Ford's Black Nickel Finish?

[alienbogey]

I'm considering refinishing a P7 of mine in Ford's Black Nickel. Here is a link to pictures of a 1911 so done:

Black Nickel Finish

Does anyone have experience with this finish?

In performing my due diligence I find that Ford's has an outstanding reputation as a refinishing shop, but I can find very little in the way of users reporting how the finish stands up over time for an everyday carry piece.

I would be refinishing the P7 with it just for the heck of it and to have something different, and it would be carried daily.

Any experiences with it? Photos would be greatly appreciated also as my search of several gun forums has turned up only a few pictures.

 

[CraigC]

No direct experience but I handled a few in Bob Cogan's shop (Accurate Plating & Weaponry) and it's a beautiful finish. Those pictures from Ford's don't do it justice.

 

[Guillermo]

beautiful

The Ford's black chrome finish is absolutely beautiful

I have heard that it is not as durable as other hard finishes but I have no direct knowledge.

 

[Kingofthehill]

wow!.. that is the finish ive been looking for!... The gun that has really made my head spin was the Colt Talo edition

 

[gunnie]

nice polishing on those, handsome handguns. be advised, nickel isn't very corrosion proof. and a certain amount of "lubricity" comes with the hard chrome plating process. if hard chrome is an option, as in Guillermo's posting #3, go that route? just as purdy, WAY better iron protection.

bud-o-mine has a pre-80 satin nickel combat commander that is still in good mechanical shape, but looks like hammered dung due to exterior condition. would loose big time if he went to sell it. i think a blued one exposed to the same neglect would be much easier on the eyes.

gunnie

 

[CraigC]

nickel isn't very corrosion proof.

Nickel isn't as hard as chrome but it IS more corrosion resistant than hard chrome and stainless steel.

 

[gunnie]

below from:

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

..."So what does chrome do to help these inherent stainless faults.
It imparts to the surface an additional coating that has to be attacked and penetrated before it can attack the base metal.
Due to the type of bonding chrome plating has with a base metal the overall corrosion resistance increases more than the rating for each metal. This may be the best combination of the two elements involved when corrosion resistance is a major concern.
Hard chrome with its inherently low friction co-efficiency allows for smoother operation of the matted stainless parts with tighter tolerances and decreases the possibility of galling. You now can have a tighter, smoother, more dependable operating firearm. Third, due to the hardness of chrome, wear and tear is less noticeable and takes longer to happen. You have a better looking firearm with less maintenance. "...

..."Nickel Plated Finishes, in general, run about a 45 R.C. This is as hard as most of the parts in firearms manufacturing, but way off of the standard Hard Chrome at 65 R.C. Also, Nickel can tarnish, or stain like silver. Even some cleaning solvents can damage Nickel Finishes. Chrome, on the other hand, will not change its appearance unless attached by certain strong acids, or bases. Also, Nickel is more prone to show wear due to the lower hardness of the deposit, similar to Stainless Steel Firearms. Nickel and Chrome Finishes cost the same at AP&W. So unless there is special reason to choose Nickel, Chrome would be the better choice. Salt spray ratings are about the same…100+ hours."...

gunnie