The “N” stamp for factory nickel?

[SouthNarc]

I just acquired a nice nickeled 38/44 HD that has an N stamped on the inside of the ejector rod housing and also on the left side of the grip frame. However the finish itself indicates that it might not be factory, in particular the side plate seam. The cylinder face bears no N stamp.

Was the font used in stampings standardized? Here are two photos of my N stamping.

 

[gmborkovic]

Just remember the guy with the N stamp was human, and ate lunch and went to the restroom. Some guns got missed. Have had a few that lettered as nickel with no stamp.

 

[Kansasgunner]

What time frame is your 38/44 from?
Prewar or postwar?

 

[Muley Gil]

It could have started out as a factory nickel revolver and then been re-nickeled outside of the factory.

 

[Hondo44]

Pre war factory nickeled guns are not stamped N, they just aren't stamped B for blue. After WWII Blued guns aren't stamped B but nickeled guns are stamped N.

The N on the grip frame is in the correct location but the other N you show is not the best photo but appears to be in the yoke cut, not in the extractor rod shroud, the correct location.

From your description and as Muley Gil posted, it's probably been refinished (not by the factory), and perhaps stamped with Ns at that time.

 

[mchom]

Here are a couple of pics

Both are from nickel 38/44 Heavy Duty's
One is pre war and one is post

Post war

Pre war (Lettered)

Not sure if this helps any

 

[TheTinMan]

This is a 1938 44 Hand Ejector 2nd Model:

I have not had the gun lettered yet, but the consensus here recently was a factory nickel finish.

 

[Hondo44]

mchom,

The N on the post war gun is on the toe of the grip frame but is normally on the heel like the one shown in the first post.

The N on the pre war grip frame above is on the wrong side of the grip frame to be a factory stamp for a nickel finish.

 

[RKmesa]

Here are some from my collection:

Pre-war 357 (Non REG) Magnum:



1950's 357 Magnum:

 

[Hondo44]

This is a 1938 44 Hand Ejector 2nd Model:

I have not had the gun lettered yet, but the consensus here recently was a factory nickel finish.

That N is an inspector code.

 

[Hondo44]

RKmesa, mchom;

Ah yes, the late pre war N stamp is located differently than the post war.

 

[mchom]

Thanks Hondo

I got curious and pulled a few more pre-wars out and I was seeing quite a few N's.

 

[SouthNarc]

What time frame is your 38/44 from?
Prewar or postwar?

It’s a post war 54 or 55.

 

[JMD999]

Just remember the guy with the N stamp was human, and ate lunch and went to the restroom. Some guns got missed. Have had a few that lettered as nickel with no stamp.

Thats an interesting point, thanks. I just assumed if not marked it must be aftermarket custom, I'll send for a letter to be sure.
A Pre-Model 40 Centennial "lemon squeezer",4 screw, flat latch, pinned bbl, smooth trigger, with Spegel boot grips just adopted me. Its not "purist collectable" as it was plated in chrome or nickel w/o orig grips or box, but it looks like it was done yesterday, no cylinder drag lines, 98%(but not original finish-I assumed) ...so maybe chrome?
(No factory "N" stamps). looks like someone wanted a top shelf weatherproof pocket gun before stainless. Ser #100XX (early 50's?)
I couldn't walk past at 550.
Any threads on plated / non factory plated?

 

[JMD999]

Edited my post: Serial # 81xx

Numbers matching on butt, cylinder and barrel flat. No "N" on cylinder or frame. Polished nickel and matte in different areas. Not perfect, just nice. Got it from my father.

Here's some pics without the grips and open cylinder.

I blurred the last two digits.

Here is another gun, Nickel Centennial, with no "N" markings. Nice Pic's from 444Magnum (from a Pre-40 thread) to my eyes this looks factory original - what do you think?