Removing nickel plating on WW2 1911A1?

[trbon8r]

I found what might be a good deal on a WW2 era 1911A1 pistol. It has a Colt frame, but Remington Rand slide. In other words a typical mixmaster. Sadly, someone decided it was a good idea to nickel plate the poor pistol.

If I can get this piece for the right price, I was wondering how much of a pain it is to remove nickel plating, and restore the original parkerized finish? Is the nickel plating easily removed?

 

[GRIZ22]

Nickel can be properly removed by setting up to nickel plate and swap the cathode and anode (can't remember which connects to the gun and which to the nickel) it's just the reverse of plating.

Any good refinishing shop can do this then parkerize the gun. Keep in mind the deplating as described is a slow process. I have satin nickel removed from a slide so it can be beadblast blued. It cost more to deplate it than to have it blued.

 

[gb6491]

Nickel is best removed by chemical or (as posted by GRIZ22) electrochemical process. Here is some interesting reading on the subject: Safe and effective removal of nickel plating
Brownells sells solutions to do both the chemical or electrochemical stripping mentioned in the article.

You should be able to find a professional that will do the job for near what the chemicals cost. I.E.:Robar lists chemical stripping at $65 for a revolver or pistol.

Regards,
Greg

 

[Baneblade]

My grandfathers old WWI 1911 is in the exact condition. I checked with ROBAR in Phoenix to see how much it would be to do the whole gun and one magazine with a parkarized finish afterwards. If I remember correctly it was going to be $200. My local shop didn't even offer parkerizing so I didn't have a basis of comparison.