old style nickel is MUCH different than modern It has a softer look, with a deeper, just slightly goldish sheen.  Modern nickel has more chrome in it, so its harder and brighter Like an early 60's Cadillac bumper and grill.  there are still a couple places that do old style nickel, SteveD and Glen have both used them. 
I have a cast Ballard actioned 22 rf rifle (rebarrelled/modern wood) with original factory nickel on the action; and my 1870's chicago-made perc. schuetzen has nickel on the buttplate and lever. they're not bad looking at all.  not what you'd want for a hunting gun, but for target use---who knows it might blind and distract the other shooters.

Since I can't do work that nice, I sure wont judge anyone else's workmanship! But as for the choice of a nickel receiver; I've never cared for them, regardless of who did the work, or what gun it was done on.

The prettiest Wesson Mid-Range that I ever saw was a 40-70. It was silver plated and fully engraved. It came from Wesson’s shop so everything was top notch.
I have to agree it looks pretty shiny now but once the nickel softens it will look better.

40 Rod

.22-5-40 wrote on Feb 12^th, 2014 at 10:27pm:


That's what he says in More SS Rifles...but in SS Rifles, he called them drop-forged--presume at that point, he was guessing, as he said he'd seen only 4 of them.

You guys get all hung up on the bright finish.  Bet you could find a dead cat under that forestock.  I can see the side of the lower tang in one picture.   The borders on the checkering look like the checkerer was drunk and didn't give a damn. The points are stubbed off also. No, not top notch craftsmanship on this rifle.   



      Joe. 

Joe went back and took a closer look at the checkering and it surely does not look like Gleen or Steve's work nor that of a guild member.

JLouis

2nd that, rifle built on a Ruger # 1 may be useful but it's not worth high money to me.

Boy we are critical, but that's the way it is. Nothing at all against Steve Earls fine action, Finished Rifle was just not well planned or executed.

Boats

"Theres an 11 pound 50-140 borchardt set up for long range listed for 18k as well as a 9 lb 40-90 with a swiss buttplate for 19k, the work is impeccable but today they would amount to what custom sharps owners call a "mistake rifle".  They look nice but they're nearly unshootable"
I don't understand the "logic" of the above. In the case of the Wesson, the maker built the rifle according to the instructions of the first owner. This is the way the owner wanted it to be made. I understand that the gun was sold to the dealer who is now offering it for sale. So you're blaming someone for having a rifle built to specs you don't like and blaming a dealer for selling it? In the real world, a Ferrari ain't a Hyundai. As  far as tastes changing, I suggest you look at the Dutcher Ballard book or Marcot's book on Rollers, or some of the books on Colts and Winchesters. Since firearms first started being manufactured there have been fancy guns made and lots of them made to be safe queens. Sam Colt made a slew of fancy cased guns, many of which were never intended to be fired. People with the means can always have the guns of their dreams built and in the process keep gunsmiths employed.