Guys, this may be common knowledge but I never realized that barrels were stamped such as this (see picture). Of course, no guy in his right mind is going to take the barrel of an original nickel finish model 29 or pre-29 to confirm original finish in this way, but I thought it was cool to come across this mark. See the "N" stamped on the lug on the inside of the flat part of that sits against the frame? Is this indeed a factory mark as I can't imagine someone renickeling this barrel or the entire gun to take the time to do this?

Anyway, thought it was an interesting mark that I had never noticed before. Good thing there are other, easier ways to confirm a nickel finish or guys might start having to take their guns apart to find out for sure.

Just be glad S&W used the 'N' stamp on most of their nickel parts so you can tell a factory nickel finish easily.

With Colts, they never identified their nickels guns with any markings. You just have to build up skill from years of looking at their factory nickel finishes in order to tell if genuine factory, or a re-plate.

In a lot of cases, they are re-plates. For some reason nickel Colts got refinished much more often than blue ones. The factory nickel was really good quality, just like S&Ws old nickel plating, and has its own look. Many re-plates will not look like a Colt factory nickel job.

Daniel this Stamp is visible with the barrel installed on a gun






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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

Great topic. I do not recall anyone previously pointing out to look at the rear of the underlug with the cylinder open for a N stamp to confirm an original nickel finish. Now the question is was this as relatively universal or common as the N stamped on the left side of the butt frame? Hopefully someone can chime in to clue the rest of us in about which years or models of Smith & Wesson with underlugs had N stamped in this area.

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Scoundrel & Ne'er-Do-Well

44 Magnums finished in nickel were stamped this way with the beginning of the 4-screw configuration. Prior to that, the N was stamped in the extractor rod shroud along with the serial number.

Bill

Was it just on the pre-29/29's or all N frame guns?

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Miss My Buddy crsides!!

All N Frames, I have had pre27s/27s with the same marking.

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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

All of them as I recall.

Oh duh, the end of a long day. I guess it's obvious that I don't own an original nickel 29 or other model of that era, but I guess not many guys do considering their scarcity. I will have to check my pre-21 pinto to see if it has it, I don't recall it having that mark though.

Thanks for the gentle reply to my stupidity. Oh man!!!

I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. I've been accumulating S&Ws since 1973 and have several nickel N frames and never knew about the N at that location on the barrel until today. Thanks to you I've learned one more bit of S&W info I didn't know until now and one more thing to look for when examining nickel N frames. Thanks much!

Jeff
SWCA #1457

My 4" late N series s/n 29-2 does not have it, maybe it stopped with S series s/n's.

The practice continued at least through the early 70s as my 29-2 shipped in March 1973 (N71000 range) has the N stamped on that surface. However, the practice was not uniform as I have two Model 57s shipped in 1965 that are not stamped even though they have an original nickel finish. The most important stamping for a revolver finished in nickel is the N stamped on the lower left hand corner of the grip frame (at least for guns made through the early 70s).

Bill

This is good information to date parts I suppose. I realized after reading Doc's posts that my pre-21 pinto would not have the N marked there and that was spot on because it is too early. The N on that one is marked inside the barrel shroud. But I found another spare barrel in nickel that is a 4 inch 44mag barrel with the older lazy ampersand and it too had the N marked just as above so I can date it to the 4 screw period. I know it's not 70's era because of the ampersand style.

I would guess this mark would have only been for parts on configured guns and not spare parts although they don't have any serial number stamped in them. Hate to think that these 2 spare barrels are left overs from original factory nickel pre-29's and M-29's. Any thoughts on that?

And the blued front sight


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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

Kris,

Is that an absolute? I hadn't thought of that. What period is the blued front sight exclusive too?

That is an absolute for factory nickel finished K and N targets from 1950-1970 approx. or up until the change to N prefix serial numbers for N frames. The only exception to that rule that I have seen is Doc44s tool room 5" nickel 57 and model 18s in nickel (which I have seen a few factory)

The sights will be blued and pinned with two nickel finished pins left proud


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Kris
OGCA, NRA LM

I know by 1969 the front sight red ramp or plain ramp and ramp base were nickel finished on the Model 19, Model 29 and Model 57 and the pins securing the base to the barrel were polished flush. However, I don't know when this actually started as I don't have any of these guns from 67 or 68 in my collection (except the 5-inch Model 57 that shipped in January 1968).

Bill

Bill, thanks for your input on the subject. Now to re-read your expert commentaries on the ampersand changes throughout the years. What are your thoughts on these types of nickel barrels that turn up now and then? Do you think they are take offs or did the factory simply have lots of spare parts like this in nickel? It would seem unlikely to stock pile and stamp spare nickel plated parts.

Great topic! It made me do a little unscientific research. My c.1980 nickel N prefix m29-2 4" has the stamping exactly as shown above on the rod shroud.
Looking at my c.1973 nickel m19-3 2.5", there is a stamping but because the barrel and frame are smaller I can't quite tell with certainty that is is an N stamp. There is something there though. I'm not gonna take it apart to see for sure... I like it just the same.

Bill, being a "tool room" 5" Model 57, does that mean it's a one off? That'd be great to own! And nickel to boot! Have you ever posted pictures of it?

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Daniel...I think the barrels that turn up are most likely original barrels that were replaced with another length.

I have posted a photo of the Model 57, but it is shown below for those who have not seen it. Click on the photo for a better look.

Bill