Nickel? Stainless?

K

kodiakbeer

Moderator
Does anyone still manufacture handguns with an actual nickel finish? I thought this was gone long ago and people were just using nickel incorrectly to describe stainless steel. I know you can get a gun nickeled aftermarket, but I'm talking about factory nickel.

Anyway, I've noticed dealer ads lately (particularly with Beretta and Browning autos) describing them as "nickel". So, are they actually selling nickel guns or is this one of those terms that's been incorrectly used so long (like clips/magazines..) that it's gone mainstream?
 
i liked to know the answer to that as well.

I have many stainless, but a nickel eludes me.

I'd like a nice S&W revolver, nickel, with wood grips!
M19-3BBQGunadjshopped750.jpg
 
Beretta makes the model 84 in a nickle finish.

I think CZ makes a nickle 75.

Kahr made a nickle K9 years ago but I don't think one is currently made.
 
Browning has made guns that are "electroless" nickel plated .This is not the shiney "electrolytic" nickel. Electroless is grey nickel with phosphorous which is harder and more durable .
Stainless steel is more corrosion resistant .Nickel or other plating also can peel if not applied properly.
 
Browning has made guns that are "electroless" nickel plated .This is not the shiney "electrolytic" nickel. Electroless is grey nickel with phosphorous which is harder and more durable .
Stainless steel is more corrosion resistant .Nickel or other plating also can peel if not applied properly.
Click to expand...

I'm sure it peels even if applied correctly given enough time and wear - look at any old actual nickel gun from the late 19th or early 20th century.

I'm not shopping for a nickel handgun, I'm just curious about the term. Does "nickel finish" refer to an actual nickeled handgun, or does it mean stainless of a particular texture/appearance? In particular, I'm asking about the Beretta 84 and Browning BDA which are often advertised as nickel.

It doesn't make sense to me to produce a nickel handgun, rather than stainless. But... perhaps they are?
 
mete said:
Browning has made guns that are "electroless" nickel plated .This is not the shiney "electrolytic" nickel. Electroless is grey nickel with phosphorous which is harder and more durable .
Click to expand...
I know Browning marketed some Hi-Powers with a satin chrome finish (I have one). Which models were nickel-finished?
 
Properly applied and maintained nickel does not peel. Nickel is actually a very durable finish. Most of the old nickeled guns wouldn't even be here if they had been blued! Those guns were shot with black powder ammunition, and not maintained well.
Browning usually used satin chrome, but I have seen engraved models that were satin nickel.
 
Again, I'm not really talking about limited edition classics or 100 year old firearms.

I'm curious about run of the mill modern firearms being advertised as "nickel finish". Does that mean they are actually nickel, or does it mean they are polished stainless resembling nickel? In particular, I'm asking about the Beretta 84 and Browning BDA. I suspect they're polished stainless and the "nickel finish" story is just a marketing gimmick like "cheese flavored" snacks that actually contain no cheese.

Does anybody know?
 
If it says nickel finish it's nickel, not stainless.

These days the buying public favors stainless steel, so if the gun was stainless they'd take advantage of that to market the gun.

As far as I know, the Beretta and Browning were never made in stainless.
 
Last edited:
Browning HP was available in electroless nickel at one time. Their little 22 auto rifle has a "grayed" finish version , I wonder what that is.
BTW the electroless nickel can be hardened to about 52 HRc so it's quite durable.
Here's a comment from a past TFL

"Factory hard chromed BHP frames and slides came with the MKIII Practical and Silver Chrome models. The BHPs with silver gray colored finishes before these models were plated with a brushed electroless nickel finish. If a BHP manufactured before the MKIII Practical and Silver Chrome models wears a hard chrome finish over it, then it is exactly an aftermarket finish rather than the original factory finish. No matter how the roll marks are kept sharp enough to make the people think it is factory original since there are many smiths and companies competent enough to refinish any firearm without touching the roll marks on them. "
 
Last edited:
Most younger guys don't even know what nickel is. I often see them refer to nickeled guns as "stainless." I think this is more likely than stainless guns being portrayed as nickel.
While I don't know which makers offer nickeled guns today, it is still a viable finish.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top