Help a new guy out.

[Guinness]

Hello,

FNG here, nice forum.

My old man gave me my grandpa's S&W 27-2 .357 with the really long barrel.  

Problem is the gun has the nickle plating and a few finger prints that will not come off.

Is there any way I can remove the finger prints without ruining the finish?

I don't really like the finish but don't want to screw up a nice old gun

I have tried the normal gun cleaning powder removing solvents but I hesitate to use anything more drastic w/o further counsel.

Thank you in advance.

[Graybeard]

Try Flitz or JB Bore Paste.

[myronman3]

mothers polish might be worth a try.

[BloomGrad]

My Advice would be to contact S & W and ask them.  I have heard in the past, from more than one source and have seen it in print, ABSOLUTELY DO NOT USE WD40.  It can lift old nickel finishes from the classic S & W guns.  Not right away but after a couple of days it will start to flake.  Better safe than sorry.  Use home remedies with care on these Old Timers.  I am a little late on this topic to post but I leave this warning for others that may wander through. 

[greener]

My Advice would be to contact S & W and ask them.  I have heard in the past, from more than one source and have seen it in print, ABSOLUTELY DO NOT USE WD40.  It can lift old nickel finishes from the classic S & W guns.  Not right away but after a couple of days it will start to flake.  Better safe than sorry.  Use home remedies with care on these Old Timers.  I am a little late on this topic to post but I leave this warning for others that may wander through. 

Have a .38 police special (circa 1930) with ratty nickel plating (been that way for 50 or so years).  Can't decide whether to try to get it restored to it's former glory or just keep going to the range with a really sweet shooter with "character."

[BloomGrad]

If your gun is that old and a fine shooter "with character" I would leave it alone.  Unless you don't like the looks or the condition of the finish is getting worse.  If there is any collector interest or possible value then I would not have it refinished.  If it is refinished the gun is almost certain to loose any collector value.  Collectors want to see the original finishes.  First have it properly appraised to get a good idea of it's current value.  Also ask what the value may be if refinished.  If it is a price that you can live with then go ahead as it's your gun.  If refinishing is what you want then my suggestion to send it to S & W for the job.  Guns that could be a collector, or valued as "real nice", are better off done by the manufacturer.  Not because they can do a better job, but that gun and finish are by the same source. Thus more possible resale value.

[Hammerdown]

Hello,

FNG here, nice forum.

My old man gave me my grandpa's S&W 27-2 .357 with the really long barrel.  

Problem is the gun has the nickle plating and a few finger prints that will not come off.

Is there any way I can remove the finger prints without ruining the finish?

I have tried the normal gun cleaning powder removing solvents but I hesitate to use anything more drastic w/o further counsel

Hello
I have Several Nickel finished S&W revolver's along with a 27-2 Like you speak of. I can tell you this, that Hoppes and any other Gun Powder cleaning solvent's are the Quickest way to Destroy a guns nickel finish. The Ammonia in them, gets down under the finish and lift's it off the revolver. It also will leave Pitting in the upper finish if not wiped completely clean. I do Not use ANY gun solvent's on my nickel revolver's because of this. Flitz has worked for me in the past as suggested above, but it tends to be an aggressive polish that may make things worse. I have had some great results from Maas cream. it is sold in many Walmart's and is in the cleaning supply aisle with other silver and metal polishes. The BEST I have found is "Renaissance" This polish is sold through a United States distributor located in Florida. I will provide a link at the end of my response. if you look at his main page you will see all the High end museums that also use this product. It is safe on Bluing as well, and will take rust off bluing that you did not even know existed. I use the Pre-Lim polish each time I clean my guns and this will safely remove all powder and finger prints. I then follow up with the Wax, and this provides a good coat of insurance against Pitting and blemishes.Here is what you can expect by using the Renaissance polish I suggested. I hope this helps, Hammerdown

http://www.restorationproduct.com/index.html

[S.B.]

Hello,

FNG here, nice forum.

My old man gave me my grandpa's S&W 27-2 .357 with the really long barrel.  

Problem is the gun has the nickle plating and a few finger prints that will not come off.

Is there any way I can remove the finger prints without ruining the finish?

I have tried the normal gun cleaning powder removing solvents but I hesitate to use anything more drastic w/o further counsel

Hello
I have Several Nickel finished S&W revolver's along with a 27-2 Like you speak of. I can tell you this, that Hoppes and any other Gun Powder cleaning solvent's are the Quickest way to Destroy a guns nickel finish. The Ammonia in them, gets down under the finish and lift's it off the revolver. It also will leave Pitting in the upper finish if not wiped completely clean. I do Not use ANY gun solvent's on my nickel revolver's because of this. Flitz has worked for me in the past as suggested above, but it tends to be an aggressive polish that may make things worse. I have had some great results from Maas cream. it is sold in many Walmart's and is in the cleaning supply aisle with other silver and metal polishes. The BEST I have found is "Renaissance" This polish is sold through a United States distributor located in Florida. I will provide a link at the end of my response. if you look at his main page you will see all the High end museums that also use this product. It is safe on Bluing as well, and will take rust off bluing that you did not even know existed. I use the Pre-Lim polish each time I clean my guns and this will safely remove all powder and finger prints. I then follow up with the Wax, and this provides a good coat of insurance against Pitting and blemishes.Here is what you can expect by using the Renaissance polish I suggested. I hope this helps, Hammerdown

http://www.restorationproduct.com/index.html

Hammerdown, I can tell you this: I once bought a model 58 cylinder nidkel plated with chipped finish and soak it in Hoppes for several days with no ill effect to it? I don't know why this certain cylinder wasn't affected by the Hoppes but, it wasn't.
Steve
Steve