that is what my glimmer of hope actually was! i figured the amount of work needed to turn a crusty old 36 into a new nickle 50 was more than the cost of a model 50 in 1976, and that maybe they had simply replaced the frame with a new one. but, in the back of my mind, i knew the serial number would probably throw a monkey wrench into that theory.

the large "N" stampings in the frame and cylinder, and the "mod 50" stamping were obviously done before the nickle plating occured, so i have to assume that s&w did them.