Refinishing

[cruzans]

Just bought a nickel s&w 38 and has a couple small flecks in the nickel. If I decide to try to make it perfect, does anyone know who does this kind of work - preferably in the Hsbg area? Tx

[surbat6]

I'm unaware of any gunsmith who refinishes nickel plating. I believe a plating shop that's willing to handle small orders might be willing to take on a "de-plating" (after which the revolver should be polished) then re-plating job. Simple touch-ups don't work with nickel like they do with blued finishes. That's the disadvantage of the nickel finish - it holds up better, resisting corrosion much longer than blue, but when it starts to flake, it looks MUCH worse.
Having written that, I recall a home electroplating kit that came out about forty years back. It allowed plating with copper, nickel, silver or gold. You supplied the battery. Might still be around.

[knight0334]

If there are any chroming shops around, they will be able to plate nickel. Nickel is used as a "primer" for chrome on steel since chrome wont plate to steel directly. Check to see if any of the nearby chrome shops have a FFL to handle doing any gun plating.

[cruzans]

Thanks guys. Still trying to see if I'll leave the "character" marks or re-do the revolver. It is not in bad shape, so might keep it original If I do decide, I'll check out a chrome shop though !