A friend just acquired a nickel, 4" Combat Magnum. SN is K262484. Would this put it in 1955 or 1956?
Also, any idea how many nickel guns were produced? Thanks.
Also, any idea how many nickel guns were produced? Thanks.
Combat Magnum/Pre-19 date help
- Thread starter Tyree1867
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2007
- Messages
- 27,660
- Reaction score
- 21,325
I recall the first regular CM shipments were in 1956 and this is an early one (they started at K260001, but this was not the first one shipped), but this year is likely.
The rule of thumb is about 10% nickel guns, but I cannot recall seeing one in this early SN range. Any chance it has been refinished?
The rule of thumb is about 10% nickel guns, but I cannot recall seeing one in this early SN range. Any chance it has been refinished?
Engine49guy
Member
Most likely between June & August 1956 ,
Wondering if it has a 10 groove or 6 groove backstrap ?
The change occurred somewhere near that serial range and Im trying to narrow it down for my notes.
Wondering if it has a 10 groove or 6 groove backstrap ?
The change occurred somewhere near that serial range and Im trying to narrow it down for my notes.
OP
Good question about refinishing. I'll have to check. Factory nickel was shown by an N on the cylinder, correct?
Last edited:
OP
Emailed my friend about the grooves. I'll let you know when I hear back.
Engine49guy
Member
My factory nickel CM does not have an "N" stamped cylinder but does have a small "N" stamp on the left lower grip frame above the 3 stamp.
We have seen other early nickel Combat Magnums posted in that serial range as well .
DWalt
Member
Closest one I show has a SN about 1000 lower and shipped in 6/56.
Engine49guy
Member
Thanks !
BTW my notes show a nickel CM around 600 digits below your friends that reportedly has a 10 groove backstrap but anything is possible with S&W.
Combat Magnum, K261678, nickel finish, shipped July 2, 1956. Tangs with ten grooves. N stamped on lower left hand corner of grip frame, in extractor rod shroud, and on the cylinder (under the extractor). Combat Magnum, K261345, shipped on June 15, 1956. Tangs with six grooves. This narrows down the change fairly close.
The change to ten grooves in the tangs occurred for N-frame revolvers around S166600 (mid-1956).
Bill
The change to ten grooves in the tangs occurred for N-frame revolvers around S166600 (mid-1956).
Bill
Last edited:
Engine49guy
Member
Bill your Nickel CM was the one I had in my notes with a place mark at app. K261700 as the ceiling for 6 groove tangs.
It would be interesting to compare the OP CM to yours as well as my later nickel 19 (no dash) serial K391560 Shipped Feb 1961
as several details were deleted along the way such as the cylinder serial stamp and N stamp as well as the ejector rod shroud barrel stamps .
It would be interesting to compare the OP CM to yours as well as my later nickel 19 (no dash) serial K391560 Shipped Feb 1961
as several details were deleted along the way such as the cylinder serial stamp and N stamp as well as the ejector rod shroud barrel stamps .
Last edited:
Check your Model 19 to see if there is an N stamped on the rear surface of the extractor rod shroud. I discovered by accident S&W began stamping an N there on most of their revolvers finished in nickel after they stopped stamping the N in the shroud itself. You have to open the revolver and look and the back of the extractor rod shroud to see the N. I was surprised I had missed the stamp all of these years.
The stamping of the serial number in the shroud and on the rear surface of the cylinder was deleted in May 1957 when the Soft Fitting operation was eliminated from the manufacturing process. However, there were quite a few revolvers already in process, so I am not sure when the change was actually seen.
I have seen the N on the cylinder under the extractor through the early 70s on both N and K-frame revolvers.
Bill
The stamping of the serial number in the shroud and on the rear surface of the cylinder was deleted in May 1957 when the Soft Fitting operation was eliminated from the manufacturing process. However, there were quite a few revolvers already in process, so I am not sure when the change was actually seen.
I have seen the N on the cylinder under the extractor through the early 70s on both N and K-frame revolvers.
Bill
05CarbonDRZ
Member
Factory Nickel pre model 19's are very rare,I would be surprised if 10% where Nickel.
OP
Here's an update on my thread- the revolver has 10 grooves on the backstrap, I counted them myself. In regard to the factory nickel question- on the lefthand grip frame is R-N in a rectangular box. What does this signify?
I forgot to look under the extractor or in the extractor rod shroud. Will have to do that another day.
Thank you very much for all your help to date.
Bill
I forgot to look under the extractor or in the extractor rod shroud. Will have to do that another day.
Thank you very much for all your help to date.
Bill
Last edited:
An R-N inside of a rectangle indicates S&W refinished the Combat Magnum in nickel. There may be a date stamped on the left side of the grip frame also (for example, 2 57 would indicate the work was performed in February 1957).
Bill
Bill
hoss@fol43
Member
Pre-19
I have CM K262001 which is nickeled but it doesn't have a "N" stamped anywhere on it. It does however have a "star" stamped on the frame, yoke and cylinder under the extractor. It has a date of 3 13 67 stamped on the frame also. The front ramp sight is blued as is the rear sight. I suspect it was originally a blued gun and was refinished by the factory. I am waiting on a letter to confirm the finish. Also has 10 groove back strap.
Received the factory letter, this one was shipped July 23, 1956 with a blue finish and walnut target stocks. It was returned to the factory and refinished in nickel in 1967. The pinned front sight and ramp as well as the rear sight are blued.
I have CM K262001 which is nickeled but it doesn't have a "N" stamped anywhere on it. It does however have a "star" stamped on the frame, yoke and cylinder under the extractor. It has a date of 3 13 67 stamped on the frame also. The front ramp sight is blued as is the rear sight. I suspect it was originally a blued gun and was refinished by the factory. I am waiting on a letter to confirm the finish. Also has 10 groove back strap.
Received the factory letter, this one was shipped July 23, 1956 with a blue finish and walnut target stocks. It was returned to the factory and refinished in nickel in 1967. The pinned front sight and ramp as well as the rear sight are blued.
Last edited:
