I think you're referring to the blackening of the stock. It doesn't look like it was from torching the locks, but it doesn't look consistent with oil soaking either.
All of the Smiths I own have flat-topped checkering, even the 1949 one. This has pointed checkering suggesting a re-finish to me, but someone who knows the guns better will chime in with a definitive answer. Perhaps the stock was badly oil soaked and had incomplete removal.
Lastly, the locks look like they had pitting, polishing, and re-case hardening. I'm no expert on torching, but that doesn't look like a torch job to me.
My take is that this is a post-13 gun with a refinish. It would be nice to see the center lever and know the serial number. It doesn't look like a $1600 gun to me, maybe $1200 is a better figure?
Rob.
