Nickel Re-finish of a Stainless Revolver?

[Bullseye 2620]

Does anyone have any experience with re-finishing a stainless steel revolver in nickel? Will the mothership do this or would I need to send it out to Ford's or another aftermarket specialty shop to get this work done? Are there technical issues why this should not be attempted, or, are the issues the same as one would face re-finishing a carbon steel revolver in nickel?

Thanks!

[RGVshooter]

I'm not sure if S&W does nickel finishes. I know they do stainless and bluing. Give them a call just to make sure but I know Firearm Finishes | Robar Guns can do the work. There are other places out there too.

[Bullseye 2620]

Originally Posted by RGVshooter

I'm not sure if S&W does nickel finishes. I know they do stainless and bluing. Give them a call just to make sure but I know Firearm Finishes | Robar Guns can do the work. There are other places out there too.

S&W does a bright nickel finish for the same $275 price as a bright blue finish. I'm just wondering if there are any technical issues that would prevent nickel from being applied to a stainless as opposed to a carbon steel gun. Thanks!

Precision Gunsmithing | Smith & Wesson

• High Bright Polish (Blue, Stainless Steel or Nickel) - $275
• Glass Bead Nickel (except Stainless) - $220
• Standard Polish & Blue - $220
• Glass Bead Blue & Stainless Steel - $170

[stansdds]

My question is, why apply nickel plating to a stainless firearm? If it's a highly polished, reflective finish you seek, stainless can be polished to an almost mirror-like finish.

[Arquebus357]

I was wondering the same thing. I could more easily understand chrome plating a stainless gun because chrome is much "harder" than stainless. Nickel is not that hard at all.

[ben_g1]

I would have the stainless polished, that way if it gets a blemish it could be polished out.

[bigggbbruce]

Nickel over SS is a difficult process, and has a high failure rate..

Polish SS and forget Nickel plating.

[dfariswheel]

Cogan recommends hard chrome plating stainless for the ultimate in durability.
The hard chrome limits the scratching problem with stainless.

I'm not sure Cogan will do it, but hard chrome can be done in a mirror polish finish.
The appearance of hard chromes final look depends on how the steel is polished before plating.
Once plated you can't polish hard chrome to a shinier finish.

[stansdds]

Yep, if you want a really durable finish that is more difficult to scratch, hard chrome is the way to go. I still see little benefit to applying a finish to stainless, unless you are trying to blacken a stainless firearm.