How durable is a nickel finish?

P

popeyespappy

New member
I have the opportunity to buy a 4” S&W model 29-2. It’s a pinned and recessed 90% plus gun that has been fired but not a lot. It still has the display case but the lining is shot. I’ve been looking for something similar but have not considered nickel as my only experience with a nickel revolver is a 20 year old model 37. My ex bought it new and the finish on that one did not hold up well. As I want this gun to carry in the woods and not to look at I am worried about the finish holding up.
 
Given your concerns and needs, and unfamiliarity with caring for nickel, stainless might be a better option for you.

If you want a gun that you can bum about in the woods with stainless will hold up better than nickel. The 29-2s were also made before the "endurance package" became standard on S&Ws .44 Magnums. The later guns will be stronger. Which can make a difference if you plan shooting at any volume or if you reload.

There are a couple of reasons to get an older nickel plated 29-2. The first is that you want an older nickel gun. The second is that you want an older M29 and like and enjoy nickel guns, appreciate the detail work and the feel of the older guns and know how to care for them and the nickel guns in particular. Use of the wrong cleaning materials can quickly damage nickel guns. The 29-2s can be very good shooters but they are not as rugged as the later guns.

tipoc
 
Bill is correct.

In the decades before stainless steel guns and before hard chrome finishes and many of the modern aftermarket finishes and very hard factory finishes of today nickle was the way to go if your gun was exposed to salt water, or sweat, or humid climates. It was and still is much better than blueing for preventing rust or at least making the formation of rust harder. Nickel can be scratched though and it does wear over time.

tipoc
 
+1 to Bills comment about Nickel holding up better than a blued version...

I have a number of model 29's in Nickel / and while I have not worn them in holsters a lot ...they show very little holster wear.

The .44 mag I carry now / hiking, fishing, etc ... is a 3" model 629 ....and all the 629 models are stainless - and it holds up real well and resists any holster wear. Part of reducing wear on a gun is making sure you have a holster that was specifically fit to that particular model of gun / and personally I prefer horsehide leather from Kramer ....it wears well and is pretty easy on a finish.
 
Great Grandpa's S&W was nickel, and deteriorated badly, but Grandpa kept it in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom for a few decades...

I've had a couple nickel guns and haven't had any problems with them. I tend to take good care of my weapons, but I have managed to wear some of the blued ones.
 
I have seen guns with the nickel coming off... I would go with stainless,,,for high use guns,,,then you dont have to worry about whether or not the finish will eventually lessen.
 
As in chrome plating there are two types of nickel. Shiney pure nickel and nickel with phosphorous .The second one is a grey color and is harder and more wear resistant. Since we have stainless steel I'd go with that.
 
Nickel was a way to improve the corrosion resistance of gun metal as compared to blueing at a time when factories had trouble producing high volume stainless steel parts.

For use as a woods gun today, stainless steel is a better material.

However, since the gun you're looking at is a pinned and recessed no-lock 29-2 in 90% condition, that alone is a reason to buy the gun if you like it. They don't make 'em like that any more. Since you said that you're not buying the gun to look at, maybe you won't mind if you get a scratch or two on the finish. You will have something that is rarer than the new guns and it will be a cool gun to carry. If push comes to shove, you can have it re-nickeled if you ever felt the need.

The only bad thing is that nickel plated guns look real ugly when they get scratched and worn. They don't wear into an antique patina like the blued guns do.

Seems to me that you want the gun so you should buy it.;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top