Was at a gun shop and purchased a 3rd model 38 New Departure serial number 79XXX, nickel finish. Looked very good to me but when I got home I questions the trigger guard and trigger. They are nickeled. In most of the one I see the guard is blue and the trigger is not nickeled. Makes me think it was refinished. If so they did a very good job, it sure looks original. Were any of the old ones nickled like this?
Thanks
Steve

I believe when you see nickel plated hammer,triggers and triggerguards on top break S&Ws its always a dead giveaway of refinishing.

Like this one...definitely refinished:

45Flint, In my opinion, you have purchased a refinished revolver that was not factory refinished, as no Safety Hammerles guns refinished by S&W had their hammers & triggers nickel plated. they were case hardened. After merket platers often did not have the capability of case hardening parts, so the entire gun got the nickel plating.