Chrome 1911 - What to do?

[cwbuff]

I'm have an inherited 1911 that was chromed after WW2. It is a WWI pistol (SN 328,XXX) with WW2 plastic grips. The barrel and the mag release is still in brushed blue. The rest is chromed including the mag. The chrome on inside of the slide and frame is very rough - so much so that it does not operate very well. If you push down the recoil spring plug it stays put even under spring pressure - you have to force it out with a nylon drift pin.

Should it be de-chromed and blued or just left alone?

[Scott Gahimer]

I suppose it's up to you whether or not you want to look at a chromed pistol that doesn't operate very well...or shoot a pistol that's been refinished at least a couple of times. I'm not much for looking at chromed pistols.

[p246]

im not at home so I will post you a picture later. I bought a GI bringback 1911 from daughter last year after he passed for 200.00. In the 1950's he had it chromed....ughhh all correct Remington Rand. Anyway I wanted a shooter for light loads to go with my rebuilt AA R.R. I sent it to preformance plating in Olathe Ks. For 45.00 they deplated it to white. I lightly sandblasted it and reparked it with zinc phosphate. It is light grey instead of green grey one would see in a armory rebuilt gun (cosmoline storage). I bought a new pin and spring set. For about 350.00 I have nice shooting WW2 example that I dont worry about shooting. My son has already laid claim to it when I'm gone. At first I was just gonna leave it chromed but just hated the looks.

[Johnny P]

The chrome buildup is causing your tolerance problems.

By the way, WWII pistols that were never in cosmoline have the green color.

[p246]

This is my project right after park. I did eventually put Keyes grips on it. This is third gun I've had dechromed. Other two were hi powers. One was pretty pitted under chrome. No way to tell until chrome comes off.

[p246]

I should add in all projects there seemed to be one or two tiny spots chrome stayed. If you expand the above picture and look at rear bottom corner of handle by the main spring housing you will see a tiny spec of chrome that remained. The guy at performance plating said a second dip would fix that. I wasn't worried about it, but some might.

[Richard H Brown Jr]

Chroming a gun hides a multitude of sins.

RHB

[chuckindenver]

some turn out nice....some not so much...pealing chrome= pitting under it..

[p246]

There was also the issue how it was prepped before chroming. I know of another project where it appears gun was sandblasted with heavy media under a lot of pressure. Small pits all over gun but very uniform. Once again until deplated one never knows,

[cwbuff]

The markings look crisp, so I do not think it was sand blasted. Some copper is showing in the wear areas under the slide.

[p246]

Its probably a good candidate for deplating or at least a shot. The Hi power that was pitted still shoots well I just had to block sand the fine pitting. Lost sharp corners and some letters but much better than a chrome club.

[joem]

+1 with Johnny P. The chrome tightens up tolerance and is rough until polished. Removal of the plating may solve some operational problems.

[Guamsst]

You could have the inside of the slide bead blasted to remove the flaking/pitting. IF you can find someone who will do it and won't screw it up.

[ignats]

What is the cost of removing the chrome and then having refinished? Wondering if it's cost justified.

[p246]

What is the cost of removing the chrome and then having refinished? Wondering if it's cost justified.

I paid 45.00 to have mine deplated. I reparked it myself. Any good shooter I'd try and keep total investment under 500.00 as a general rule. Anything above that and even if it turns out nice you will be upside down at least short term.