Nickel (?) plating removal?

[John S.]

Recently picked up one of the 1000 Model 1870 Springfield trials rolling block rifles (not the Navy M1870 or Army M1871, but the slightly different M1870 trials model).

Unfortunately it has remnants of a very thin period nickel plating, or possibly tinned plating probably done for a GAR post or something.

Is there a chemical or electrolysis type process which will remove the nickel or tin with little or no damage to the iron/steel of the parts?

Mechanical removal would be Bubba's first choice, but too destructive.

Note that this is not chrome but a very thin layer of dull silver-gray material, worn off in many places

1870trialsplating.jpg (91.12 KiB) Viewed 386 times

[Tom Trevor]

They remove chrome by reverse plating. You might ask a plating service if this works on Nickle or tin.

[throck3]

John,
Congratulations on finding a very rare trials rifle from the early Indian Wars period. Those are exceedingly rare. I, too found one about six weeks ago. Amazing what comes out of the weeds on occasion.
Throck3