Why Nickel-plated?

[Saigon1965]

Oh I have those flavors too -

Put away that nickel plated sissy pistol and get yourself a real gun. Get yourself a Glock!

Just kidding. I love the looks of nickel, brushed stainless, matte stainless, and so on. Something about it just looks more elegant, refined...

Turby

[Saigon1965]

I know some finishes are "thicker" than others - I would imagine that all would be more than blueing -

I remember that when I was a kid, maybe 30 or 35 years ago, some thought that Smith & Wesson would nickle the revolvers with looser production tolerances... I don't know. It sounds reasonable as I am sure that nickle plating is thicker than bluing. What do you think?

[cineski]

So the bad guy has something to aim back at?

[merritt]

Nickel is thicker than bluing (having done both) ... bluing is actually controlled oxidation of the gun surface so very little if any material gets added

[BossHog]

+1 on corrosion resistance. This is my only nickel-plated gun and it's primarily used as my campsite gun in the Northern Sierras where it has rained from time to time in the late summer.

[thefurball]

Shiiiiiny

[jazman]

Here's a pic of my Python in Electroless Nickel (E-Nickel). Very easy to keep clean and always looks good. A better way of doing nickel, less conducive to peeling or flaking, and looks like a matte finish vs. shiny.

[98REDrang]

Pimps roll with gold plated hardware, on the rims and on the teaf
A cooler choice would be hard chrome or Cad plate (carefully, watch out for H brittlement), its a show piece right?

[Quiet]

NP3 > nickel.

[Turbinator]

NP3 > nickel.

Indeed, one problem I've read is that nickel will react to some chemicals.. so one has to be careful what is being used on or around the nickel plated items, so as not to create any finish problems. NP3 may not have such issues.

Turby

[Riodog]

Indeed, one problem I've read is that nickel will react to some chemicals.. so one has to be careful what is being used on or around the nickel plated items, so as not to create any finish problems. NP3 may not have such issues.

Turby

You're correct Turby. Hoppe's will cause the nickle to peel as it attacks the copper underneath the nickle.
Rio

[buffybuster]

I think there is some confusion regarding nickel plating and electroless nickel.

Nickel Plating was popular over 125 years ago for decorative purposes and also for it's corrossion resistance. Everything BillCA stated previous is correct. Nickel Plate was the "Wonder Finish" of the 19th century/blackpowder cartridge era. It remained popular in the 20th century primarily for is decorative purposes and to a lessor degree it's corrossion resistance.

Electroless Nickel came into industrial use in the 1950's. It can be applied very evenly in complex shapes and provides high wear resistance and very good corrossion resistance. All modern weapons with a satin nickel finish are generally electroless nickel. I think NP3 is a spin off of electroless nickel with teflon.

Regarding any finishes having nickel, keep them away from Hoppes 9 nitro solvent. Extended exposure will etch the nickel.

Industrial Hard Chrome was developed in the 1920's and refined in the 1940-50's. It is harder and nologer wearing in high load/high wear applications than E-Nickel but due to it's structure is not as corrossion resistant and does not apply as evenly in complex shapes.

[RogueSniper]

Good info.

I'll have to look into that. E-Nickel ... like E-Mail ...