Nickel Triple Lock: to polish or not??

[mojave30cal]

I picked up an all original, lettered 6.5" nickeled Triple Lock
in .44 S&W Special earlier this year. The TL shipped in 1915.
The finish isn't perfect for a 99 year old revolver. There is
fleckling on the cylinder, under the grips, on the face of the
cylinder, and a little spot on the left side of the barrel. The
finish has that "milky" look.

I thought of using some Flitz and gentle elbow grease to lightly
polish the finish to make it look a little brighter. A little voice
inside of me says leave it alone as the milky finish befits it's
age. I've seen older TL's on this Forum that had a bright, shiny
nickel finish.

My question is: if I do polish the nickel, will that affect the value
of the TL negatively?

 

[gmborkovic]

Hello mojave, Im a nickel fan and have no advice as to polish or not. So dont. Wait for the real nickel experts to jump in. I would like to see some pics, especially the flakey parts. Best, Mike 2796

 

[rburg]

What I've discovered is that when you get the nickel to the point where its milky, it will quickly return to that if left alone. I don't see the polishing as having any impact on the value. It will return to the same condition again, so you're only polishing it to make yourself feel good.

 

[bettis1]

I find that "milky" tone to the old nickel guns to be one of their finest qualities. I most certainly would not polish it away. It is character that only old age can impart.

If you were seeking wisdom, had you rather have that from a teenager or an octogenarian?

Bob

 

[DWalt]

Gentle polishing with Flitz will make it look better if the finish is not too far gone, and won't hurt it. Then follow with wax. I use Johnson's paste wax. Last week, I Flitz-polished and waxed a nickeled Colt Detective Special with a fairly sad-looking milky finish, with corrosion on various areas of the cylinder due to long-term storage in a leather holster. It looked at least 100% better afterward, even though the corrosion remained, as the nickel was gone there.

 

[rct269]

Count me as opposed to polishing (with any abrasive polishing compound). Bronze wool with some light oil will remove the milky look/frosting------AND the corrosion. It will polish absolutely nothing.

And it will still look like an octogenarian-----one that's had a good bath!

Ralph Tremaine

 

[BigBill]

My new m58 in nickel had the milky look from a itp holster with my body sweat. I took some Simi chrome polish very lightly with a soft rag and she looks like new again. I save the used Simi chrome polish rags to polish the blues guns.

 

[gmborkovic]

hello mojave, see, I told you the nickel doctors would be by. I respect their input. I shoot, clean and appreciate. They clean and polish. No dis-respect implied or intended. We all have our thing, and I respect that. No hackles up. I just got out of the furnace. Good shooting and a nice find. Best, Mike 2796

 

[mrcvs]

I wouldn't touch it if I were you. How about a picture of it?

 

[mojave30cal]

This is my first attempt at posting pictures on the Forum.
Pictures of my nickel Triple Lock as requested. Shipped
Sept. 9, 1915. Serial number is 11444.

 

[quinn]

This is my first attempt at posting pictures on the Forum.
Pictures of my nickel Triple Lock as requested. Shipped
Sept. 9, 1915.

I think that looks wonderful as is. I suspect that it has been polished before. I'd be proud to own it as is. Lucky Dog.

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

I think that looks wonderful as is. I suspect that it has been polished before. I'd be proud to own it as is. Lucky Dog.

I agree,It has already been polished before.Touching it up with some Flitz on a Microfiber Rag followed by a coat of Ren Wax won't hurt anything.Oh by the way....Nice Gun

 

[K31]

I agree hit it with some Flitz and Ren. It's not that bad considering its age it will clean up nicely. Nice score!

 

[gripper]

Just something to think about. The milky color is actually in the nickel. So to remove it you have to remove some nickel and that's what the Flitz will do. If it's been Flitzed once you will just take more nickel away with another polishing. There is a little flaking here there on the gun especially around the edges of the cylinder flutes. Flitzing these spots is not a good idea as it will thin these areas even more. You have an outstanding old TL. A milky/patina look will impress collectors a lot more than a buff job. Great gun....good for you !

Chad

 

[bettis1]

I picked up an all original, lettered 6.5" nickeled Triple Lock
in .44 S&W Special earlier this year. The TL shipped in 1915.
The finish isn't perfect for a 99 year old revolver. There is
fleckling on the cylinder, under the grips, on the face of the
cylinder, and a little spot on the left side of the barrel. The
finish has that "milky" look.

I thought of using some Flitz and gentle elbow grease to lightly
polish the finish to make it look a little brighter. A little voice
inside of me says leave it alone as the milky finish befits it's
age. I've seen older TL's on this Forum that had a bright, shiny
nickel finish.

My question is: if I do polish the nickel, will that affect the value
of the TL negatively?

Several people have suggested ways to successfully polish your fine old gun.

But, to answer your question, YES!

Bob

 

[Dave T]

I wasn't going to respond to this thread, leaving that to the more serious and experienced collectors and experts.

However, after seeing the pictures I have to ask…what compels people to mess with a perfectly fine example of a vintage revolver that shows its age but not abuse or neglect? If you want it to look pristine, buy a better example. Don't destroy the character it took 99 years to accumulate just to have a "play pretty".

OK, time to get off the soapbox and go take my meds. (smile)

Dave

 

[Watchdog]

This is my first attempt at posting pictures on the Forum.
Pictures of my nickel Triple Lock as requested. Shipped
Sept. 9, 1915. Serial number is 11444.

After seeing the photographs, I have to say that I'd leave it alone. Looks fine just as it is.

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

All you people that say you will get more Money from a Gun with milky Nickel are Nuts.If you have a Gun that has been cleaned CORRECTLY it will always sell for more than a milky neglected Gun.I agree with Gripper that a milky Gun is better than a BUFF job(on a buffer) but if you use your brain and your hands to clean a Gun you are fine.How is a buyer going to know what the Gun looked like before? Just like the OP,He had no idea that his Gun had already been cleaned.....

 

[mojave30cal]

O.K......I'm going to lightly polish my TL with Flitz and a soft
cotton cloth. I'm sure it will look much better. Thanks to all
for your inputs. I'll post some before and after pics.

 

[mojave30cal]

O.K. I spent a couple of hours today polishing my nickel
Triple Lock to remove the milky finish, and completed the
task with a light coat of Ren Wax. It turned out quite well,
and is now bright and shiny. I had to wait until the sun went
down to photograph it outside because the glare was too
much and hard to photograph.

The streaks on the side plate and opposite side in the last
three pictures are background reflections.

Thanks for all the advice.