Electroless Nickel Colts

[russian]

Along the lines of learning something new everyday, a friend of mine (not much of a friend since I didn't know he had these before last weekend mind you!) showed me an 'electroless'(sp?) nickel government and an Officers which I thought were just the neatest looking Colts. Sort of a rough type nickel finish which seemed to have more of a yellow or gold-like hue.

What's the story or background on the electroless nickel and whose got one to share? Since these two were the first I had seen, I can't imagine there are many, so it will be a long time before I get to find one.

Thanks

[dakota1911]

Pictures are great on something like this for the forum as far as the 1911 pistols. You can google Electroless Nickle and find out all about it.

[Metal]

I have recently seen several Electroless nickel Colts on Gunbroker. Not all of them were 1911.

[cajunfj40]

Older than I am Combat Commander.

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb138/cajunfj40/154.jpg
http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb138/cajunfj40/156.jpg

[texagun]

Here are a couple.
On top: Bright Nickel LW Commander
Bottom: Satin Nickel Combat Commander

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y46/w5lx/Commanderonyellow.jpg



http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y46/w5lx/Colt70seriesCombatCommanderlefts-1.jpg

[russian]

Very very nice guys.

So how old is that combat commander Cajun?

How does the finish wear over time? Does it seem to be pretty solid?

[cajunfj40]

My father says it was purchased in the early 70s. The pistol was carried off and on for 30 years before handed to me. The finish is worn on the front strap and parts of the slide from holster wear. You cant tell because I keep it oiled well to stave off rust.

I suppose after thirty years of hard use in a humid southern environment it has held up well. Be careful what you clean it with as some cleaners can affect the plating. Also, I belive that the yellow tinge is the copper base plate showing underneath.

I may send it back to Colt to replate later as its the only thing wrong with it.

If I had to chose a plating for a pistol it would be hard chrome but this one works well also.

[Hawkmoon]

It's a thin, plated coating. It wears, and it scratches. Nickel itself won't rust, but if you get wear or scratches through the plating the base metal will rust.

You won't send it back to Colt to have it refinished. They haven't done electroless nickel for many years and they don't have the capability in-house any more. Yes, I asked -- I was considering an electroless nickel Combat Commander that had a somewhat rough finish.

You can buy home plating kits that might come pretty close to replicating the electroless nickel, but I haven't tried one.

A more durable finish that's similar in appearance would be hard chrome.

[wetidlerjr]

Along the lines of learning something new everyday, a friend of mine (not much of a friend since I didn't know he had these before last weekend mind you!) showed me an 'electroless'(sp?) nickel government and an Officers which I thought were just the neatest looking Colts. Sort of a rough type nickel finish which seemed to have more of a yellow or gold-like hue.

What's the story or background on the electroless nickel and whose got one to share? Since these two were the first I had seen, I can't imagine there are many, so it will be a long time before I get to find one.

Thanks


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/wetidlerjr/Colt%201911/COLTGOVTS70_1979001Medium-1.jpg

This was one I had NIB (1981 S70 Govt. Model). It was a "safe queen" and I wanted a shooter so I did a trade for an SCG. And, no, I do not regret getting rid of it as I like to shoot 'em. http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/grinser/grinning-smiley-002.gif

[clughog]

I've seen more than a few in the Texas area where it appears that moisture has gotten between the layers and caused the top finish to "bubble" and pit. On a side note, I discovered that Flitz really cleans up the finish without hurting the pistol--worked great on my Satin Nickel Combat Commander. Good stuff!

[Phil]

It's not an uncommon finish on older Colts, particularly Commanders. Copper is used as a substrate for the nickel, so copper-dissloving bore cleaners such as Hoppe's No. 9 are best kept off of the nickle parts.

There are refinishers who can still replate in electroless nickle.

http://www.apwcogan.com/Refinishing.htm

http://www.apwcogan.com/nickel_plating.htm

http://www.apwcogan.com/Refinishing%20prices.htm

[MondoCane]

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd293/k8ditben/P1010106.jpg

Here's my '75 GM S70, stock.

[paul45]

It's not an uncommon finish on older Colts, particularly Commanders. Copper is used as a substrate for the nickel, so copper-dissloving bore cleaners such as Hoppe's No. 9 are best kept off of the nickle parts.

There are refinishers who can still replate in electroless nickle.


Very nice pics of electro-plated Colts. However, the OP asked about Electroless nickle Colts.......

None of those fine pics show electroless nickled Colts

E-nick was a custom shop finish.....Colts having a e-nick finish are valued at a premium as it was a custom shop special order, usually denoted with the yellow custom shop label on the box endflap. Bright and satin nickel were commonly used as a production finish.



The difference is bright and satin nickel are plated with copper first, then electrical current is used in a solution to promote the plating process. To get Bright nickel, the piece was highly polished before plating....of course, satin was left matte before plating.

Electroless nickel does not require prior plating, in fact, is applied directly to the item to be plated in a chemical process. It does not have the yellowish hue common to electro plating, and is much more durable/harder.......not prone to scratching, pitting, or peeling.


I thought it would be interesting to note the difference.

[texagun]

E-nick was a custom shop finish.....Colts having a e-nick finish are valued at a premium as it was a custom shop special order, usually denoted with the yellow custom shop label on the box endflap.


Paul,
Thanks for that explanation of the process. I know nothing about it. Would this be the type of label you are referring to?


http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y46/w5lx/NickleColtLabel.jpg

[paul45]

Like the one in this GunBroker auction....scroll down to the pics

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=89389760

I am curious about the pic you show....I wonder why it is listed as a 4 3/4 inch??

[texagun]

I don't know why the barrel length is listed that way. It is a standard size commander as you can see from my prior post in this thread.

[paul45]

Funny......I guess the person writing was daydreaming!!

Fine looking Commander, by the way! The plating on the front strap looks brand spanking new.

[wetidlerjr]

Very nice pics of electro-plated Colts. However, the OP asked about Electroless nickle Colts.......

None of those fine pics show electroless nickled Colts

E-nick was a custom shop finish.....Colts having a e-nick finish are valued at a premium as it was a custom shop special order, usually denoted with the yellow custom shop label on the box endflap. Bright and satin nickel were commonly used as a production finish.



The difference is bright and satin nickel are plated with copper first, then electrical current is used in a solution to promote the plating process. To get Bright nickel, the piece was highly polished before plating....of course, satin was left matte before plating.

Electroless nickel does not require prior plating, in fact, is applied directly to the item to be plated in a chemical process. It does not have the yellowish hue common to electro plating, and is much more durable/harder.......not prone to scratching, pitting, or peeling.


I thought it would be interesting to note the difference.

Sorry about that ! I always like a chance to post pics. ;)

[paul45]

Sorry about that ! I always like a chance to post pics. ;)I love the pictures as well! Especially your nickel with the blue controls!

[Phil]

Electroless nickel does not require prior plating, in fact, is applied directly to the item to be plated in a chemical process. It does not have the yellowish hue common to electro plating, and is much more durable/harder.......not prone to scratching, pitting, or peeling.Oops.... Guess I mixed up the terms. I was referring to electroplate. Thanks.......

[paul45]

Oops.... Guess I mixed up the terms. I was referring to electroplate. Thanks....... I got interested in this nickel business a few years ago as I kept noticing that e-nickel Colts were "rare" and more valuable than the other nickel finishes.

It really is nit-picky, but for some reason I found it interesting how nickel plating has evolved since it's introduction and it's use on firearms.

[russian]

Thanks for everyones comments (and pics!) I didn't think the electroless were too common, I look at a lot of stuff, but havent seen anything like it before. Thanks Paul for your explanation. You mention in your post about the process how there isn't the 'yellowish hue' usually present, but in the two examples I saw, it seemed (either from the pieces or the light in the shop) that they did have that hue. Why would that be?

[paul45]

Thanks for everyones comments (and pics!) I didn't think the electroless were too common, I look at a lot of stuff, but havent seen anything like it before. Thanks Paul for your explanation. You mention in your post about the process how there isn't the 'yellowish hue' usually present, but in the two examples I saw, it seemed (either from the pieces or the light in the shop) that they did have that hue. Why would that be?I would gather if you are seeing yellow or golden hue in certain light that the finish is standard electo-plated nickel. It is because that process requires a "primer" if you will.......copper is used.....thus the "hue".

Elecroless plating does not require any prep.....it can be applied directly through the chemical process.

Last, seeing Colts finished in electroless nickel is very uncommon.

[MondoCane]

So how many different nickle finishes are there?
Ive heard of ColtGuard and electroless nickel, bright nickel, satin nickel and now nickel plating. This would be pre stainless steel era type nickel finishes.

The lightweight aluminum frames can be hard anodized and still be nickel looking-like, but in pre Series 80 terms any gun not blued has nickel finishing in some form.

My incorrect assumption was that electroless was the adjective used that described the nickel process. Apparently the bare steel was copper plated via electrolytic means and then further processed in a nickel process not using electrolysis.

[paul45]

Apparently the bare steel was copper plated via electrolytic means and then further processed in a nickel process not using electrolysis.I would disagree with that statement. Electroless nickel does not use copper.....it is applied to the item to be plated directly by means of a chemical process.