WHAT GETS THAT MILKY LOOK OUT OF NICKEL??

[DWFAN]

Was at my local gun runner a few years ago and he had a real nice nickle pre 12 that had a milky finish to it. I asked him to put it aside for me and I would buy it on the condition I could get the milk out. He was doubtful but said okay. I drove back home got my polish and went back. He reluctantly put the gun on the counter and I proceeded to apply polish to the worst side. He and I were both amazed. GONE and I do mean gone. This works on blue guns as well and does not remove the bluing at all. I do not usually recommend anything but this is a must for fine guns.
DW
MAAS

 

[dant]

must remember as to the "milky" (haze or oxidation) being one the surface, versus, in or under the finish, that will NOT come out.........the key wording in most all of the above is "a light hand"....many if not all that were mentioned can 'help' and do the job.never tried 'Wenol' and after all these years have settled on the Mothers,to us, the least "aggressive" ( abrasive)...finish up with a Micro fiber clothe......

 

[Military-man]

Hoppes number 9

I assume you know that Hoppes cleaner will remove nickel and leave a milky finish.

 

[bettis1]

I'm going to take a slightly different position. One that I know won't be popular with everyone.

I think that it is not always wise to polish up a nickel finish; each case should be evaluated on its own merit. On a modern gun which has some scratches, smudges, etc., I doubt that anyone would object to an attempt to remove them. On the other hand, with a really nice, really old gun, one that has acquired an honest patina over the years, that aging should be preserved.

I have a beautiful old nickel 2nd Model HE (98%) that shipped in 1921. It has a lovely old smoky shade and is wearing marvelous old yellowed ivory grips. The gun came to me from one of the original members of the SWCA. Its finish was fine with him and I would no more polish the "smoky" finish away than I would try to bleach the ivory back to its original "Chiclet" white. To do so would significantly diminish the value.

Bob

 

[boykinlp]

I'm going to take a slightly different position. One that I know won't be popular with everyone.

I think that it is not always wise to polish up a nickel finish; each case should be evaluated on its own merit. On a modern gun which has some scratches, smudges, etc., I doubt that anyone would object to an attempt to remove them. On the other hand, with a really nice, really old gun, one that has acquired an honest patina over the years, that aging should be preserved.

I have a beautiful old nickel 2nd Model HE (98%) that shipped in 1921. It has a lovely old smoky shade and is wearing marvelous old yellowed ivory grips. The gun came to me from one of the original members of the SWCA. Its finish was fine with him and I would no more polish the "smoky" finish away than I would try to bleach the ivory back to its original "Chiclet" white. To do so would significantly diminish the value.

Bob

I'd like to see some pictures of that jewel.

 

[bettis1]

Here it is alone and with a couple of its relatives. The wear from the holster snap on the right side is the only visible area of wear.

Bob

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

I'm going to take a slightly different position. One that I know won't be popular with everyone.

I think that it is not always wise to polish up a nickel finish; each case should be evaluated on its own merit. On a modern gun which has some scratches, smudges, etc., I doubt that anyone would object to an attempt to remove them. On the other hand, with a really nice, really old gun, one that has acquired an honest patina over the years, that aging should be preserved.

I have a beautiful old nickel 2nd Model HE (98%) that shipped in 1921. It has a lovely old smoky shade and is wearing marvelous old yellowed ivory grips. The gun came to me from one of the original members of the SWCA. Its finish was fine with him and I would no more polish the "smoky" finish away than I would try to bleach the ivory back to its original "Chiclet" white. To do so would significantly diminish the value.



Bob

Could not agree more Bob.If you have an old gun with damaged finish then polish away.If you have a nice old gun with some frosting and patina,Leave it alone! Once it is polished away back to "new" it will take another fifty years plus to get that back.They are only original once and when you polish the snot out of them the "soul" of the gun is lost.I just picked up a very early Nickel Baby Chief that has some holster wear and frosting.I just went over it lightly with some Maas polish with my finger to get the crud off the top.If you sell the gun later at least the next guy gets the choice wether to polish or not.

 

[A10]

In your case I couldn't agree more, Bob. That gun has the right look to it.

 

[quinn]

I'm with Bob. I have a nickeled (originally blued) Wolf & Klar Texas Lawman gun that has scratches, scars and frosting. I wouldn't ever think of polishing out his hard earned patina.