Blued vs Nickel vs Stainless

[BabaBlueJay]

I was just curious which finish is most preferred on the forums. I prefer stainless because it seems to be the least maintenance of the three and most resilient to wear and tear of use. I will admit I am a sucker for a beautiful blued revolver or nickel handguns in general.

The way I see it (which could be incorrect)

Stainless is the most rugged finish

Nickel offers the most corrosion resistance and has the most shine to it

Blued has a classic appeal to it and certain bluing is arguably functional art.

Whichever you pick, post a photo of your favorite gun in that finish! I would love to see some beautiful and functional guns! The 686 made me a fan of Stainless, here is my 686-3

 

[NY-1]

Blued is the prettiest of the bunch and wins in my book. If it's going to be a consistently carried gun, however, I opt for stainless given its resiliency to corrosion.

EDIT: I do like how flashy nickel looks with imitation pearl/ivory grips, though it's a bit too labor intensive for me to keep pristine. Seems to go cloudy at a moment's notice.

 

[Engine49guy]

I used to like chocolate, now I prefer vanilla,
My golden retriever seems to like both equally.
Both are good in different ways.

 

[shown50]

I’ve got a few of each but I always end up pulling out my nickel guns to look at. There’s just something about that shine that gets me everytime!

 

[Dvus]

Yes, yes and yes. I like all three for different reasons and different situations. But any will do all jobs if properly maintained.

 

[Rule3]

Blued is the best looking (especially the older ones)


I like SS overall, last forever, easy to keep nice


Nickel, Chrome to flashy!

 

[Golddollar]

I like shiny guns, stainless in particular. Probably my favorite stainless gun has to be my S&W Model 629 .44 Magnum Punxsutawney Phil Commemorative.

 

[ruger 22]

I understand the practicality of stainless and nickel guns but nothing is nicer than the old rich blued Smiths. The silvers remind my of my cap guns when I was a kid---just not the same as blue.

 

[Old cop]

In the ‘70s we were required to be armed off duty & most of us carried a blued J Frame. When S&W came out w/the Model 60 the wait time to get one was months, but I still have mine.

 

[Hair Trigger]

I've always liked blued guns the best. Most of my revolvers are blued, but I have two nickel and one stainless, and the stainless is one of my two EDC guns (along with a Commander size 1911). When looking for a new-to-me revolver, if I have a specific one in mind I always try to find a blued example, but I'm not above a nickel gun if it presents itself and is within budget. There's only about three stainless models I want (M629 no dash, M65-1, and M66 or 66-1) and I have the M66-1.

 

[CajunBass]

The only reason I have anything but blue guns is Colt came out with the SS Python before the blue one.

Now there's not a thing wrong with that SS gun. One shoots just as well as the other. The only thing they get carried in is a range bag, and they're in gun sock in the range bag. Which is more durable is never a consideration. (My Smith and Wesson's are all bue)

When it come to which is the best carry finish, I'd say it's pretty hard to beat whatever Taurus calls this stuff. It just never shows wear.

It's ugly, but it's tough. It gets carried even day and still shows no wear.

 

[petepeterson]

Blued is the prettiest of the bunch and wins in my book. If it's going to be a consistently carried gun, however, I opt for stainless given its resiliency to corrosion.

I concur.

I like blued the best for looks.

I don't own any nickel. Suppose I should change that.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

IIRC before stainless was introduced nickel was more corrosion-resistant.

 

[Valmet]

I’m a blued guy all the way. The two exceptions being my nickel 1970 mfg Model 60 and my 1972 Model 67- both heirloom guns I’d never get rid of but when it comes to buying and collecting, always blued for me. Id even pass on a highly collectible S&W at a good price if it was stainless or nickel.

 

[jeffrefrig]

For a nice looking revolver I have to go with blue and walnut, like at the range or special occasions. Below is a nice blued revolver, a M57 that has kept its looks. But for a woods gun, etc., the stainless is very easy to keep clean. The M629-6 and GP100 are both easy to keep the weathering off. I’m not sure which I’d rather like more. If I have to choose I’ll go deep blue and walnut.

 

[BabaBlueJay]

For a nice looking revolver I have to go with blue and walnut, like at the range or special occasions. Below is a nice blued revolver, a M57 that has kept its looks. But for a woods gun, etc., the stainless is very easy to keep clean. The M629-6 and GP100 are both easy to keep the weathering off. I’m not sure which I’d rather like more. If I have to choose I’ll go deep blue and walnut.

As a Browns fan this is the one time I can approve of a terrible towel behind such beautiful revolvers.

 

[Empe]

I've always liked the looks of a classic deep rich blue especially when combined with a nicely grained walnut stock(s).
However the stainless finish has been growing on me and as long as it's a brushed or matte finish it has a certain appeal to me as well .
I just don't like high gloss stainless or the nickel finished firearms.

 

[BB57]

I was raised on a ranch where guns were tools and as a finish for a use it everyday tool, stainless is hard to beat.

But for appearance only, I’d take blued steel and walnut.

Nickel is my least favorite finish. It’s vulnerable to powder solvent if any pin holes or scratches in the finish expose the underlying copper plate.

 

[VaTom]

I have S&W revolvers in all three finishes. I really do like the nickel but the stainless and blue are nice also. Nickel Model 10, Blue Model 15-3, stainless Model 64 2”

 

[Hair Trigger]

I have S&W revolvers in all three finishes. I really do like the nickel but the stainless and blue are nice also. Nickel Model 10, Blue Model 15-3, stainless Model 64 2”

Nothin' like having them all shined up and purty.
M29-2, M27-2, M66-1