Copper plating a pistol.

[trident3339]

So if I don't trade off this 1911 I want to copper plate it. Why? Because tarnished copper looks really cool to me and I think a 1911 with a tarnished copper finish would be pretty cool, and unique. What's the best way to go about doing this? Can the parkerized finish be plated or will I need to remove it? My instincts say remove it. Second, what's the best way to electroless plate the pistol? What chemicals work best. I've done a bit of research but nothing I've found answers these questions.

 

[StuP]

I used to work at an electro platers many years ago. Based on the technology then, you'll find plated copper is pretty soft, so isn't going to wear too well unless electro plated to a decent thickness. You'd need to thin out in lots of places to regain clearance for pins, slide rails etc.

Electroless was used as a key base to plate over, and pretty much wiped off with a rag.