Stainless vs Chrome vs Nickel vs Blue

[durango]

As I've been perusing through various guns recently, I've started wondering which of these variations on the theme actually benefit the gun more?

Is nickel as good as chrome? Is stainless better? What is "good enough" vs. "excellent" vs. "superior" in reality, not just in a dealer's view?

For instance, am I better off spending $100 more for a stainless version of a pistol than a chromed? Is the $200 difference between a blued model and a stainless really worth the money in the long term?

 

[Texas Star]

Most shiny factory finishes are not chrome; they're nickel. The finish may react badly to some solvents or flake.

And there usually isn't a $200 difference between a blue and stainless one in the same model. Even where the stainless one costs more, it's worth it. If you carry a gun much, especially in a humid climate, you will quickly discover the value of stainless.

 

[GKC]

As Patton said, "Only a pimp from a cheap New Orleans whore house would carry a pearl handled..." Oh wait, that's grips.

I've owned nickle plated guns, stainless guns, and blued guns. IMO, real nickle and real blue finishes are beautiful...especially on classic Colt and S&W revolvers, and old 1911s. I prefer the "black" slide on the M&P line or other polymer pistols. On modern 1911s and revolvers that I actually want to use, I prefer stainless, since the finish holds up better and you can polish fine scratches yourself.

 

[johngalt]

I like blued carbon steel best. Other than rust resistance, it is more durable than stainless. Stainless is softer and tends to gall/peen. I've never had nickel or chrome, but have seen enough nickel that was flaking off I would rather just have blue. Don't really like the look of chrome.

 

[Texas Star]

I like blued carbon steel best. Other than rust resistance, it is more durable than stainless. Stainless is softer and tends to gall/peen. I've never had nickel or chrome, but have seen enough nickel that was flaking off I would rather just have blue. Don't really like the look of chrome.

I've read that but never seen any evidence of galling, etc. in modern stainless revolvers. I've owned several, and one was my daily work gun for about 22 years. It still looks fine and performs perfectly.

I think they sorted out what was needed in stainless firearms alloys by the mid 1970's.

 

[arjay]

Blue and nickel are prettier in my view,but stainless will handle more use/abuse.Theres nothing to wear off or chip.

 

[johngalt]

I've read that but never seen any evidence of galling, etc. in modern stainless revolvers. I've owned several, and one was my daily work gun for about 22 years. It still looks fine and performs perfectly.

I think they sorted out what was needed in stainless firearms alloys by the mid 1970's.

The notches in the cylinders on my stainless revolvers show peening, while my blued ones don't. It doesn't affect lockup and is just cosmetic, but it tells me that carbon steel has an advantage in this application.

Stainless has the advantage that it doesn't have a finish that wears away, but I still prefer carbon steel.

 

[P&R Fan]

I like blued revolvers, just because they look cool.
Nickel looks nice too.
But for a carry gun I prefer stainless. I once wore my M640-1 in a belly band all day in 100 degree heat. When I took it off it was covered in sweat. Just wiped it off with a towel. Only thing on it with any rust is the grip screw heads.
Jim

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

My observations is that when guns were first made in order to protect them from rust, a bluing or controlled rust was applied as it was the best teatment available at the time. As metalurgy progressed (and they invented electricial and chemestrey), finishes such as nickel came to be. Further metalurgy gave us stainless which was even better yet. The natural progression gets better and better with new finishes which not attractive offer even better corrosion protection since that is what it is about in the first place. We wax philosophic about the beautiful blued firearms in the past but in reality bluing today for other than asthetic purposes makes absolutely no sense on guns for surface protection purposes. I daresay it actually cost less to make a stainless version of a gun than a blued version but since the stainless is better they can get away with still charging the stainless premium. Pretty slick if you ask me.

 

[WC145]

I love the look of blued guns but for durability hard chrome is the way to go. Nothing holds up better with minimal carry required. Of course, there's only a handful of guns that come hard chromed from the factory, you usually have to send your gun off to someone like APWCogan, Metaloy, Mahovsky's, etc. to be plated but once it's done, it's done.

 

[chief38]

My two cents...................

Stainless Steel for carry and hunting.

Blued for Range and Target work - or just drooling over.

Nickel for Cowboy Guns (SAA).

 

[Jessie]

I love the look of blued guns but for durability hard chrome is the way to go. Nothing holds up better with minimal carry required. Of course, there's only a handful of guns that come hard chromed from the factory, you usually have to send your gun off to someone like APWCogan, Metaloy, Mahovsky's, etc. to be plated but once it's done, it's done.

Had my Guide gun hard chromed in mat finish...looks very nice but then the next year it came out in stainless.
I hope the hard chrome durability is as good as advertised.
To me though, nothing looks finer than a S&W blued with wood grips( and colts for that matter )

 

[S&W357]

Old revolvers -i like blued with wood handle . New Rev. Stainless - Colt python in chrome.

 

[Donn]

MHO? Blue looks best, stainless holds up best. SS requires less TLC day in and day out.

 

[Cyrano]

My three user 45s; a Colt Series 70, Colt Combat Commander and RIA Compact are all blued. It's OK but I wish they were stainless.

 

[max]

Caj, what is phiosophic? Is that what we use to put on zits? All, except 2, of my Smiths are nickel and I like it.

 

[zzzippper]

I will always pay more for the old-time Colt and Smith deep blue/black finish. For carry I use a modern plastic/some sort of coated steel.

 

[Philadelphia Patriot]

My EDC pistol is a Ruger SR9c in stainless. For every day carry it's easy to maintain and the finish holds up very well! I also have a hard chrome 1911 (American Classic Commander). The hard chrome looks great, but I rarely carry that gun so I can't comment on durability.

 

[finesse_r]

Stainless
Nickle
Blued
Chrome (due mostly to increase in price to have it applied) otherwise I would like it as well as nickle.

 

[keith44spl]

Wells Boys,

I use em all...........

Blue,
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Nickel,
[URL="http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/keith44spl/9a3e2950-7eb0-4ab7-991d-a46106134968_zps434d2798.jpg"][URL="http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/keith44spl/9a3e2950-7eb0-4ab7-991d-a46106134968_zps434d2798.jpg"] [/URL][/URL]

Hard Chrome,
[URL="http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/keith44spl/e3df8adc-3d2c-4c92-8c0c-fbb2a8921221_zps1ec32145.jpg"] [/URL]

Stainless,
[URL="http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/keith44spl/IMG_0022.jpg"] [/URL]


Each has it's own chore to do.

As for the cost of admission?
Only you can determine that factor.


Su Amigo,
Dave