Smith Protective Surfaces

Smith Protective Surfaces has been refinishing handguns since 1993. The owner and founder brings over 50 years of professional metal finishing experience to every job—and personally works on every firearm that comes through the door.

If you bought a bluing kit at a gun show and hated the results, or tried a mail-order nickel plating kit that looked terrible, Smith can fix it. They refinish modern handguns, military pistols, black powder revolvers, and antique firearms.

"Tell us how you want your gun to look." That's their approach—custom finishes based on your vision.

• •Nickel Plating — Matte, satin, or high gloss. Corrosion and rust resistant. ($350–$450)
• •Gold Plating — Applied over nickel for a premium look. ($950–$1,200)
• •Stainless Steel Polishing — Mirror shine on steel parts. ($300–$350)
• •Bluing — Rich dark blue (nearly black) finish. ($350–$450)
• •Parkerizing — Zinc or Manganese Phosphate options. ($250)
• •Gold Accents — Combination finishes like nickel with gold trim. ($650)

Nickel and gold plate only work on steel. Aluminum parts won't take plating well; plastic and composite won't take it at all. They can polish aluminum to match nickel-plated steel, or you can swap in steel parts beforehand (most manufacturers sell kits). Not sure what your gun is made of? Use a magnet—steel parts attract, aluminum and plastic don't.

Turnaround is 2–6 weeks depending on workload and parts availability. Here's why they do full strips and finishing in-house: when old finish is removed, bare steel forms an oxide layer that resists plating. By doing the strip, polish, and plate in sequence without delay, they prevent patchiness and ensure full adhesion.

• •They don't accept partial work. The sequence matters.

Prefer calling or emailing before visiting—it's a 1–2 person shop and someone might not be there. They're Federal Firearms Licensed and offer discounts to current and retired law enforcement.

Finishes are rust-resistant but not rust-proof. Keep up with regular cleaning and oiling per your firearm's manual. Natural hand oils fade high-gloss finishes, so wipe with a microfiber cloth. For mirror finishes, use glass cleaner and a light turtle wax spray to restore shine.