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I've just obtained a bunch of used Cricle minis. Among them, there's a pMorvana very nicely painted, so I was thinking of not stripping it. Problem is, it seems the talented idiot that painted it didn't primed/undercoated it at all, nor sealed it afterwards. Paint comes off just roughly handling it.
Now, I surely can retouch it where metal shows, but it would be worth the effort? Once retouched, how can seal it? I don't think that normal sealant (i.e. GW) will do the job... What about using enamel? It will turn yellow in the years?

If you want to protect gaming minis from wear, use TWO layers of varnish.

Gloss for the hard protection.
Matt to tone down the shine afterwards.

With just the matt varnish, you will just rub the varnish off.

youre roughly handling a painted metal mini and expecting paint not to come off? lol?

maybe you should try only picking it up from the base, which is what you should be doing anyways if it's a really nice paint job.

by "rougly handling" I was meaning manipulating it without extreme care. I've said "roughly" to specify that paint don't came off by simply touching the mini, but by turning it in your hand while looking at it, it does. I'm sorry, I don't feel the exact weight of each english word, my bad. maybe you speak italian better than I speak english.
also, if you play with a miniature, it's quite hard to grab it always by its base.
even more, my "in work" miniatures, correctly primed, can sustain wash with dish soap without paint coming off (sometimes I do it, if I interrupt a paintjob for a while and the model collect dust).
anyway, thanks for reply.

@chromedog: thanks for advice, will do as you suggest.

Two layers of Gloss varnish will do the trick after retouching it.

Thanks again. I was worried that lacking a proper undercoat to grip onto, the sealing wouldn't be very effective anyway.

So I'll go for two coats of gloss then matte. Thanks!

It will not be as good as if it had been primed but it will be OK if you handle the figure with reasonable care.