nickel 10-5

[gamedic]

I changed my nickel square butt 10-5 to a round butt tonight. It turned out to be a beautiful job. I thought the gun would be plated and would have a dark steel underneath it. A 4140 or something, but when I cut into the butt with a grinder it was the same steel throughout. I filed and sanded the butt to 320 grit and it is just as shiney as before I touched it. So instead of a nickel plate the frame is a solid nickel alloy?

 

[gamedic]

I changed my nickel square butt 10-5 to a round butt tonight. It turned out to be a beautiful job. I thought the gun would be plated and would have a dark steel underneath it. A 4140 or something, but when I cut into the butt with a grinder it was the same steel throughout. I filed and sanded the butt to 320 grit and it is just as shiney as before I touched it. So instead of a nickel plate the frame is a solid nickel alloy?

 

[butchd]

I've waited for someone's reply, but since noone else does, I'll bite. S$W nickle guns of the 10-5 era are plated. If your grinding through the finish and the metal under it appears white or silver, it's because it is white or silver. It's not nickle, though. I've heard it once upon a time so I'll share it with you, "you're going too deep". The Model 10 in any finish or configuration holds a mysteriou attraction to many of this forum. Best wishes.

 

[john traveler]

Unfortunately, the freshly cut surfaces that go through the nickle plating are now subject to rust and persperation stains. The edges of the plating are likely to peel and flake off.

 

[gamedic]

The steel looks exactly the same, there is no difference between the part of the backstrap I didn't touch and the part I filed and sanded, there is no change in color or indication of plating. If it was just white steel couldn't I see the edge of the plating? It is a perfect transition from the old surface to the new.

 

[pred]

We will need a pic of this!
Peter

 

[gamedic]

I will post a picture as soon as I can. My wifes new camera I bought her for christmas has already broken and is in the shop.

 

[RDak]

We've had a Model 10-5 for a long, long time but I can't tell you one way or the other. Except I'd be very surprised if ours isn't plated.

Back in the 1960's they were advertised as nickel plated IIRC.

 

[gamedic]

I put the gun in my unheated garage over night. This morning I could see a different color between the part of the gun I filed and sanded and the rest of it. It took a different environment for a few hours to be able to tell the difference between the nickel and the part of the gun I polished. It will be replated as soon as I get my barrel back from the gunsmith.