What can you tell me about nickel-plated revolvers in the Old West?

What can you tell me about nickel-plated revolvers in the Old West?

John Redshaw
Beaumont, Alberta, Canada

True West Maniac #776

True West’s resident firearms expert Phil Spangenberger says that nickel-plated pistols came out in the 1860s. They became popular because they didn’t rust easily, and they resisted the corrosive effects of blackpowder better than pistols with blued finish. If one could afford the higher cost, they were also somewhat flashy. On the down side, they could get scratched with rough wear.

Stainless steel didn’t come along until the 20th century. It’s made of a stronger, more durable metal capable of resisting stains and corrosion even under the worst conditions