If you open up the cylinder is there a "S" stamp? I circled the area to look. You can also check proof house and see when the python was born, if it's an earlier python, it's not stainless. Your rear slight also looks like a different finish.
Bright Stainless or Nickel?
Hi guys,
This has been brought up before and I did an unsuccessful search for it but didn't find a difinitive answer. Is there a sure fire way to tell between a bright stainless and a nickel plated finish? Like a tone deaf person, I seem to be visually finish deaf! LOL! Are there any stamps or other easy way to tell them apart? I picked up a 2.5" Python, looks nickel plated but . . .
This has been brought up before and I did an unsuccessful search for it but didn't find a difinitive answer. Is there a sure fire way to tell between a bright stainless and a nickel plated finish? Like a tone deaf person, I seem to be visually finish deaf! LOL! Are there any stamps or other easy way to tell them apart? I picked up a 2.5" Python, looks nickel plated but . . .
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Magnet; but sometimes SS has enough carbon to attract magnet too.
My nickel Python has N stamped on the frame under the grip.
if its ss there should be a s marked under the extractor on the cylinder
What's the serial # or the partial? Is the rear sight nickel also or is it just the reflection and lighting? I know some early nickel Diamondbacks and Troopers (not the MKIII) had nickel sights but I think all the Pythons had blue.
A BSTS (should) have a red ramp front sight and a nickel (should) have a nickel front sight.
I think all nickel Pythons before 1969ish might have nickel front and rear sights?
Ways to ID a nickel versus stainless Python:
The first Pythons offered in stainless were sold in late 1982. Anything before that is nickel.
I "think" (note the qualifier) that bright stainless wasn't introduced until a year or two later.
Stainless Pythons had an "S" stamped inside the ejector rod recess in the barrel shroud, in the center of the rear of the cylinder under the ejector, and on the lower left side of the grip frame under the grips.
Nickel usually had an "N" stamped on the lower left of the grip frame.
Stainless guns, including bright stainless have a dull satin finish on the sides of the grip frame under the grips. Nickel guns have the same shiny finish under the grips as on the rest of the gun, just with machine marks present.
The inside of the frame window where the cylinder seats will not be polished on stainless, nickel will be as shiny as the outside.
Color.
Nickel has a slight yellowish tint, stainless has a "white" color. Compare the gun to something known to be made of stainless steel, like a kitchen knife, and if it's nickel the color difference is usually obvious.
Stainless Pythons had black front sights with red-orange inserts and the entire rear sights were black with white outline blades. If the sights are not set up like that, it's not a stainless gun or there's a small chance the sights have been changed (not very likely).
The stainless steels used in firearms are all magnetic and magnets will stick to them. Since a magnet sticks to stainless and nickel equally, this is not a valid test.
The first Pythons offered in stainless were sold in late 1982. Anything before that is nickel.
I "think" (note the qualifier) that bright stainless wasn't introduced until a year or two later.
Stainless Pythons had an "S" stamped inside the ejector rod recess in the barrel shroud, in the center of the rear of the cylinder under the ejector, and on the lower left side of the grip frame under the grips.
Nickel usually had an "N" stamped on the lower left of the grip frame.
Stainless guns, including bright stainless have a dull satin finish on the sides of the grip frame under the grips. Nickel guns have the same shiny finish under the grips as on the rest of the gun, just with machine marks present.
The inside of the frame window where the cylinder seats will not be polished on stainless, nickel will be as shiny as the outside.
Color.
Nickel has a slight yellowish tint, stainless has a "white" color. Compare the gun to something known to be made of stainless steel, like a kitchen knife, and if it's nickel the color difference is usually obvious.
Stainless Pythons had black front sights with red-orange inserts and the entire rear sights were black with white outline blades. If the sights are not set up like that, it's not a stainless gun or there's a small chance the sights have been changed (not very likely).
The stainless steels used in firearms are all magnetic and magnets will stick to them. Since a magnet sticks to stainless and nickel equally, this is not a valid test.
Very good info as Nickel finished guns are some times advertised mistakenly as bright ss.
On the color issue, just to illustrate what dfariswheel is saying.Ways to ID a nickel versus stainless Python:
Color.
Nickel has a slight yellowish tint, stainless has a "white" color. Compare the gun to something known to be made of stainless steel, like a kitchen knife, and if it's nickel the color difference is usually obvious.
Top piece is Stainless, the bottom two are nickel:
In reading this thread I have a question, on a Colt Hammerless how do you
tell the difference if bright stainless or nickel plated finish other than color.
Are these stamped with a S or N aswell???
THANKS.
tell the difference if bright stainless or nickel plated finish other than color.
Are these stamped with a S or N aswell???
THANKS.
Thanks to all for the lesson! It appears that mine as I suspected is a nickel gun. It's serial dates it as a 1970. It has the nickel front and rear sight. The metal under the grips are shiny and there is an "N: stamp under the left grip as described by Dfariswheel. There is no "S" stamp in the ejector shroud or under the grip.
First stainless was sold 1983. T series numbering system. Also bright stainless came after that. There should be a S on the grip but you must remove the grip to see and like some one mentioned S in the cut out in the barrel.
The nickel always has a bit of yellow tint. Stainless is white.
First stainless was sold 1983
First stainless steel Pythons shipped from the factory in late 1982.
First stainless steel Pythons shipped from the factory in late 1982.
Sorry, what model? There is no "Colt Hammerless" revolver model.In reading this thread I have a question, on a Colt Hammerless how do you
tell the difference if bright stainless or nickel plated finish other than color.
Are these stamped with a S or N aswell???
THANKS.
Once you can recognize this distinction, its night and day, even at night.The nickel always has a bit of yellow tint. Stainless is white.
J.F.
Harleystoo FYI, I believe only Heat treatable SS is Magnetic
It's not the carbon, it's the iron itself. Chromium & nickel added to the steel do not affect magnetic properties very strongly. Almost all stainless steel alloys are magnetic.Magnet; but sometimes SS has enough carbon to attract magnet too.
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