I saw an early Airweight snub barrel yesterday. I think the SN# was without a prefix. It looked really good and had the aluminum cylinder. The finish looked more like black paint to me...kind of put me off.

Yes, that's how they looked.
However, in good shape, they can be quite valuable, especially those with the alloy cylinder. Not good for shooting, though.

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John

The finish just had a bit of an orange peel texture to it. I will go back for a second look.

While the early Airweights have a dull black anodized finish, they do NOT have orange peel! That indicates the gun has been painted. Paint usually can be removed with acetone or the like, which will not harm the anodizing. You may fine a well-worn finish under the paint, or just some minor wear. Do you feel lucky?