I have a 1937 Brazilian revolver I want to get refinished. I also don't much care for the Brazilian crest on the sideplate. Numrich lists 1917 Smith & Wesson sideplates for sale but they are not for the "N-53 block". The "N-53 block" sideplates are sold out. I am not familiar with the term "N-53 block". My revolver, per the serial number, is part of the 1946 production batch. Is my revolver in or out of the "N-53 block"? If I get the revolver refinished, and the Numrich sideplate with fit/work on my revolver, I would get both sideplates refinished as well. Any help with this is appreciated.

Terry

I believe that the term N-53 refers to the hammer block guide that rides up along a channel recess into the backside of the side plate. You might ant to check yours before ordering.

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Even if you find the right style side plate the fit will not be as good as original. Side plates were one of the parts on the older Smiths that were hand fit. That is why it has the assembly number like the frame does. You will see a line around the side plate. If you can live with that a different side plate will work.
If it were me and I was going to refinish the entire gun I would take the Brazilian Crest off by sanding it flat. That is the way I refinish guns anyway. Use older screws as slave screws that you won't use and sand the side plate down until the crest is gone.
A good refinisher won't have a problem doing this.

__________________
Tom
NRA Pistol Inst