SAJohn
Hunter
My 52 year young nickel plated .44 flattop just arrived. My original plan was to remove the plating, polish it a bit, and rust blue it. Well, cleaning it up with a first peak inside and I started to change my mind. Even though some of the nickle has pelled off it still looks mighty pretty. Roy and the Lone Ranger's plated revolvers always looked good.
Then I went outside to take a few photos and tried sighting it in the afternoon sun. I still have spots in front of my eyes.
This thing would make a great signaling mirror. When it was plated, the micro rear sights were not removed and the front side blade was not masked off. With the wrong sun angle you just could not sight this gun to shoot. Here is a pic:
It is also difficult to photograph, the flash is out of the question, in the shade it usually comes out too dark, and in the sun too bright.
It has a great serial number - 1880, too bad it isn't 1873.
The 'rubber' grips are in great shape but a little sticky. My plan is to clean them with a soft toothbrush and a mild detergent unless you guys know a better way.
I think I am back to plan A and remove the copper and nickle. Research on the internet tells my there are two ways to do the removal, either chemically or reverse electro-plating. Brownells sells a chemical remover for a princely $70 plus dollars. Apparantly the electro method leaves a serious toxic waste material (a PG&E Brockovitch special).
I well talk to a local plater Monday. Many of these folks do not want to deal with firearms and may not know the proper currents and time.
Have any of you been through this process before?
SAJohn
Then I went outside to take a few photos and tried sighting it in the afternoon sun. I still have spots in front of my eyes.
This thing would make a great signaling mirror. When it was plated, the micro rear sights were not removed and the front side blade was not masked off. With the wrong sun angle you just could not sight this gun to shoot. Here is a pic:
It is also difficult to photograph, the flash is out of the question, in the shade it usually comes out too dark, and in the sun too bright.
It has a great serial number - 1880, too bad it isn't 1873.
The 'rubber' grips are in great shape but a little sticky. My plan is to clean them with a soft toothbrush and a mild detergent unless you guys know a better way.
I think I am back to plan A and remove the copper and nickle. Research on the internet tells my there are two ways to do the removal, either chemically or reverse electro-plating. Brownells sells a chemical remover for a princely $70 plus dollars. Apparantly the electro method leaves a serious toxic waste material (a PG&E Brockovitch special).
I well talk to a local plater Monday. Many of these folks do not want to deal with firearms and may not know the proper currents and time.
Have any of you been through this process before?
SAJohn
