I keep seeing these refered too, and quotes on how you can't use blued or SS barrels on them, but how do you tell the alloy frames from the normal frames?

Stainless will be the "new" style engraving with the very light cat head. Serial # starts with S. The alloy will be the older full cat engraving with a 'A' starting serial#.

One more thing, there were a few specail alloy frames made up with specail engraving for IHMSA.

John

The "alloy" frame is actually a steel frame with a hard chrome type plating.....they can be used with blue or stainless barrels if you remove the plating from the "pin holes" on the frame....the pin holes are the holes that the barrel pin goes through......the coating can be removed with a reamer of the proper size or, if you are really careful, you can remove it with 600 grit wet and dry sandpaper wrapped around a round shaft like a dowel or an arrow......