Nickel finish peeling

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Rule10b5

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I just picked up a minty (or so it seemed) nickel Model 12-4 2", made in 1984. Took it out to the range for the first time tonight - about 18 or so rounds of standard pressure .38 through it and all of a sudden a good portion of the nickel plating on the cylinder peeled/blew off.

Obviously this isn't good - but how bad is it? Does anyone know whether the cylinder is stainless or white? Do I need to get it stripped and replated? The gun shoots just fine, and is in otherwise excellent shape.
 
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The steel would be regular carbon steel under the plating. keep it oiled or it will rust. Do the edges where it peeled appear to be tight and well adhered ot does it appear to be flaky and easily picked off? If it were mine I would probably check into fixing it.
 
I'm sorry to hear about that- it's pretty heartbreaking. I had a gorgeous model 29 nickel that I was always in constant fear of that happenning. I would look into getting it fixed or else it's just going to keep getting worse (unless you just want to keep the gun as a tacklebox gun or something).

Might also be a good time to check into getting it chromed, if you'd like a little more durable finish.
 
If it happened to part of the cylinder plating with firing, the rest is likely to come off with any more use. There was probably a problem with the original metal surface preparation or the plating process. You may want to call S & W customer service and see if the Performance Center will refinish it if you want to keep it original.
 
That happened to me about the same time with a nickel Model 29. I picked up the gun (new),
took it home to oil it and the nickel started to peel off.
The store where I bought it offered to send it back to S & W.
For a while, Bangor Punta owned S & W and guns were made in South America.
The guns were hit & miss as far as quality went.
Not wanting to wait a year to get my gun back,
I asked the store owner how much it would cost to strip off the nickel plating
and have the gun hard chromed and said I'd split the cost with him.
I was a good customer, so he accepted my offer.
The gun turned out great.
Nowadays, things are different at S & W.
They stand behind what they sell and turn around repairs pretty quickly,
or in some cases, just replace your gun with a new one.
All that said, it might not be a bad idea to call the 800 number and ask their thoughts.
If they examine the gun and see it wasn't abused,
they just might offer to re nickel your gun either at no cost to you,
or make some kind of similar offer my store owner did with me.
It can't hurt to ask.
P.S. My nickel Model 49, made in the USA and bought in 9/84,
looks as good as the day I bought it.
 
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When I first started, I used to really like Nickel guns, but in short order I too had peeling, scratching and discoloration problems with them, so I sold the majority of them. The "carry" type guns I replaced with the stainless versions, and the others got replaced with Carbon Steel Blued versions. Now the ONLY handguns I own that are Nickel are two Colt Single Action Army Revolvers, and while I won't say that they are 100% perfect, I will say that they have held up a hell of a lot better than the S&W's I had, and I will also say that the Colt's get shot 10 times more than the Smith's ever did. Why I do not know, but that's the way it is.

Chief38
 
Thanks for the help. It really is odd - the balance of the plating seems super tight, it's just the one part that peeled up. The rest isn't flaky at all.

I'm going to give S&W a call on Monday to see about replating the cylinder, and then I'll call the seller to see if he'll split any costs. If S&W won't replate it I'll just have it NP3d or something. In the interim I'll make sure to keep it oiled. I don't need it to look perfect, it is going to be carried regularly (it will be taking over for my blue model 19 in my alessi bodyguard) but i'd like it to at least not look chewed up.
 
Bullet Bob said:
"For a while, Bangor Punta owned S & W and guns were made in South America. "

That Sir, is not correct.
Click to expand...

Ive never understood the hatred for the BP years - I own (in addition to the model 12 I asked about) 3 BP era revolvers. They're all beautiful guns that are flawless and function perfectly.
 
To Bullet Bob: Interesting how you quoted one line of a post that was an attempt at helping another forum member.
To Rule10b5: An opinion and statement of what happened to me isn't hatred...just facts.
Yours may be flawless, mine was not.
This place is about sharing experiences with another member who is asking for advice or help.
 
coach22 said:
To Bullet Bob: Interesting how you quoted one line of a post that was an attempt at helping another forum member.
To Rule10b5: An opinion and statement of what happened to me isn't hatred...just facts.
Yours may be flawless, mine was not.
This place is about sharing experiences with another member who is asking for advice or help.
Click to expand...

He was merely pointing out that this particular statement which you made was erroneous, which it is. Until recent years when the Walther licensed guns have been made in Holton, Maine, all S&W production since 1852 has been in Springfield Massachusetts. He beat me to it!

Note that this does not include various long-guns that have been S&W branded items manufactured by others.
 
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Coach22
I mean no disrespect but NO Smith & Wesson's have ever been produced in South America. I ask that you furnish the forum members with your reference if you wish too stand by this statement. Kyle
 
For a while, Bangor Punta owned S & W and guns were made in South America. "
Click to expand...

I'm from the show-me state and my dad was Joe Friday - Soooooo Just the facts on this south american statement. All of the Smith's that I own and seen from that time period said made in the USA on the right hand side.

JUST THE FACT'S :D
 
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Wha... ???

What happened to all the "Gosh, I'm sorry about disputing your facts (while not providing ANY of my own)?

The thread just (abruptly) ended, or so it seems.
 
coach22 said:
For a while, Bangor Punta owned S & W and guns were made in South America.
Click to expand...

Well, there's a gunshop rumor that is new to me! Tell you what -- find me any scrap of evidence for that naked assertion and I promise to stop laughing long enough to look at it...
 
I can find no credible mention anywhere of Smiths being made in Brazil. Smith and Taurus were both owned by the same parent company and may have shared engineering and etc but that seems to be about all.
 
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