Last year I came across a Colt Detective Special for sale, nickle plated. Even though the plating was badly worn from being holstered, laying around and neglect, it was nice and tight and I could not see that it had been shot much. I struck a deal with the guy, took it to the range and it shot just fine. However, the nickle was worn off on all the points where it had come in contact with the holster; but there were no scratches, gouges, dents or bunged up screw heads. What I liked about the gun was it was manufactured in 1961, has the long unenclosed ejector rod. I already ready have a Dectective Special, blued in pristine condition from 1971 and felt this would be a good companion. I bought the nickle Colt about this time last year, and the more I looked at it, the more I thought about having it re-nickled. I contacted Colt and they told me to call back in the spring whereas they were backlogged on rework. I called back in the spring and they put me off to the summer, so I called back in August and they put me off another month, called again and they told me to send it. They said to allow 6 months to get it returned and DO NOT bug them prior to that on its status. Well I got it back just the other day, and what a beautiful job they did. Not only re-nickled it, but completely cleaned it and reset the timing. The price I felt was worth it. If and when I ever decided to sell it (them) I would only do it as a pair. It is a fine representation of Colt manufacturing.