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I just bought a Phoenix Arms HP-22. As many of you know, these things are VERY competitively priced. OK, they are cheap. Mine was $103 on sale from Lanbo's Armory, plus $12 shipping. They have a good reputation for the price, lifetime warranty and reputed good customer service, although I haven't tested that out yet. Haven't had a chance to shoot the pistol yet either.
I chose the "nickel" finish. What I got is dull grey. Looks like pot metal, which is basically what the "zinc alloy" is. Wasn't thrilled, but at $103, hard to complain. But while at the SF gun show yesterday, I picked up the 5 inch barrel for it. Took the barrel and the pistol out tonight, and wow! The barrel had a very nice, shiny but not too shiny finish, like brushed stainless steel. Much nicer than the rest of the pistol. Also more what I expected after seeing photos online.
My question is, for those who know these guns, did they change at some point? Did they nickel plate them in the old days, then just stop bothering at some point? The extra barrel I bought was apparently new old stock. From the packaging, it looked like it had been languishing in a dusty corner of some gun shop for generation, so maybe the barrel had the old finish.
Or is it possible they just "forgot" to nickel plate mine, and if I call customer service they will magically replace it with a shiny one?
Ordinarily, I wouldn't care much, especially at this price point. This pistol is not exactly the pride of my collection. But I bought it to teach my girls to shoot handguns, and they like shiny pretty things.
Anyone have any thoughts or info that can shed light on this? Anyone think I can get a shiny one from customer service?
I chose the "nickel" finish. What I got is dull grey. Looks like pot metal, which is basically what the "zinc alloy" is. Wasn't thrilled, but at $103, hard to complain. But while at the SF gun show yesterday, I picked up the 5 inch barrel for it. Took the barrel and the pistol out tonight, and wow! The barrel had a very nice, shiny but not too shiny finish, like brushed stainless steel. Much nicer than the rest of the pistol. Also more what I expected after seeing photos online.
My question is, for those who know these guns, did they change at some point? Did they nickel plate them in the old days, then just stop bothering at some point? The extra barrel I bought was apparently new old stock. From the packaging, it looked like it had been languishing in a dusty corner of some gun shop for generation, so maybe the barrel had the old finish.
Or is it possible they just "forgot" to nickel plate mine, and if I call customer service they will magically replace it with a shiny one?
Ordinarily, I wouldn't care much, especially at this price point. This pistol is not exactly the pride of my collection. But I bought it to teach my girls to shoot handguns, and they like shiny pretty things.
Anyone have any thoughts or info that can shed light on this? Anyone think I can get a shiny one from customer service?
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