I found a Nickel 15-3 at a local pawn shop last week and had to bring it home. Looked to be in VGC. Upon inspection, I noticed under the grips the N stamp on the right side of grip frame and also a rectangle with R-N on the left. There is no N on the rear of the cylinder but under the extractor star is the serial# and a star stamp. Also, on the underside of the barrel flat is the serial# and a star stamp, no N. The serial# is K996458. It doesn't take much, but I am confused.

Factory refinished. Probably is a date code on the same side of the frame as the R-N. Would be 7 80 for July 1980, etc.

There is a 5 72 on the opposite side of the grip frame from the R-N stamp. That is part of the confusion, it appears to be a 1970 gun. Something must have happened to this revolver.

Refinished May 1972.

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Get off my lawn!

Well Markeb, it appears you have at least some of your questions answered. Now how about a couple of pics?

I'd also be interested in hearing from you how your factory refinish looks. Does it have that very slight yellow caste that original nickel had? IMHO, S&W did amazing nickel plating. Do you think it was originally nickel and then refinished? I'm confused on this point.

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I'm gonna grow fins.

Count me in the camp wanting to see photos

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Cory
SWCA #3015 SWHF #465

Just looked at my 1975 Nickel 15-3. It has the usual N on the grip frame but also stamped N under the barrel, and on the cylinder. Since the OP's doesn't have the last two stamping my guess it's a blue re-finished in Nickel.

That's what I was thinking, original blue then Nickeled. By the way, it has been polished, just couldn't pass it it for the price. I'll try and post some pics later when I learn how to upload several pics in the same post. This I phone is new to me, and also confusing. Appreciate the info.

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Not much doubt that someone bought a blue revolver and in a couple of years decided he wanted it Nickeled. In that time frame a finish change by the factory cost something like $18, so you didn't have to think too hard about doing this.

The SN on the back of the extractor would have been stamped by S&W to assure the extractor stayed with the correct gun. The star stamp is the "re-work star" indicating factory service. Is the SN stamped on the cylinder too? How about the SN stamped on the barrel flat? Typically S&W would have added the barrel flat and cylinder number for the same reason as the extractor.

The added stamps were apparently at the discretion of the service tech that did the disassembly so they do seem to be somewhat hit-or-miss!

Did you say the frame N is stamped on the right side of the grip frame? If so it is simply a fitters/inspectors mark. The N indicating original Nickel finish is always found on the lower rear corner of the left side of the frame. The R-N cartouche would be just above the original N in this case.

Still unable to figure out this I phone thing, but I believe, by the info here, it was sent back to be R-N some time in 72 from the original blue. The barrel flat has the serial# with the star stamp, back of cylinder under extractor star, same thing, and the N inside circle on the lower right side of grip frame. I will post pics soon, hopefully. Thanks for all the info.