How to spot a re-nickel

[Heinz]

David, it is difficult. First try to see if there are any pits that seem to have been nickled over. Look for the buffing marks but those are usually not there as they can strip the blue chemically before they paint.

Know the characteristics of the pistol you are looking at . The early 1910 Browning shown here should not have the safety and trigger chromed. Other than that there is almost no tell tales of the chroming. The chrome has been on the gun since circa 1946.