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.
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.
