restoring my Victory 38

[iringtwice]

I have a nickel plated Vic 38 that I want to restore, anyone know someone who can strip the nickel off and parkerize it? Closer to Alabama the better, THANKS!

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[browningautorifle]

I don't know anyone personally but if you have a trophy shop around they will know of or possibly can remove the plate. They do it with a liquid strip like a fine acid. It doesn't damage anything either. Then a gunsmith to park. I have used glass beading to remove chrome and nickle plate but it's painful and time consuming.

[iringtwice]

Got an email from someone told me the only good way to remove it was a plating service that could use a process that pulls the nickel off someway or another, maybe the acid you mention. I'm leaning more and more toward just finding one in GI condition and keeping my plated one as is, thanks for your help!

[browningautorifle]

If it's the one pictured in the holster and rig, it's not too bad... give us some other pics. It should be fine as is!

[iringtwice]

The more I think about it the more I certain I am that I will leave this pistol as is. It has a famiily history, and I can always find an original one for the collection.

[jmoore]

It will still look refinished even if you return it to it's earlier blued or phosphated state, so you wouldn't have gained anything.
Enjoy it as it is, y'all have owned it far longer than the military did.

[browningautorifle]

Ya, it's a little flashy but so what...tell them some Air Force pimp owned it.

[Chuckindenver]

if i did the restoration,,even the best so called expert wouldnt be able to tell.
stripping the Chrome, {not nickle} is something i offer..replacing the grips would be needed as well..
however, be advised, most plated guns, have issues under the plating that you wont see untill its removed.
they are usually copper plated first the chromed or nickled.
no matter what Brownells advertises, the only way to remove it, is to have the process reversed.
pictured is my Norway Colt 1911, that was pimped out at sometime. before and after, i have many other pics of other pistols and rifles that iv un pimped.

[browningautorifle]

I remember Mexico released a large number of 1911s mostly,(1980s) some A1s, and they had been chromed and nickled with the rust pits and such under the finish.

[Chuckindenver]

its kinda heart sinking, i did a 1st Gen Colt for a guy last year, that until i had the Nickle removed, you couldnt see the heavy rust, and a couple repairs...
it did work out, but i earned my money on that pistol.
i did a nice early Winchester M1 carbine, type one band, flip sight and all. that had been chromed.
it was perfect under the mess, and now sits in a museum in Neb, on display.
sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you.