there are only  few shops that still do historically correct nickel plating.  Steve Durren told me once about the one he uses----somewhere in the north east I think---but I don't remember which one it is. 
As I recall one of the past ASSRA "raffle rifles" was a copy of a Zettler (???) 22 lo-wall match trophy rifle that was nickeled and I think Steve and Glen Fewless  worked on it.   you might give Steve or Glen a call

Most Nickel plating done now is too silvery to look right on restored or recreated vintage rifles. not quite as hard shiny looking as a classic Cadillac bumper, but closer to that than the mellow warm tone of classic firearms nickel.  I have a factory nickeled Ballard 22f action and someday want to have the replacement buttplate and lever properly nickeled.      

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Hi Dale --  There is definitely a time and a place for nickel plating in arms collecting, particularly when such finishes replicate period correct original finishes.

I own a ~ 90 Y.O. firearm that has been in storage and never been fired, and the original factory plating is 100% w/out a flaw.  

I cringe at the thought of someone wanting to accomplish a true factory plated finish on one of their firearms, and simply picking up their local "yellow pages" directory for the purpose of locating a place to take it for plating. (Is there still such a thing as a yellow page directory?)

It has been suggested in one of these help messages (i.e. "I know all about that") that a firearms owner who drops off his/her piece with a business for plating should monitor the polishing process and the "worker out on the floor".  That would, for me, give me pause for a second cringe.

Above all else, stay away from the fellas who plate all manner of motorcycle goodies for Bobba.  I am NOT offering or recommending this particular business over any other reputable businesses, since I have no experience with them. This is just a representative sample of the type of businesses that you most likely would want to be in communication with as you search for a vendor for firearms finishing work.

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Dr.Maynard
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FITZ wrote on May 10^th, 2015 at 9:26pm:


I have to second this. I almost had a action ruined because of them wanting to polish it.

Frank

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You get what you pay for in life.  You pay cheap prices for tires at Wal-Mart;    you get cheap tires at Wal-Mart.  Oh, I can just hear you now, the new tires were marked Good Year !

You're kidding yourself.  The cheapie stores arrange a high volume purchase and the tire manufacturers make special runs of cheapie tires especially for them.

You go to the amateur plating shops, you get low wage workers (i.e. kids) who know nothing, except that its getting near lunch time, and you come away saying " almost had an action ruined because of them"
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I believe the poster of the previous quote was attempting to write " Abercrombie and Fitch " but quite humorously, it came out as Amberctombe & Fitch which made me laugh at this early hour of the morning.  A good laugh  and a cup of coffee is certainly refreshing prior to my automobile commute to the office.

I just happen to have a very fine Holland and Holland side by side which was private labeled and sold through Abercrombie and Fitch in New York and as I recall the sales and transfer tax that I paid on the purchase price was just around the $1 K figure that is mentioned.  

I know from shopping at Abercrombie and Fitch that they also private labeled Francotte, Rizzini and other superior quality firearms in the twentieth century, but certainly not the Ruger label as has been suggested to you in the previous post.  As a matter of fact, to mention Wal-Mart and Abercrombie and Fitch in the same sentence is an absurdity and an obscenity, in my opinion.

For future reference, by the turn of the 21st. century, Abercrombie and Fitch became a teenagers clothing store which reflects the "pop - culture" and presently does not even come close to representing the societal values which its founders embodied in the late 1890's. 

I am slightly amazed by the fact that a truck driver would even know about Abercrombie and Fitch, much less be able to spell the name correctly.

Dr.Maynard
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I have reported this totally degrading post to the Moderators, as a violation of TOS for this forum. I would permenintly expell anyone with this kind of elitist attitude. This type of talk is  very deterimentle to our forum!!!!

Frank

Hey Frank, interestingly I also reported this also using the same basic wording. Wonder how many on the forum will see this in a similar light.