Sandblasting a nickel finish?

[EBWhite]

I found an original 1918 made model 1911 pistol.
The gun is nice except for someone did one of those cheapo nickel/chrome plating jobs ( i'm sure it cannot be original, as that was parkerizing)

Anyways, i want to get this gun and sandblast it and reparkerize it, is that possible or are those nickel finishes too hard to get off? The nickel/chrome finish reminds me of one of those ones you see on the davis and jennings guns, the ones that peel :-)

eb.

[-hanko]

I found an original 1918 made model 1911 pistol.
The gun is nice except for someone did one of those cheapo nickel/chrome plating jobs ( i'm sure it cannot be original, as that was parkerizing)

Anyways, i want to get this gun and sandblast it and reparkerize it, is that possible or are those nickel finishes too hard to get off? The nickel/chrome finish reminds me of one of those ones you see on the davis and jennings guns, the ones that peel :-)

eb.

I'd suggest checking out chemically stripping the nickel, then glass bead blasting with low pressure & then re-parkerizing...I think you'd get something closer to original finish if you go gently on removing the nickel

-hanko

[naimad]

If the nickel plating is in good condition use baking soda to blast it at low pressure it will give it a mat stainless look.My dad did this on a nickel s&w revolver it turned out good,unless you want a pakerized finish just an option

[xenophobe]

The original finish on a 1918 Colt 1911 would be blue, not parkerized. In WWII and after, many were reparked when they were arsenal refurbished.