There were a lot of pistols brought home after WW2 that were
chrome plated in Le Harve, France. I had a Colt 1911 that had
been chromed overseas. I decided I wanted a 45 Target made
up out of one of the several GI 45s I had at the time, 1970. My
smith was going to send it away for reverse electrolysis. My dad
thought he could do it with Alumilum Oxide with Air blaster that
they used on precision parts where he worked. He did a fine job.
Didn't round out lettering or any square edges. Our GS was
impressed, the gun was like a mirror. A short time later when
gun was being blued I got a frantic call from my GS. Dad had
removed most of the chrome but spots had been feathered in
that you couldn't see because of high shine. My GS was having
a fit, his reputation for blue was well known, he was nationally
rated. The pistol looked like a Pinto, perfect blue with little
Irregular spots of chrome. I had him leave it the way it was. I
don't name my guns but my buddies called it the Pinto Bean.
My dad did fool with some acid on other guns. He would take
them apart and dip them in paraffin wax. He would scape wax
off area he wanted to remove, leaving other areas protected by
Wax. He rinsed in distilled water with soda to stop acid.
