Question: Advice on care of nickel finish..

C

Chilidog

New member
Good morning folks. Based on auction results I'll soon to be proud stepdad to a cherry M27-2. I'd really appreciate any do's and don'ts re: care of nickel finished revolver - first in my collection. Thanks in advance. Sorta excited. Good shootin',
dog:D
 
Congratulations on your purchase. I have a number of nickel Smiths and the only caution is that you dont soak it too long in Hoppes. I use a little Flitz from time to time and they shine like the sun.
 
Brass brush?

Thanks maxwayne. Kinda wondering about buildup cleaning on cylinder. Is nickel plating more resistant than say, blued finish? Flitz is good.
dog
 
I have heard stories of cleaning solvents removing nickel so I try to keep the Hoppes in the gun and not on the gun. I use it to swab the barrel and wipe down the internals but am careful to keep it off the finish as much as possible. Keep rag handy to instantly wipe off any that seeps out onto nickel surface. Then use light oil on rag to wipe down finish. After nearly 20 years my nickeled 5" M27 still looks like new.
 
Is nickel really that fragile a finish? I've been toying w/ the idea of pimping out one of my pistols, but not if it will be harder to maintain.
 
Thanks guys! Ran search on "nickel and cleaning". Wealth of info on this board. Mainly strong confirmation to avoid any prolonged contact with Hoppes or other solvents used to remove copper fouling. Solvents appear to attack copper plating beneath nickel finish, through micro cracks in surface. Looks like CLP and Flitz for this baby.
dog

Did I mention I'm really getting excited about this gun:D :D :D
 
I have two nickel Smiths, a 586 and a 37 airweight, both are the bright nickel not electroless and they both look brand new. As others have told you don't allow Hoppe's #9 to remain on the finish for too long. Another point to mention is that if the finish has chips or scratches in it the finish will deteriorate much faster if it is exposed to harsh chemical solvents. Enjoy your new gun and safe shooting, Mike
 
I have 4 nickel guns in my collection. All are polished, and look better than new. Flitz polish works great on nickel. I personally would not shoot a nickel gun. I think they are too fragile to endure much shooting and cleaning without damage. They are nice to look at though.
 
First of all congrat's on your purchase of the new S&W. I
highly recommend the use of Simichrome, a non abrasive
tubular (pink) polish that is available at most automotive
shops such as Auto Zone, NAPA, and other's. It cleans all
the residue from the front of the chamber's, top strap, and
forcing cone without very much effort. All you really need
is the polish and a clean rag, as the rest is up too you.
A small tube should cost approximately $5.00, and last
year's; almost a lifetime. I've been using it on nickel and
stainless guns for approximately 25 years, and I highly
recommend it. Good luck and safe shooting-

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
I use Flitz on a toothbrush to clean the front of the cylinder. I have a nickel 57 that I have had for 20 years, it gets shot a lot, and it looks like new. I don't think nickel is any more fragile than blue. All of my Smiths, except for one are nickel and I keep thinking about sending it back to have it done.
 
Nickel? Fragile?

I carry a nickel Colt Gov. 380 almost every day. It was used when I got it, but the exterior still looks new. I shoot it at the range at least three or four times a year. Nickel is a very hard coating. Marine (like boating, not like Chesty Puller) shotguns are generally nickel plated.

The only vulnerability is the ammonia sensitivity. Newer nickel finishes are much more durable than older ones.
 
Mr. G- You wouldn't shoot a nickeled gun because it's too fragile? One of my Colt Police Positive Specials was made in 1920 and has fired countless thousands of rounds in addition to being carried for 20 years by a police officer as his duty weapon. Except for some wear on the sideplate where the safety strap on the holster rubbed for all those years, the finish looks just fine.
 
Sometimes you are lucky. I have seen guns with the nickel chipped off. The magnums were the worst, with chipping at the muzzle. For me, nickel guns are for show. I own some nickel guns, but they will never be shot as long as I have them. My shooters are stainless steel.
 
The most beautiful nickel firearm I ever saw was,

a NIB Smith & Wesson 39-2, 9m/m with s/n A222XXX. Dang, I wish I had it back!

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
 
My experience is that factory nickel finishes are very durable even when the gun is shot extensively. I fired thousands of rounds in IHMSA competition through my S&W Model 57, and it's finish is still perfect. No chips, dents, or dings! The reason I chose the nickel finish in the first place was because the finish was more durable than blue. In pre-stainless steel days, nickel was a very popular choice with cops precisely because it was the most durable finish available at the time.
 
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