I looked at what must have a M&P of some vintage this afternoon. "K" frame size, 6" barrel. S/N was a straight 6 digit, no prefix (15xxxx IIRC). There was no address line at all, only the Smith & Wesson logo. No markings on the right side of the barrel. Patent dates and such on top (sorry, I don't remember which ones.) and s&W 38 special on the left side of the barrel. The ejector rod had sort of a bulge on the end, sort of knurled knob. Under the cylinder release on the left side, there was a pin, but no matching pin on the right size. Five screws in the sideplate.

It was simply marked a "Pre Model 10."

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John 3:16 .

Hi CajunBass
Looks like you saw a .38 M&P Model of 1905 3d Change revolver. The lack of info on the frame is typical, as are the patent dates on the barrel. It does seem to me that those I have looked at had the cartridge designation on the right side, not the left, but that may not mean anything.
The knurled extractor knob larger than the rod is normal for this period, but it should be one-piece, unlike the earlier two-piece knobs. However, it could have a 2d change extractor as S&W had the practice of using up available parts.
What did the grips look like?
"Pre-model 10" is sort of correct, but lots of years pre . . . The 3d Change guns were made from 1909 until 1915.
JP

If the SN range is correct, it sounds to be an M & P 3rd change, made about 1909-'10.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Wooo Hoooo...that's about what I had come up with going through the S&W book at the store. I THINK the ejector rod was one piece, but then I didn't know they ever were two pieces.

The grips were diamond magna's, with what must have been gold coloring at one time. Edited to add. Now that I've looked at a couple of pictures, I'm not sure if they were magna's or the older service type stocks. I do remember they had diamond's and goldish colored (well worn) medallions.

All in all the gun didn't look bad, and seemed to lock up tight.

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John 3:16 .

Hi again, CajunBass
If the grips were original, they would not have been Magnas. They would have been checked service grips with a gold medallion. These were used from about 1910 or 1911 until about 1920.
I'm guessing that is what you saw.
JP

The more I think about it, the more I think they were the older service grips. I was waiting on a background check, and the clerks were showing me a several others off the rack so they kinda of blended together.

I'm lost totally when I start looking at pre war stuff.

They also had a "Perfected" top break 38 S&W that someone a long time ago had modified a set of Colt grips, probably from a Police Positive to fit. Very interesting old gun.

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John 3:16 .