Uberti Desperado

Single Action Army · June 11, 2013, 12:23 PM

Does anybody know anything about uberti's nickel plated revolvers specifically the desperado model and would someone kinda tell me what a nickel finish looks like I've never really seen one in person is it like the finish on the ruger vaqueros the gloss stainless or whatever it's called.

KCRaider21 · June 11, 2013, 01:10 PM

I have a Uberti 1873 cattleman with nickel finish, but here is a picture of the desperado.

Bart Noir · June 11, 2013, 02:02 PM

SAA, I noticed your location. Say hello to US Marshall Raylan Givens

You asked about nickle plated revolvers, but you really mean polished stainless steel, don't you? That pic in the other response sure looks like polished SS, and the Ruger you mention is certainly polished SS.

Nickle plating is soft and obsolete, IMHO.

Bart Noir

Duke City Six · June 12, 2013, 11:51 AM

According to Uberti's website, they do in fact offer a few guns in nickel, including the Desperado.

Bill DeShivs · June 12, 2013, 12:51 PM

Nickel plating is not particularly soft, and most certainly is not obsolete!
It is much more durable than bluing, and electroless nickel is actually quite hard.
Nickel plating, done properly, can be one of the most attractive finishes.

Bart Noir · June 12, 2013, 02:33 PM

Bill, are not nickel plating and electroless nickel entirely different finishes? The second is certainly very duarable.

And I am not sure if electroless nickel can be polished. If anybody knows for sure, please share that info.

Bart Noir

Duke City Six · June 12, 2013, 03:44 PM

Back to the OP's question.

"Is it like the finish on the Ruger Vaqueros...?"

Well, they are both shiny, but they are different.

The experts here can elaborate on this, but nickel, like bluing, is a finish applied to the exterior of carbon steel. Stainless guns, on the other hand, are solid stainless steel.

I believe the high polish on the stainless Vaqueros was intended to resemble nickel.

Bob Wright · June 12, 2013, 05:09 PM

As far as I'm concerned, stainless in no way resembles nickel.

Nickel is, as noted, a plating over carbon steel. It slightly yellows, or turns golden color, with age. It has a character about the finish that stainless can never achieve. Stainless has as much character as polymer.

Bob Wright

Hawg · June 12, 2013, 05:14 PM

What Bob said and nickel looks sooo much better than stainless could ever hope to.

Bill DeShivs · June 12, 2013, 05:27 PM

Electroless and electrolytic nickel finishes are generally the same. The application methods are different, and additives can be used with electroless.
Plating does not make things shiny or matte- the surface finish that is plated dictates how the plated article looks. Nickel (either method) plated on a polished surface will be shiny, or if plated on a sandblasted finish will be satin.

robhof · June 12, 2013, 05:44 PM

I prefer stainless or blued, but that's just me, oh, and Bart Raylan Givens is actually filmed in Pennsylvania, a great show, but nothing looks like Ky there, except the people.

Duke City Six · June 12, 2013, 06:11 PM

I agree that nickel has more character than stainless. I've read that Ruger's intention in offering the high polish stainless was that it would resemble the old nickel guns.

June 11, 2013, 12:23 PM	#1
Single Action Army Junior member Join Date: June 7, 2013 Location: Harlan, Ky Posts: 7	Uberti Desperado Does anybody know anything about uberti's nickel plated revolvers specifically the desperado model and would someone kinda tell me what a nickel finish looks like I've never really seen one in person is it like the finish on the ruger vaqueros the gloss stainless or whatever it's called.

June 11, 2013, 02:02 PM	#3
Bart Noir Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2000 Location: Puget Sound, USA Posts: 2,215	SAA, I noticed your location. Say hello to US Marshall Raylan Givens You asked about nickle plated revolvers, but you really mean polished stainless steel, don't you? That pic in the other response sure looks like polished SS, and the Ruger you mention is certainly polished SS. Nickle plating is soft and obsolete, IMHO. Bart Noir __________________ Be of good cheer and mindful of your gun muzzle!

June 12, 2013, 12:51 PM	#5
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,985	Nickel plating is not particularly soft, and most certainly is not obsolete! It is much more durable than bluing, and electroless nickel is actually quite hard. Nickel plating, done properly, can be one of the most attractive finishes. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

June 12, 2013, 02:33 PM	#6
Bart Noir Senior Member Join Date: August 5, 2000 Location: Puget Sound, USA Posts: 2,215	Bill, are not nickel plating and electroless nickel entirely different finishes? The second is certainly very duarable. And I am not sure if electroless nickel can be polished. If anybody knows for sure, please share that info. Bart Noir __________________ Be of good cheer and mindful of your gun muzzle!

June 12, 2013, 03:44 PM	#7
Duke City Six Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2010 Posts: 304	Back to the OP's question. "Is it like the finish on the Ruger Vaqueros...?" Well, they are both shiny, but they are different. The experts here can elaborate on this, but nickel, like bluing, is a finish applied to the exterior of carbon steel. Stainless guns, on the other hand, are solid stainless steel. I believe the high polish on the stainless Vaqueros was intended to resemble nickel. Last edited by Duke City Six; June 16, 2013 at 12:32 AM.

June 12, 2013, 11:51 AM	#4
Duke City Six Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2010 Posts: 304	According to Uberti's website, they do in fact offer a few guns in nickel, including the Desperado.

June 12, 2013, 05:09 PM	#8
Bob Wright Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2012 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 2,989	As far as I'm concerned, stainless in no way resembles nickel. Nickel is, as noted, a plating over carbon steel. It slightly yellows, or turns golden color, with age. It has a character about the finish that stainless can never achieve. Stainless has as much character as polymer. Bob Wright

June 12, 2013, 05:14 PM	#9
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,190	What Bob said and nickel looks sooo much better than stainless could ever hope to.

June 12, 2013, 05:27 PM	#10
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,985	Electroless and electrolytic nickel finishes are generally the same. The application methods are different, and additives can be used with electroless. Plating does not make things shiny or matte- the surface finish that is plated dictates how the plated article looks. Nickel (either method) plated on a polished surface will be shiny, or if plated on a sandblasted finish will be satin. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

June 12, 2013, 05:44 PM	#11
robhof Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2007 Posts: 712	robhof I prefer stainless or blued, but that's just me, oh, and Bart Raylan Givens is actually filmed in Pennsylvania, a great show, but nothing looks like Ky there, except the people.

June 12, 2013, 06:11 PM	#12
Duke City Six Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2010 Posts: 304	I agree that nickel has more character than stainless. I've read that Ruger's intention in offering the high polish stainless was that it would resemble the old nickel guns. Last edited by Duke City Six; June 16, 2013 at 12:32 AM.