I was hoping i could get help with a few questions i have about a used model 19 S&W in nickel. The gun seems in very good shape but i know very little about nickel finish. How does it hold up with regular shooting compared to blued guns? Any special cleaning needed? Also how much does it cost to re-nickel a gun and can a nickeled gun be blued? Lastly i was wondering what a good price would be for a gun such as this? It is in good to very good shape and i think it may of been a 19-3 but i could be mistaken. Thank you.
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Need help w/ nickel model 19
- Thread starter blade442
- Start date
Nickel is quite durable. Look for cracks, fading, and peeling. Once that start then nothing will bring it back but refinishing. Do not use Hoppes #9 on nickel. Nickel is a plating over a copper base. Some solvents like Hoppes finds a way under the plating then it will eat the copper and the nickel will flake off. Any nickel gun can be deplated, polished and blued (both are carbon steel). Depending on the barrel length, condition, if all original, and what's included it could cost from $350 to $450.
Nickle is a little more durable than Blue but shows imperfections more. Nickle guns can be cleaned up NICELY with Flitz or Mothers Mag polish. Nickle doesn't really add any significant value to a common production gun . If this one was in excellent shape it would be worth in the $325-$375 range. Add $50 if it has box, papers etc.
BTW, this assumes it wasn't an aftermarket /factory refinish which was common with the well carried police guns in there time. That would decrease the price somewhat. Look at the edges /lettering to see if an "polish" wear is evident. Factory refinishes can usually be spotted by a diamond, star or N in a rectangle stamped somewhere on the grip frame/under the grips.
hth
BTW, this assumes it wasn't an aftermarket /factory refinish which was common with the well carried police guns in there time. That would decrease the price somewhat. Look at the edges /lettering to see if an "polish" wear is evident. Factory refinishes can usually be spotted by a diamond, star or N in a rectangle stamped somewhere on the grip frame/under the grips.
hth