Does anyone know how I can get history information on this pistol? 38.jpg

Sure thing! List all the desciptors, like what it says on it and where.
Ex: Number written on the bottom of the butt, cartrigesize from side of barrel, etc. Some of the people here can probably tell what you've got just by looking at pics. I can't, but they'll be along.
Oh, yeah, welcome to the forum!
TACC1

the number on the bottom of the butt is c583***.It has the S&W Trade Mark. The only other identifying mark is located inside the chamber part...Mod 12-1. My father had it for a number of years and I believe he got it from my grandfather. THANKS!

You have posted on the wrong forum: you need to be in "S&W Revolvers: 1961-1980". You also need to post larger photos of both sides of the gun.

__________________
Peter #2091

burnsamy1969, Peter is correct, however you didn't know what the gun was, so we can excuse the incorrect forum posting. The gun has an alloy frame, steel barrel & cylinder ( a few were made with alloy cylinders and are very rare. Test the cylinder with a magnet) and was called the Airweight .38 Military & Police Model and was called the Model 12 after 1957 when S&W started using model numbers for it's various revolvers. It was probably made in 1961. The pearl (?) stocks are aftermarket additions. You can get a factory historical letter from Roy Jinks, Factory Historian, on the gun for $50. It will tell you when the gun was shipped from S&W and whom & where. Contact the S&W factory customer service for details on how to order a letter. Good luck, Ed.

"Contact the S&W factory customer service for details on how to order a letter. Good luck, Ed." Or, click the heading 'Downloads' at the top of this page and follow the directions. Perhaps Ed has had too much California water? Mike #283

__________________
Mike Maher #283

Mike, I was trying to provide full employment for those nice clerks in the Customer Service Dep't ! If we start making it to easy, 1/2 of them will be laid off! Ed.