Merwin & Hulbert Restoration

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

I have this Merwin & Hulbert in my collection.  

 

 

 

Mechanically, this gun works exactly as it should, and is a very nice shooter.   Caliber is .38 S&W, and this is the gun that started my interest in that chambering.  

But as you can see, it is rather ugly.  I have made no decisions yet, but I have recently been thinking of having it restored.  I contacted Turnbull, but they don't do nickel refinishing.  I'm wondering if there is anyone out there who does.  And of course, who can do it right.  I don't wanna have the markings all scrubbed away, for example.  

 

Obviously, I am not looking for a simple "refinish" but a proper restoration of the finish.  Any suggestions?

[Rip Snorter]

Pretty rough for a refinish - you want what you want. If I were you I'd keep an eye out for a better example, maybe one that doesn't need a refinish.

[Earl Brasse, SASS #3562]

Thoughts...

 

It's yours' but I'm with Rip.

Super clean examples come up they hold their value & increase the most.

With the money you have in it plus the cost of an actual "restoration" you may well exceed the price of a fine original.

A restored gun is just that, the "collectors" won't value it for as much as you paid as it isn't original & the "shooters" won't either as it's nicer than they want to pay for.

Save your money up, buy a "looker" & keep this one as a "shooter". 

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

I should point out that this gun was obtained for free.   Many years ago, my father was helping a lady clean out her house, and this was found in a drawer.  Lady wanted it gone, so Dad took it off her hands.   

To be honest, I have seen other examples that look fantastic on the market, and I was shocked at how expensive they are!  I had no idea that these old M&Hs were so valuable.   But seeing some images of ones that still look factory new had me wondering about getting this little guy fixed up right.  That's shy I contacted Turnbull.  But they don't do nickel anymore.  Believe me, this is all very much in the "research" phase.   If it's too expensive to redo it, I'll probably not do it.  I guess nickel refinishing is actually more complicated that bluing/case hardening.   That being said, I was wondering if there is anyone out there that specializes in it.  

It's good to have projects under consideration.

[La Sombra]

@Tequila Shooter, maybe you can answer this.

[Injun Ryder, SASS #36201L]

Back in 2007, I contacted https://www.ronsgunshop.com/ about repairing the barrel tab that pulls the cylinder out and refinishing a M-H Pocket Army. 

 

I was given an estimate of $3000!

 

I would at least double that now.

[Blackwater 53393]

Let me first say that I’m not fond of nickel plating on guns. No offense intended, but it just doesn’t seem to hold well and when it starts peeling and flaking it’s really ugly!

 

If it were mine and I was determined to make it look better, I would have it electronically stripped by a reputable plating company and then cleaned up and blued, perhaps with some engraving.

 

Probably not what you’re really wanting, but it WOULD look pretty nice!

 

 

[Cholla]

Have you tried Mark Novak?

[Rip Snorter]

Part of the reason for nickel was flash for sure, but it was very resistant to Black powder residue corrosion.  A significant benefit in BP cartridge days.  I kinda like it in moderation, for the flash.

[Lazy Eeyour]

This seller may give you some ideas. Also, the page has some useful information.

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/revolvers/merwin-hulbert-revolvers/antique-merwin-hulbert-pocket-model-1st-model-38m-h-3-5-bbl-5-round-mfg-1870-s.cfm?gun_id=103368180

From the above link, the finish is likely nickel. Scroll down to premium finishes.

http://www.runniron.com/general/index.html

Edited January 12 by Lazy Eeyour

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

6 hours ago, Lazy Eeyour said:

This seller may give you some ideas. Also, the page has some useful information.

https://www.gunsinternational.com/guns-for-sale-online/revolvers/merwin-hulbert-revolvers/antique-merwin-hulbert-pocket-model-1st-model-38m-h-3-5-bbl-5-round-mfg-1870-s.cfm?gun_id=103368180

From the above link, the finish is likely nickel. Scroll down to premium finishes.

http://www.runniron.com/general/index.html

 

 

Ooo....   This looks very helpful

Thanks, Lazy.

[Tequila Shooter]

Last year I had a pair of ROA’s refinished.  I had them nickel plated and then had a hard chrome put over it.  This is who I used Cogan   The price were good and the turn around time was about 1 month.   I called first and they were very helpful..

[Abilene Slim SASS 81783]

30 minutes ago, Tequila Shooter said:

Last year I had a pair of ROA’s refinished.  I had them nickel plated and then had a hard chrome put over it.  This is who I used Cogan   The price were good and the turn around time was about 1 month.   I called first and they were very helpful..

I know nothing about this sort of thing. Why nickel plate the gun and then cover it with chrome, thus hiding the color of nickel? Wouldn’t it have been easier and more cost effective to just chrome it? 

[Eyesa Horg]

6 minutes ago, Abilene Slim SASS 81783 said:

I know nothing about this sort of thing. Why nickel plate the gun and then cover it with chrome, thus hiding the color of nickel? Wouldn’t it have been easier and more cost effective to just chrome it? 

Wondered the same thing. Won't the chrome flake when the underlying nickel does?

[Griff]

1 hour ago, Abilene Slim SASS 81783 said:

I know nothing about this sort of thing. Why nickel plate the gun and then cover it with chrome, thus hiding the color of nickel? Wouldn’t it have been easier and more cost effective to just chrome it? 

 

1 hour ago, Eyesa Horg said:

Wondered the same thing. Won't the chrome flake when the underlying nickel does?

Nickel plating is one step in the chrome process.  1st, copper, then nickel, finally chromium.  Hard chrome is slightly different than the chrome bumper on your car, which is decorative in nature, hard chrome is usually a more industrial looking finish finish.  

[Eyesa Horg]

7 minutes ago, Griff said:

 

Nickel plating is one step in the chrome process.  1st, copper, then nickel, finally chromium.  Hard chrome is slightly different than the chrome bumper on your car, which is decorative in nature, hard chrome is usually a more industrial looking finish finish.  

Thank you, I remember the copper layer, but forgot about the nickel layer.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

I must admit that I was disappointed when Turnbull told me they can't do it.

I have two other pistols, one blued and one nickeled, that I am considering having done up with matching engraving but retaining the different finish.   Oh well.

[Wild Willi]

I think I would consider chroming that pistol it’s a hard finish and more forgiving

[watab kid]

looks worth saving to me but id do it just to hang it on the wall 

[Lazy Eeyour]

Be aware:  ammonia can cause corrosion in copper and brass, leading to stress corrosion cracking and degradation of these metals. This occurs because ammonia reacts with the metal surfaces, forming brittle compounds that weaken their structural integrity. Be careful with cleaning solvents. Ammonia will find its way through the chrome and nickel, causing flaking.

[TN Mongo, SASS #61450]

I bought a 1918 vintage Colt 1911 with U.S government markings in the late 1970s from the parents of a student of mine for $75 dollars. They had inherited it and wanted nothing to do with it. Functionally it was fine, but the cheap aftermarket chrome plating was peeling off all over. After reading several articles in gun magazines about the process, I sent it off to be refinished using electroless nickel.  The gun had no collectors value due to the bad chrome job so I had no regrets about refinishing it. I sent off a very ugly pistol and received a really nice-looking gun in return. Unfortunately, I don't recall the name of the outfit I used, but I found this outfit online and it might give you some ideas about possibly doing your pistol in hard chrome or electroless nickel.

 

Firearm Plating | Hard Chrome Specialists

[Waimea]

If you want to talk to someone who is knowledgeable about the process call Outlaw Gambler. He has someone who does chrome plating on 97s and the result is fantastic.

 

Classicoldwestarms.com is his website.

His number is on there.

[watab kid]

please keep us updated on your progress 

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

Well, given how much it looks like getting the nickel finish fixed, and how much these pistols seem to be going for on the used market these days, I think I'll be better off leaving this one as is, and getting as second one in better condition.   A more "rewarding" use of the funds, so to speak.   Granted, it won't look "factory new" but there are some very nice looking ones I've seen that are in the same price range as getting this one redone.   And then, I'd have 2 of them!

Thank you to everyone who offered very helpful information.