to shoot but also retain it's value. This handgun bug is fairly new to me but I've been shooting Parker's and Pre64 M70's for a long time so I know originality and condition are everything. I was suspect that this wasn't the original finish but wasn't sure. I think $1200 is to much for a redone gun even if it is durable. I'll keep looking
My Python was hard chromed back in the 80’s to be a working gun. Still perfect.
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sae, I LOVE your Python ! This post has reminded me. There's a well-loved M19 here at a LGS that would simply shine in hard-chrome, no pun intended.
Maybe I need to go make an offer, LOL.
Maybe I need to go make an offer, LOL.
Targets Guy
US Veteran
I bought a 1941 BSR on the chance it was nickel. Ended up being one of my best learning experiences as a gun owner. It was in fact chromed and it had the cylinder reamed out to accept .38 Specials (originally it was a blued, 38SW BSR). It also had a .38 special barrel put on it. The issue for me was it would accept both .38SW and .38 specials but the cylinder didn't like turning with .38 specials in it and the barrel trimmed off lead from the .38SW's. So I bought a Victory barrel and had an outfit in Omaha chrome it. So I ended up with a 1941, chromed, .38SW. It is a pretty good shooter. The chrome finish is great.
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seafood buffet asheville ncThat hard chrome is priced where a nice blue finish 19 should sell for, I like hard chrome but not shiny like that one, I’d pass on it without a second thought.
I have my eye on several on GB . Two nickel and two blued. All are the 19-3 and have the original box. I don't mind paying for quality and condition so we'll just have to see how these play out. I'm not a fan of GB I'd rather have one listed of GI asking $X and go from there.
Exactly! $1200 is way too much for a refinished Model 19-3. If it was a factory original, NIB piece, yes. For a refinished piece, no.
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