One has to remember that all pre-WW2 .38 K-frames are in one long serial number series, that runs from 1 ( the first 1899 ) all the way through 1000000 in 1942). There are several different models included in this range: 1899, 1902, 1905, K-22 Outdoorsman, and K-32. With the exception of the model of 1899, the other four are running concurrently, from their individual inception to 1000000. The model of 1902 starts at ~21000, and the model of 1905 starts at 58000. The K-22's and K-32 start much later, somewhere around 600000.

The 1902's and 1905's are identical, no matter what the serial number, except for the butt configuration. The 1902's are always round-butt, and the 1905's are always square butt.

There is, of course, the other pre-WW2 K-frame series, used for 32-20's, and a very very few K-32's.

Regards, Mike Priwer