Should a nickel 15-3 from 1970 have an N for nickel stamped on the rear of the cylinder? Saw one today that was in good shape but had no N stamped anywhere.

Thanks.

Usually, there would be an N stamped on the lower left hand corner of the grip frame. Often, the N on the cylinder is stamped on the area machined for the extractor. You have to push the extractor back to see it.

Bill

I have been there - Combat Masterpiece in nickel , no "N".

If you were to post images , we'd probably be able to verify the origin of the finish.

Thanks Doc. I checked the frame and there was no N, will check under the star. On my one nickel gun, a 29, the N was visible on the rear of the cylinder, never thought to look under the star. Learned something new today.

Thanks Waveski.

I went back to look to the N under the star. It was not there, but everything else seemed to indicate original nickel. I got the the year for them, and told them the diamond stocks were discontinued 2 years before the gun was made, so they did not come from the factory that way in all probability. I had not checked it beyond it at the point I asked the original question but when I went back today one of the guys mentioned it had a real light trigger. Checked it a bit further. Cock it , sneeze and watch the hammer fall. Someone was.in playing with the internals...the took it off the shelf to get it fixed before they will sell it.

One more place to look for the "N" when it's available. Open the cylinder look under the barrel. Sometimes it can be very light but on my 15-3 it's deeply stamped. Also typically on S&W Nickel guns the extractor star will not be Nickel and the Hammer and Trigger will be a case-hardened color. Some re-finishers Nickel everything.

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"took it off the shelf to get it fixed before they will sell it." .....

So , how will those nickeled screw heads look afterwards? And the side plate seam? Innards tweaked , maybe the finish as well? I see some red flags snapping in the breeze here.

I think they do now too. It had just come in recently and I got a quick look and they probably had not gone over it well. Once the push off was discovered they set it aside. They knew I was not interested due to it being in only good condition but they were curious about it. I am sure they will do the right thing.