Pilgrim
US Veteran
Did all nickel HE's have the N stamped on the frame and cylinder from the very first?
If not, when did the N first appear?
If not, when did the N first appear?
"N" for nickel
- Thread starter Pilgrim
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I have a TL that letters shipped Oct 1 1913, and it doesn't have an N in either place, but it was refinished by the factory in '62.
Maybe the N was removed during buffing, but the serial number are all still nice and clear in all the right spots.
Maybe the N was removed during buffing, but the serial number are all still nice and clear in all the right spots.
Alk8944
US Veteran
Don't really know when this occurred, but I cannot recall ever seeing the N on anything but post-war guns.
29aholic
Member
IIRC the N was used on post war guns, as nickel was a common finish on pre war guns. I have seen several pre war guns posted here with a B for blue, but the nickel guns were not marked.
I don't have many nickel guns but I just checked my .32-20 Model of 1905 4th change and it has no N markings anywhere.
I've got two factory nickel 3rd Model .44's (33,000 & 54,000 serial ranges) and both have the letter 'N' stamped on the right side of the grip frame....
Mark
Mark
OP
Pilgrim
US Veteran
I ask because I have a 1903 1st change that has been nickeled but I was wondering if it had been RE-nickeled, as there is no N stamp.
I know the only was to tell for sure is a letter but it seems a little expensive for a gun with little collector value.
I know the only was to tell for sure is a letter but it seems a little expensive for a gun with little collector value.
The letter won't tell you if it was refinished at the factory or anywhere else. It will tell you what the original finish was though.
Look for any rework stars(5 pointed) on the grip frame, or under the ejector star, or a rectangle with R-N inside it on the grip frame. Those are all re work or refinish marks.
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