removing nickel finish on 1911-A1?
I have a 1911 A-1 that I bought/traded a few years ago that was nickel plated shortly after the former owner brought it home from WWII. The nickel had begun to wear off from holster wear and I was wondering what it would cost to remove it and should I have it removed? It was built by Colt in 1943 by the serial numbers. It does have "property of the united states" on the side of it. If I do have the nickel removed what would you suggest that I put back on as to finish? I carry the gun in my truck and it is an excellent shooter. The former owner said that other than when he was in the Army, he rarely shot it and you can tell that he is telling the truth! What is it's value as is and will refinish add to value ? Should I leave it alone and enjoy it as a good shooter.[?]
It may not be the prettiest gal on the block but it does shoot with the best of them![:D]
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.[8D]
It may not be the prettiest gal on the block but it does shoot with the best of them![:D]
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.[8D]
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We make some aircraft items that get nickel (electroless)plating that I had to have stripped a few weeks ago, and I think they were in a nitric acid bath (I don't know the % of solution) and it took 4-5 days to remove it. This application was .001-.0015" thick. While we noticed little change in size after the stripping, I'm not sure you should do this to a weapon. Have you considered having the nickel re-applied after stripping? 0 -
There is a way of electrically removing the plating, it requires a power source and an acid solution, probably something along the lines of what Orca44mag is talking about. It just reverses the process and takes the nickel off the object and puts it back into the solution.
Love them Beavers
SUPPORT THE I.N.S. , THE COUNTRY THEY SAVE COULD BE YOUR OWN0 -
1943 would have been parkerized. The Ni finish has destroyed the collector's advantage. Perhaps you may wish to have the pistol stripped of the finish and parked. It will never be a collector's
item. You may just wish to keep this as a good reliable arm. I have removed many finishes-just to make the arm "presentable as original".
In absolute truth I always mark the arm as refinished-under the scales. I suggest-keep the way as purchased and forget about restoring. 1010 -
Ditto what 101 said, the parkerization completes the look of those wartime 1911's. If you want something more durable check with Arizona Response Systems, they have a park-grey finish for guns that is really durable and has the same color as the original parkerization.
Love them Beavers
SUPPORT THE I.N.S. , THE COUNTRY THEY SAVE COULD BE YOUR OWN0 -
I just went through the same thing you are thinking. I bought a nickle plated Remington Rand that I had intended as a historical shooter. My local gunsmith called it a 'pimp' gun, well, since I'm not a pimp :-( I decided to have it re parkerized. Will let you know how it turns out next month.
Yes, they told me they had to soak it in acid for a week or so depending on how thick the plating was.
I personally think it's worth it to restore such fine guns that have at least some history to them.
Dealer cost to re-park is 75.00 retail could be 150.00 or so depending on your dealer.0 -
The value as-is ---- about $250-350. Stripped & reparked --- $350-450.
Neal
Oh, by the way, current value if it had been left original after it was stolen --- $1,500-$2,000.0 -
Thanks to all that replied. I don't plan on selling it due to how cheap it was and the fact it does shoot so good. I probably will have nickel removed and reparerized but I willl wait till madmarc0 replies as to how his turned out.
madmarc0 if you would, e-mail me as to how your project turned out. I might have mine done and maybe see who done yours to get them to do mine. Here is my e-mail: jjmitchell60@msn.com
Thanks to all.[8D]0 -
jjmitchell60,
A commercial shop that does chrome and nickel plating can strip it. They just put it in the plating tank and reverse the polarity.
Taperloc.0 -
Brownell's sells a kit for stripping nickel for about $40. Enough to strip dozens of pistols. It works very well and takes only a couple days max. It won't work at all on chrome plating, so be sure it it nickel you want to remove. Hope this helps. 0 -
I will send pictures when I get it back. Thanks! 0
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