Evaluating Nickel Finish

[TheTinMan]

I’ve avoided nickel finished guns in the past, partly because I don’t know how to determine whether a nickel finish is factory or polishing a pig. I’ve learned some about identifying a refinish job on a blued gun.

What should I look for on a 1950s Smith & Wesson revolver with a nickel finish? Are there specific areas that a factory finish either would or would not cover? Are there any general rules about the finish on hammers or triggers on factory nickel revolvers?

My apologies for what might be painfully basic questions. This is a subject I simply haven’t studied, so any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[raljr1]

Hammer and trigger were not nickel plated on Smith & Wesson revolvers. Extractor star should be blued, not nickel. There is a pin on the left side rear of the frame near the grips. if it is polished flush, it may have been refinished. the factory used to stamp a letter N on the cylinder face and grip frame on nickel guns. That stopped sometime in the 60's I think.

If the nickel looks too deep, that may be aftermarket nickel. I have seen some that look like you could swim in them. Beautiful, but the factory nickel did not look like that.

When in doubt, doubt!

A couple pictures to try and help

#1 -32 RP original nickel


#2 44 HE aftermarket nickel


#3 K22 factory nickel, not original


#4 357 Magnum original nickel


#5 Rp target, not original nickel.

 

[AC Man]

I enjoy my nickel and blued guns. The cylinder is stamped with a N for original nickel. Don't be too paranoid if it is original nickel. I have bought quite a few from great sellers. No problemo.

 

[22hipower]

First thing to check is hammer/trigger, if they're nickel, the factory didn't do it. If the sights are nickel, with a few exceptions, the factory didn't do it. Next check for an N on the back of the cylinder and on the frame. If no N then it probably isn't factory although might have escaped the factory without an N stamp. Then refinishing issues, dished screw holes on the side plate and any other signs of aggressive metal preparation. Sometimes pitting under the nickel can be seen which tells us it has been refinished. And up until 1980 or so a service date stamp or R/N in one form or another stamp on the butt. Good luck.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[mchom]

I look at these areas
1. Hammer Trigger CCH
2. Front sight typically blued ? For that vintage
3. Front face of cylinder should not be polished
4. Thumb piece should not be polished
5. Side plate Seam should be factory tight. Compared to known factory Nickel gun
6. Logo not polished excessively
Again I like to compare to known gun
7. N stamped (experts can comment where N usually stamped)
8. Dished screws
9. Edges usually sharp are softened
Really, with no insult intended to Fords I just give my HD I had renickled there many years ago a good look over to see all of these signs and more.
10. I do have a 27-2 refinished from Blue to nickel by factory and many of the above issues are avoided. I saw the star on the butt and decided it was worth the asking price regardless

I’m no expert. Just my 2 Cents

 

[TheTinMan]

Thank you gentlemen!

Chip

 

[Mbrgr1]

Watch for chromed

guns too. This 15-2 was sold as Nickel and I didn't figure it out until way after I got it, but I love it and am not sad I bought it.



When done right, it is beautiful and very durable, it has a blue tint as a giveaway.

 

[DARE]

The factory sometimes nickeled the trigger and hammer. Recently re-read an article about Registered Magnums by Roy Jinks. There was a chart about the 144 known nickeled guns. Three of them had nickeled trigger and hammer from the factory. I'm sure it was a special order.
My guess is that this was done on other models also. So rare, but not impossible for that to be factory.

 

[stansdds]

The factory sometimes nickeled the trigger and hammer. Recently re-read an article about Registered Magnums by Roy Jinks. There was a chart about the 144 known nickeled guns. Three of them had nickeled trigger and hammer from the factory. I'm sure it was a special order.
My guess is that this was done on other models also. So rare, but not impossible for that to be factory.

That's a good point. Back in the days when S&W was family owned, it seems that for enough money, they would custom make a revolver. Just look at the Registered Magnum, custom ordered barrel lengths from 3 1/2" to 8 3/4" in 1/4" increments. So it was possible to order nickel plated hammer and/or trigger from S&W, but I would wager that was a rare option and any factory nickel S&W with nickel plated hammer and/or trigger would need a letter of authenticity from Roy Jinks.

 

[TheTinMan]

Obviously I was looking at a specific gun. A 5-screw 44. Here is the left grip frame:

I think this indicates factory re-work of some kind in 1966.

The trigger, hammer and sights are NOT nickel. There is no “N” on the cylinder. There are two tiny pits on the left side plate that look like they were there before the nickel was applied. The logo on the right side looks a little shallower and a bit softer than a contemporary S&W right next to it. (Thanks for that suggestion!) My current guess is that the gun was refinished by S&W after there was some damage to the original finish. It looks pretty good except for some unfortunate and peculiar scrapes along the top strap where the finish isn’t polished.

Chip

 

[raljr1]

Obviously I was looking at a specific gun. A 5-screw 44. Here is the left grip frame:

I think this indicates factory re-work of some kind in 1966.



The trigger, hammer and sights are NOT nickel. There is no “N” on the cylinder. There are two tiny pits on the left side plate that look like they were there before the nickel was applied. The logo on the right side looks a little shallower and a bit softer than a contemporary S&W right next to it. (Thanks for that suggestion!) My current guess is that the gun was refinished by S&W after there was some damage to the original finish. It looks pretty good except for some unfortunate and peculiar scrapes along the top strap where the finish isn’t polished.



Chip

Can we see the rest of the gun?

Robert

 

[stansdds]

The star and the date would indicate it went back for factory servicing and it might have been refinished as part of that service.

 

[JSR III]

That's a good point. Back in the days when S&W was family owned, it seems that for enough money, they would custom make a revolver. Just look at the Registered Magnum, custom ordered barrel lengths from 3 1/2" to 8 3/4" in 1/4" increments. So it was possible to order nickel plated hammer and/or trigger from S&W, but I would wager that was a rare option and any factory nickel S&W with nickel plated hammer and/or trigger would need a letter of authenticity from Roy Jinks.

Just an FYI, Dr. Jinks has resigned from doing the historical letters. The new Historian is Don Mundell who served for several years as Dr. Jinks assistant.

If you join the S&WCA, you can still subscribe to Dr. Jinks 2 sub forums. "Ship date requests" and "Questions for Roy Jinks".

You can request one shipping date per week or 52 requests per year. In the question forum any question about S&W's may be posed. Those 2 features plus a discount on historical letters from Don Mundell are well worth the $60 annual fee for joining the S&WCA. Add the fact that you are also eligible to attend the annual S&WCA symposium held every June where you get to observe displays of S&W's that rarely see the light of day makes the cost of joining a no brainer.

 

[TheTinMan]

Can we see the rest of the gun?

Robert

I did not take photos of the rest of the revolver because it is up for auction shortly. I learned quickly not to post anything obviously a current auction listing.

 

[TheTinMan]

Just FYI here is the listing for the completed auction. 4” 5-screw 44 Magnum that went back to Springfield in 1966. Hammer price only $1,900 despite $2,500-3,500 estimate.
EARLY NICKEL 5 SCREW SMITH & WESSON PRE MODEL 29 - Poulin Auctions

I am saddened to point out that the description was “updated” to include the grip frame markings and factory service only after I asked them to remove the grip panels at the preview last Wednesday and expressed my concerns about the nickel finish. They had to take the grips off to read the serial number…

No, I did not bid on this firearm or any other in this auction.

 

[DARE]

Good job, Chip. Otherwise someone most likely would have paid a lot more. So seems like a blue gun that went back for nickel finish. Also missing the cokes.
I guess if someone had paid $3500 and discovered the gun was refinished they would have some recourse against the auction house.

 

[handejector]

What should I look for on a 1950s Smith & Wesson revolver with a nickel finish?

There is a pin on the left side rear of the frame near the grips. if it is polished flush, it may have been refinished.

NOT on a 1950s gun. The rebound stud became polished flat during WW II production.

The factory sometimes nickeled the trigger and hammer. Recently re-read an article about Registered Magnums by Roy Jinks. There was a chart about the 144 known nickeled guns. Three of them had nickeled trigger and hammer from the factory. I'm sure it was a special order.
My guess is that this was done on other models also. So rare, but not impossible for that to be factory.

David, That is so rare, it is almost not worth mentioning. Yes, three Mags had plated hammers and triggers, but I have never seen or heard of it on any other guns. I won't say we'll never see one, but we haven't yet!