Stainless vs blued vs nickel

Ameshawki · Apr 29, 2023

In the last 50 years I’m guessing stainless has out sold blue by an exponential factor. In the more common models (10,13,19, etc) I’m thinking it must be ten to one. And nickel even more so. What does the board think?

What brought this up is I went to a small gun show today, that normally is pretty weak, and stumbled across a mint 13-2 in nickel. I always heard nickel was about 10% of any given models production tho I think in recent years it has to be much less.

Which also begs the question does Smith even do nickel anymore?

Gdogman · Apr 29, 2023

My favorite is nickel followed by the deep blue.

TJm15.38 · Apr 29, 2023

Guess I am old school; I prefer the deep blue of an early 70's S&W revolver. Having said that, I am fine with stainless for a carry gun. I don't believe anyone is doing nickel plating any more. It just doesn't make sense.

sophie · Apr 29, 2023

I like them all.

Peak53 · Apr 29, 2023

Ameshawki said:
In the last 50 years I’m guessing stainless has out sold blue by an exponential factor. In the more common models (10,13,19, etc) I’m thinking it must be ten to one. And nickel even more so. What does the board think?

Actually, I don't think any stainless models 10, 13, 19, etc. were made except in blue or nickel. You may be thinking of model 67 (equivalent to model 10) or 66 (equivalent to model 19). Can't think of an equivalent to the model 13 in stainless.

The latest nickel gun I have is a Model 21-4 in .44 Special made in 2005. Very special

. Here it is (lower) along with a third model 44.

Muley Gil · Apr 29, 2023

"Can't think of an equivalent to the model 13 in stainless."

The Model 65 is a stainless M13.

Doug M. · Apr 29, 2023

Peak53 said:
You may be thinking of model 67 (equivalent to model 10)

*
Many of their popular models were also made in stainless, mostly in the J and K frame sizes. The stainless "model 10" is the model 64. The model 67 is a stainless version of the m15.

Kingspoke · Apr 29, 2023

Old Schooler's choice

I'm old school so I prefer nickel!

Other times, I'm not so sure!

Hmmm!

pantannojack · Apr 29, 2023

I, by slim chance, happened upon a Nickel m58 years ago before anyone wanted a m58. I impulse copped it and immediately found social acceptance. Gosh, it was a beauty, save for the diagonal scratch on the cylinder, and that I did not shoot it well with the service grips. As a lost dog I wonder where it is now. If stainless were to be as well assembled as the preferred years of luster blue,... I want quality fit more than color of material.

Rudi · Apr 30, 2023

sophie said:
I like them all.

Yes, me too.

Geeorge · Apr 30, 2023

My first carry gun was a model 19 pinned and recessed 4in barrel, that was around 1979. Bought it used from a friend and shot it to death with full magnum loads. Got hard up and sold it . I replaced it about 15 or so years ago with one just like it and a 2 1/2in version too, both pinned and recessed. They are very nice and haven't been shot or carried much and I can't bring myself to carry or shoot them. I have 4 model 66 magnums to shoot so the 19 just get fondled and live in the safe

Breakaway500 · Apr 30, 2023

Lets not forget the rarest S&W factory finish...

Truckman · Apr 30, 2023

Stainless steel, although it has its appeal in ease of maintenance, has lost its interest for me...Today I own zero stainless guns, all blued and nickel (with a couple of bumper chromed orphans I took in off the street)...

...Ben

raljr1 · Apr 30, 2023

I'll just answer with this.

stansdds · Apr 30, 2023

I do think stainless steel S&W revolvers did outsell their blued or nickel plated carbon steel versions through the 1980's and 90's. Take a look at the L-frame 357's. Carbon steel 586's with blue or nickel finishes were available from introduction in 1981 to 1999, then discontinued until the introduction of the Classic series 586 in 2012. The stainless steel 686 has been in continuous production since its introduction in 1981.

chief38 · Apr 30, 2023

It's all about personal preference. For the most part I like deeply Blued vintage Revolvers. I do own 3 stainless steel carry revolvers for their durability in the field and I have a few Nickel guns as well. The Nickeled matched pair of Colt SAA's I have wear Sambar Stag grips. I also have a Nickeled Baby Chief's that was my Dad's - circa 1952.

diecidecimi · Apr 30, 2023

Weird stuff

I'm in love with the deep blue finish I can see on my several M27s, the same of Manurhin MR73, Walther PPK, other Smiffs I have, and the Python.
Anyway I admit I'm obsessed by the fear to wear the finish: I'm really much bolder handling the 686 in SS.
Never owned a nickel until today, when this animal came home. What to say? Impressive.

HughD1 · Apr 30, 2023

Don’t know who designed that but I am pretty sure they were drunk at the time! Interesting looking beast!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

pasound · Apr 30, 2023

I like them all, and the shiny ones better. I rarely find nickeled ones in decent condition in my area. Most are heavily scratched and otherwise wear-challenged. My nickeled ones are a 110-year old 38 HE, a 100-year-old 44 HE, and a 40-year-old 38 J that lived on a sheriff's ankle as his backup and rarely fired. That one took a lot of RenWax to get back to "shiny". Sweat is the enemy of finishes - luckily it did not eat up the nickel. The 38 and 44 look to have been safe queens (or shop drawer queens) all their life, and took little effort to get them to mirror finish. All my others are blue, mostly antiques, and three stainless, one 40 years old, and the others less than 5.

Heinz · Apr 30, 2023

Diecidecimi. I would like to know more about that interesting pistol you posted. It appears to have a single shot swing out breech? Perhaps you could stat a separate thread on it?

Stainless vs blued vs nickel

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