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January 16, 2015
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Okay this may be an odd ball question I think this is probably the best section for it. Recently I saw a thread where a member posted a picture of a beautiful Dan Wesson, I don't know whether it was hard chromed or nickel plated, I know it was not original to the gun. First off does anyone know a place that does top notch work like that, and what would be a reasonable price?
What I am thinking and this is still in the early stages is that now that I have a model 15-2 with beautiful blue and barney finish, looking at my significantly older model 15 porckchop with less then stellar finish, (not bad in anyway but a gun that shows its age and use a little more). Is that I would love to have it with a bright chrome/nickel finish, I may be in the minority here I I do slightly prefer the lines on the porkchop more then the 15-2 and think that it would look amazing to have an entire "pistol pack' in the finish. I currently have a 4" blued shroud and a 6" matte nickel shroud and have my eye on a few 2.5" shrouds that I am hoping to win. First what are the pros/cons of hard chrome vs nickel. Second would it even be possible to get such a smooth finish put on top of the matte nickel shroud (I will enclose a picture so you can better judge). Third since this will already be a pieced together "pistol pack" will it lower the value of the package. I cannot imagine selling but as someone who respects the history of these guns this one being many years older then I, I would be wary of doing something that negatively effected peoples perception of the firearm. In the end I know it comes down to me, the owner deciding what I want to do but I am open to thoughts as I view myself as more of a custodian of this quality piece hopefully for the next generation.
Thoughts, criticisms or general discussion would be greatly appreciated, as of now this is just a pipe dream, but I really think this could be a really sharp looking Dan Wesson with a really well done finish and interchangeable barrels, something to make the colt python guys jealous. As always your help/guidance is greatly appreciated.
6" porchop shoud, disregard the early EWK flash hider I like having it on as with the matte shroud, matte blue flash hider and shiny blued/barney frame I feel it may take the prize for most hogpodged Dan Wesson out there.
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Range Officers
Dans Club
February 28, 2009
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For refinishing probably Ford's: http://fordsguns.com/
Why not do the whole gun in mat nickle. Any finish on the gun, whether blue or nickle will have to be removed before applying a new finish.
Let us see the results please.
-Mike
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Dans Club
December 4, 2011
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I have a 15 in matte nickel and it looks very nice. I personally like the matte finish better than the shiny nickel or hard chrome, but that is just me.
I think zoommb is correct on Fords.
Be sure to show us what ever you have done, sounds like a very cool project.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
My father
If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
My grandfather
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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It was probably my bright nickel 15-2 that you saw, I had this done locally several years ago. My local gunsmith disassembled and prepped the gun, which included an overall polish and smoothing. He sent it out to be finished, which included a copper base coat and then the bright nickel. The gunsmith then reassembled the gun (and did what we now call the Average Joe Tune Up) and did a final polishing touch up.
I honestly don't recall what I paid, I know it was a little high, I know I paid a premium to have it done locally.
One caution with bright nickel is to be very careful with cleaning solvents, any bore cleaner that removes copper can also start to break down the copper base layer. Since I have other DW's, I tend to shoot this one less, but it is not a safe queen.
If i was doing this again, I would use Fords, based purely on their reputation.
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
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Dans Club
March 25, 2013
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I have a 14-2 that I thought was stainless when I bought it at a gunshow. Turned out to be hard chrome. Somebody did a great job on a beautiful gun. More durable than nickel and no copper base to worry about. It is a brushed finish like a 714. The frame had one ever present scratch mark on the sideplate from the ejector star that was there before the chrome job. Believe me, all marks must be polished out before the coating. I think a great job will add value to your gun but a poor job will detract.
January 16, 2015
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Thanks for all the replies guys, this forum may be the smallest I participate in, but the speed of responses and the information given out is second to none. Now I just need to get my hands on a 2.5" porkchop barrel assembly at a reasonable price. I tried a couple on gun broker but so far they all went higher then I thought appropriate. If nothing else hopefully DWAS will help me build patience. Reading here and various other places it seems like hard chrome will be the way for me to go. I would rather not worry about specific solvants and apparently the vast majority of complaints about hard chrome chipping were from when they used an older technique. I just hope I can get this squared away before changing duty stations to Hawai'i. Looking over the gun laws over there I do not know if I will be bringing any of my firearms with me, (only my two Dans and walther P99 compact would be allowed anyway, and with no chance of a carry permit, and limited ranges I do not see the point. Politics aside thanks again, this forum and its members are astounding.
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