Just bought a 1911 with what the manufacturer describes as "chrome finish".

There obviously is some difference between chrome and nickel finishes but just what, technically, is that difference?

Do the same cautions as re cleaning products, ammonia etc. apply to chrome as to nickel?

Finish has more of a brushed look to it than mirror bright shine, sort of like stainless steel and I just don't want to screw it up.

If you could post pics, or at the very least model numbers, we could offer better-more informed answers.

__________________
Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)

It depends on the chrome. If regular chrome plating it's a topical surface treatment with a thin layer of plating on the metal surface. If it's a hard chrome it's more of a molecular bond in the pores of the metal with a much lower surface build up. Hard chrome is more durable for wear and around high pressure areas like magnum revolver cylinders. Surface chrome plating is more rust resistant and both types of plating have their own advantages & weakness.

__________________
NRA Certified Instructor & RSO

Its most likely "Hard Chrome" which is chrome applied directly to the steel (and frosted or brushed look) and thicker then "Decorative Chrome" which is generally applied over nickel, or nickel then copper then chrome (and is a mirror finish).

Hard chrome is one of the most durable finishes that exists and really requires no maintenance whatsoever, except wiping it off and keeping it dry......

If it gets dirty you can pretty much use any cleaner you want except for acid based cleaners....

There's several chrome and nickel finishes.
There the old bright nickel which is a plated finish, sometimes over a base coat of copper, then there's the electroless nickel finishes which are a chemically-bonded nickel finish.
Both use nickel as the basic coating.
Many bore solvents can attack the nickel finishes, especially the electro-plated bright type. If there's a crack or chip the solvent can infiltrate, it can attack any copper under coat and cause the surface bright nickel to lift off.

There also at least two type of chrome finishes.
Decorative chrome, also known as "bumper chrome" is also applied over copper base coats, and sometimes with a layer of bright nickel between the copper and surface chrome.
This type of chrome isn't normally attacked by solvents unless, again, there's a flaw the solvent can get under.
This type of chrome finish isn't all that durable, and is usually only used on very cheap guns.

Hard chrome which is what guns are normally finished with is a whole different proposition.
Hard chrome is bonded directly to, and INTO the base steel and becomes part of it. With hard chrome there IS no "under" for a solvent to get to.
Hard chrome is extremely hard, very durable, scratch resistant, and is only attacked by some acids. No bore solvent I know of will touch a hard chrome gun.

Most hard chrome is applied in a satin "orange peel" finish or a stainless steel looking finish.
It can be polished before plating for a more mirror-like finish but you seldom see that on guns.

So, if your gun is a hard chrome finish you can use any solvent you want on it with no risk of damage.

As the above posters have stated, there are different types of Chrome & Nickel finishes so I won't repeat what they have said.

Typically, Chrome is a stronger and more durable finish than the standard Nickel finish is and usually the Chrome finish will be mirror bright while the Nickel will be a softer and slightly warmer finish.

I do own 3 Nickel guns but I would not say that Nickel is my favorite finish by a long stretch, and I own NO Chrome guns as I simply find them way to flashy for my taste.

I only own 3 Stainless guns (M60-7, M65, M63) which get carried and hence the SS finish, but traditional deep blue is my all time favorite gun finish.

One other thing to consider is that electroless nickel can be applied to steel and aluminum where hard chrome is steel only.

Hard chrome has better wear properties but electroless nickel has better rust resistance.

__________________
NRA Certified Instructor & RSO