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gmkmd
02-10-2018, 06:38 PM
Referring to the Prussian model 1849 Suhl Navy Musket; does anyone know why so many of them encountered are chrome-plated? It's not a very common musket to begin with, but the ones I've seen are more often than not chrome-plated. I know the usual assumption is that they were used by the GAR for parades, etc., but does anyone know more specifically regarding this model?
John Holland
02-10-2018, 08:07 PM
Glen, chrome plated, or nickel plated?
Hal
02-11-2018, 03:32 AM
I'm not familiar with the weapon in question, but I've seen "Navy" weapons in museums that said they had been "Tinned" to protect from rust.

On a similar note, a friend was telling me about a Reising sub-machine gun he had seen for sale. It had been nickel plated. His first thought was "How gawdy!", but closer inspection showed TVA markings. Seems it had been used for dam security during WWII, and was plated for protection from the damp environment.
gmkmd
02-11-2018, 11:23 PM
No, these are indeed chrome plated, and hence it was done much later.
John Holland
02-12-2018, 12:15 AM
Considering that commercial Chromium Plating wasn't generally available until about 1925, I have no idea about them. But, I must say I've never seen one that has been plated!
Kevin Tinny
02-12-2018, 07:02 AM
Hello:

As a youngster in Lakewood, OH in the late 40's and early '50's, I saw and held Civil War "muskets", sabers, etc that were part of a large collection owned by an antique dealer named Newell. He had an antique shop on Detroit Road.

My father recalled that he had played with the same items in the late '20's and early '30's. Many muskets in a collection of at least a hundred were brightly silver color plated. Even as a child the finish struck me because they had no rust on them and I already had a strong aversion to rust, that ruined my first bb gun. Thinking back to plated '03's, etc, maybe these were parade items. This portion of Mr. Newell's collection was kept in an open, three car garage on Summit Ave, few doors down from my grand parents' home, so he wasn't concerned about value, even then.

Just sharing.

Regards,
Kevin Tinny