Refinish my antique.

[Rifle Master]

So my American bulldog..

I'd love to get the frame and cylinder replated in nickel and I think the trigger and hammer case hardened would look amazing.

Any leads on a shop that could do either one or both?

I have zero issue in taking everything apart if need be, as I rather enjoy doing so.

 

[tokguy]

There is a plating place in Cowtown IIRC.
I have a swamp angel that needs it badly.
Let us know how it turns out.

 

[laurencen]

to get a nice job all the pitting should be removed, anything is possible just takes money but is it not desirable to leave as original finish

 

[MosinMan13]

Definitely something to think about, sort of like milsurps and bubbas, you may regret modifying something with a century + of appeal with some modern finish that can’t be put back.

That finish doesn’t look awful as it is, a light polishing alone might make it shine like new.

I’ve refinished one of my antiques before but it was one I decided was a keeper for life and was practically a gutted skeleton of rust when I acquired it, so it wasn’t losing much no matter what. Even then I was careful to respect the original finish.

 

[fritzhanzel]

The revolver in question already has been sanded down already. If you gonna have it plated, the surface has to be smooth like a baby butt. In order to achieve that, it would require to sand it down even more. A lot of work and it would weaken the frame and cylinder. If you really like those type of Bulldogs, I would recommend finding a very nice example and sell this one. Or better, find a really nice Webley and sell this one.

 

[cooey43]

Please let me make a suggestion in regard to refinishing antique guns ?
1 - Do NOT do unless all /or almost all original finish is gone.
2 - Much pitts are present.
3- Then refinish to look like the gun did when new ,,, OR BEST choice
4 -Refinish in all protected areas & brown in exsposed areas , so it looks normal
for an old partly worn gun.

 

[fritzhanzel]

Please let me make a suggestion in regard to refinishing antique guns ?
1 - Do NOT do unless all /or almost all original finish is gone.
2 - Much pitts are present.
3- Then refinish to look like the gun did when new ,,, OR BEST choice
4 -Refinish in all protected areas & brown in exsposed areas , so it looks normal
for an old partly worn gun.

I can tell from the pictures that somebody before him sanded it down. The only part untouched appears the barrel, the rest has no finish and part of the metal is sanded down.

Look carefully at his pictures and you can see that.

I owned many of those old guns. I only kept those with a good finish left. I would even be careful shooting that gun as pictured.

 

[Old Guns Canada]

Refinishing is very much a personal choice. The cost of doing the work well (especially nickel) is rarely worth the effort and not likely to increase the value of the gun, especially a cheap one like the Iver Johnson. Yours looks quite pitted and has lots of rounded edges so it looks like it's been worked on before. As a shooting toy, it's neither here or there, as the restoration will do nothing for the mechanics and the shooting safety. I'd rather have a rough-looking gun that's safe than one which looks pristine and ends up blowing up in my hand. Just my opinion.