Thanks guys. This is always the place to come for Smith info.
Thinking it may be an after market brushed nickel?chrome(?) - but very well done - no smooth edges on the lettering that I can see. Definitely marked as a 25-2 and the right side barrel stamp is .45 cal. Model 1955.
Interestingly the serial number looks almost like it was hand stamped. The digits are stamped to different depths - almost like the individual numbers on the stamping die were worn differently.
Ah me, so many guns; so little time...

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