(Note: I originally posted this piece 6 1/2 years ago. It address's a lot of questions being raised today, so I am reposting it.)

The K-frame revolver was introduced in 1899 as the .38 Military, Model 1899. Curiously, it was cataloged as one gun chambered in three different cartridges: the .38 S&W Special, the .38 US Service Cartridge, and the .32 Winchester. The two .38 cartridges are the same, as far as this revolver is concerned. The .32 Winchester is a different cartridge; perhaps because of this difference, it was serial-numbered in its own series. This separation continued until the end of its production, in about 1940 .

The .38 Military, Model 1899 was offered in three different barrels lengths : 4", 5", and 6 1/2", and in two different finishes : blue and nickel . The butt configuration was round - as were all the handguns offered by the factory in 1899, except for the single-shot. (By virtue of the extension stocks, the factory felt that this was a square-butt offering, even though the frame was round-butt. ) Adjustable target sights were optional. A unique feature of this hand ejector was the lack of a locking point for the end of the extractor rod.

The .38 Military, Model 1902 added the extractor lug under the barrel, and redesigned the extractor rod itself to house a full-length center locking pin, that engaged the lug under the barrel. Otherwise, the gun was identical to the model of 1899. This front locking point was very important to the factory, as it allowed them to distinguish themselves from the other competitors. They secured a patent for this locking arrangement, and that effectively forced Colt to not use a front locking point. In the catalogs and other advertising, Smith & Wesson got a lot of mileage from this feature. The 1902 was offered in the same three calibers, the same three barrel lengths, the same two finishes, and the
optional target sights. And, it was offered in round butt frame only, as were all the other catalog offerings.

In October of 1903, the factory made an engineering change that increased the diameter of the threaded portion of the barrel, and simultaneously increased the diameter of the receiver-area of the frame. The factory elected to keep the taper of the barrel the same, so the increased thread diameter brings about the addition of a shoulder on the barrel, at the point where the barrel meets the frame. This has an unintended effect on the patent-date roll markings on the top of the barrel; on the 4" barrels, there is no longer enough flat area in which to place the roll markings, so they are moved to the right side of the barrel. On this short barrel, these markings take three lines, and will remain on the side of the barrel for another 10 or more years.

At this point, the Collectors (circa 1935) want to distinguish this engineering change, and so for Collector purposes, this gun becomes known as the .38 Military Model 1902 1st Change. This change is not noted (by the factory) in the catalogs, but it serves a purpose for Collectors in distinguishing between these two barrel configurations. Again, nothing else changes - but not for long.

It is worth noting that the above-referenced Collectors are, in 1935, the McHenry & Roper book. However, their ideas about the changes are actually coming from the factories internal designations. The factory, internally, is keeping track of the engineering changes, because some of the later-made parts are not compatible with earlier frames. Roper ( a factory employee) and McHenry provide and document the methodology that we use today, namely the notions of 1st Change, 2nd Change, etc. This contrasts with the factories preference for keeping engineering changes out of the catalogs, and thereby providing stability for their identified models.

Some time in 1904, the factory introduces a new model - the Model 1905. This revolver features a square butt, but is otherwise the same as the round butt Model 1902. It is available in the same barrel lengths, finishes, etc. More importantly, it has exactly the same internal lockwork as the Model 1902 . Like the 1902, it is a 4-screrw frame. The Collectors (circa 1970) choose to continue categorizing this gun as a Model 1902 1st change, and note that a square butt is now available, along with the original round butt. Its worth noting that this Model 1905 is now the only square butt frame offering in the catalogs.

About 1905, the factory introduces the first of two significant lockwork changes. The first change is the redesign of the cylinder stop, so that it now has an externally-tensioned spring, secured by the 5th frame screw located in the front of the trigger guard. The Collectors deem this to be an important change, and designate this as the .38 Military, Model 1905. And moreso, the Collectors drop the designation of Model 1902. To the Collectors, the .38 Military , Model 1905 represents both round butt and square butt. To the factory, there are two models: the Model 1902 is a round butt, and the Model of 1905 is a square butt.

The second significant change occurs later in the year. The lockwork is dramatically changed, with the introduction of the trigger rebounding slide, which replaces the earlier levering mechanism. This dramatically changes the mechanics of the lockwork, and in fact ultimately becomes the lockwork design for the next 100 years. The factory does not consider this to be a catalog or sales issue, but the Collectors consider it to be very important, and designate these guns as the Model 1905, 1st Change. The factory, of course, does not, and the catalogs still reflect the Model 1902 as round butt, and the Model 1905 as square butt.

At the time of these latest changes, the catalog Model 1905 is still the only square butt offering ; all the other revolvers are round butt. The notion of extension, or target, stocks has been introduced years ago, for the single shot target pistol. These stocks are interchangeable with the .38 single action models of 1880 and 1891, the .38 double action revolvers, and the .32 hand ejector models. All of these are round butt guns, of course; the only square butt is the Model 1905 .

In the 1905 catalog, a curious comment appears, in describing the .38 Military, Models 1902 and 1905 . This comment is the last sentence in that descriptive paragraph, and it reads

" Special target stocks applied when desired. "

One of the purposes of the earlier-mentioned extension stocks is to effectively fill-out the rounded butt area, converting the stock into something resembling a square butt. This has the effect of augmenting that portion of the grip. Bear in mind that.,with the exception of the Model 1905, all the factory offerings are round butt frames. Furthermore, extension stocks are available for several models of these round-butt guns. Clearly, the new Model 1905 already has a square butt, so as far as that is concerned, it would not need a special target stocks. In fact, that may have been the reason for the introduction of the square butt Model 1905. This leads to the conclusion that these " special target stocks " were intended for the Model 1902, which like the Model 1905, was being offered with optional target sights.

The author just happens to have a pair of round-butt K-frame extension stocks, as shown in the following picture. They are nearly identical, in all design aspects, to the extension stocks for the earlier models, except that they are slightly larger. They are two-screw, with concave non-medallion areas at the top. The 1905 catalog is the only catalog that mentions these special target stocks.



(A post further down this thread has more pictures of these stocks.)

Returning back to the discussion of the Models 1902 and 1905, over the course of the next few years, the factory makes various engineering changes to these two models. None of these are mentioned in the catalogs, but the Collectors categorized them ,as they occur, as the Model 1905 2nd Change, 3rd Change, and finally 4th Change. Of course, the factory is implementing these changes in both the Model 1902 and the Model 1905, but the Collectors have dropped the Model 1902 designation years ago.

Gradually, the catalog designation is changed, but up until about 1965, there is always two separate pictures in the catalogs; one of the square butt model, and one of the round butt model. In the 1915 D catalog, the reference is now to three (3) models: the Military & Police Round Butt, the Military & Police Square Butt, and the Military & Police Square Butt Target. The Parts catalogs, however, continue to note two different frames, designated as 1902 & 1905 . The emergence of three models is very important, for several reasons.
First, the target model is only offered in 6" barrel, which means that any shorter-barrel target will have to be a special order. Second, what was the 1905 will now only be available with fixed sights. And third, the 1902 model will also only be available with fixed sights.

Most important, however, is the dawning recognition that, from the catalog perspective, the Model of 1905 has never been, and never will be, offered with a round butt. It is always offered as a square-butt only.

By 1925, the catalog now devotes 4 separate pages, complete with pictures, of four (4) offerings of these revolvers. They are
1. Military & Police Round Butt Fixed Sights in .38
2. Military & Police Square Butt Fixed Sights in .38
3. Military & Police Square Butt Fixed Sights in 32-20
4. Military & Police Square Butt Target in 32-20 or .38 6" only

and, grooved triggers and groved tangs show up. These distinctions may have been made between 1921 and 1925.

In the 1936 catalog. the 80th Anniversary catalog, there are separate pictures and pages for the K-frames, as follows:
1. Military & Police Round Butt in .38
2. Military & Police Model K Square Butt .38 & 32-20
3. S&W Target Revolvers 6" .38 M&P Target in .38 or 32-20
4. K-22 Target Revolver 6" only

The 1939 P-3 Parts catalogs continues to describe the round-butt K-frame as "1902" . Its clear that the catalogs have always kept the round butt vs square butt distinction as two different models, even though they are virtually identical guns, except for certain options. Following WW2, and the run-out of all the old parts, the K-frame was redesigned. The round-butt vs square-butt separation was maintained well into the 1960's for the fixed-sighted revolvers. The target guns were even further delineated into several square-butt-only models.

What is important, for this story, is that the designation of Model 1902 survived, in one form or another, from its inception in 1902 until the beginning of World War 2 . During those years, it was always a round-butt-only gun, and about half way through its life, became known as the fixed-sighted Military & Police variant. Subsequently, the round-butt version of the fixed-sighted Military & Police became one of the two Model 10 offerings: one in round butt, and one in square butt.

The gun that still survives to this day is the round-butt fixed-sighted Model 10, the modern-day version of the .38 Military 1902. Its fixed-sighted companion, the .38 Military 1905 in square butt, is no longer offered. One hundred and five years is the longest continuously-offered revolver in the factories history, making it, indeed, the King !

Regards, Mike Priwer

Very, very interesting article, Mike. Thanks for reposting it for those of us who were not around 6 1/2 years ago.

One question about the quoted part:
This decision to offer the target model only with a 6" barrel, except for special order - I understand you to be saying this started in 1915. Is that correct?

I ask because I have two early target models; one chambered for the .38 Special and the other for the .32-20. The .32-20 was shipped in March, 1904, and the .38 in April, 1908. The .32-20 has a 5" barrel and the .38 has a 6 1/2" barrel. Both letter that way.
So, before 1915, were both models offered in target configuration with any of the available barrel lengths?

Thanks,
Jack

__________________
Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

Very informative Mike . . . and only a handful of spelling errors. Thanks for sharing. I guess I can now throw away my engineering changes cheat sheet that I have been keeping on these models.

You mention that it is the longest continuously-offered
revolver model. Is it also the highest produced model of all US handguns? I have never added all the various models up, but would think it is in the running.

I seem to remember reading that the Colt 1911/1911A1/Government Model and its many variants and clones were the most produced.

Jack

In the time-frame you are referrng to, the standard barrel lengths were 4", 5", and
6 1/2". The 6" was a special order. Some years later, the 6 1/2" length was replaced
with the 6", as one of the standard lengths.

Glowe

I was referring only to S&W production. Not only is the Model of 1902 their longest
running model, but it, combined with its square-butt 1905 companion, is the most
produced of all the models. The post-WW2 K-38's are a direct descendant of the
model of 1902/1905, and so I include their production, for example.

I suppose the correct way to say this is that the .38 caliber K-frame is the most
produced S&W model ever. In this context, I am excluding the model 19's. They are
K-frames, and they do chamber .38 Special, and they are a sizeable production. But,
their production pales in comparison to the .38 K-frames.

Regards, Mike Priwer

Thanks, Mike!
Jack

__________________
Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

You are probably right there, but if you only look at Colt manufactured handguns, I bet the S&W 38 Special early models and their successors would be in the running for most produced?

I don't know how to compare the various manufacturers who copied the S&W 38 Special, but if you added all 1911 variants and 38 Special variants, I wonder how they would compare. Problem is there is little information out there to get to that answer. I did find that the 38 Special cartridge sales rated just below the 45ACP on a global basis.

The top 7 most popular calibers:
1- 9x17mm (9mm Browning, 9mm Short/Kurz, .380 ACP), FMJ
2 - 9x19mm (9mm Para, 9mm Luger, 9mm NATO), FMJ
3 - .40SW (.40 Smith & Wesson), JFP
4 - .45ACP (.45 Automatic Colt Pistole), FMJ
5 - .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special), JHP
6 - .357 Magnum, JHP
7 - .44 Magnum (.44 Remington Magnum), JHP

Appreciate the reply Mike. Now I have to reduce your information to bullet points so I can easily find all the great points you make about each Model and Change.

Outstanding article, Mike. Very educational. It stimulates me to expand my collection of the early hand ejectors and will accompany me in my searches.

Thanks,
Bob

Needs to be made a sticky, or a "Expert Commentary".

__________________
H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Bob

Well - as long as we won't be head-to-head on some rare K-frame !!

Glowe

Which words are mis-spelled ? I'll correct the spelling errors, and also try to clean the
the pagination issues.

As to the most popular caliber, I assume your numbers are recent sales statistics, and
don't reflect all the historical sales of ammo ?

Regards, Mike

Another reason why this is the greatest site on the internet! I love this place. Thanks mikepriwer.

__________________
Why, I aughta.....

Too many to list Mike. No big deal, just was giving you a hard time for knowing so much!

One way to fix the problems easily is to highlight your post content and then click Copy. Open a blank Word document and click "Paste". That is the easiest way to check spelling. It should provide a red or green underline for all mis-spelled words. I am not sure how to do it on the Forum posts. I did save a cleaned up version, but we can not attach Word documents. I did, however, attach the file in .txt format, which you can save as a Word document if you are interested.

Anoither option - if you PM me your email, I would be happy to send a clean Word document.

Attached Files

38MilitaryModelDevelopments.txt (11.1 KB, 14 views)

Glowe

I ran my spell checker on the copy I have on my machine, and it says there are no
spelling errors. Give me just one example, please.

Regards, Mike Priwer

Mike - I will email you what I have, but a couple examples are:

. . . target sights. And, it was offered in round butt frame only, as were all the other catalog offereings.

. . . in distinguising between these two barrel configurations.

Thanks to Glowe, the typographical errors have been cleaned up !

Regards, Mike Priwe

Here are some more pictures of these early round-butt extension stocks. There is only
a brief mention of such stocks in the 1905 catalog. The frst two pictures are this K-frame stock along side of a comparable I-frame stock.





The next picture is a very nice Model of 1899, with its concave non-medallion checkered
walnut stocks.



The next two pictures are the same gun, but with the extension (target) stocks.





Regards, Mike Priwer

I'm from Topsail Island, NC. I grew up on the northern end (Onslow County) & went to school across the street from the old mortar range at Camp Lejuene Marine Corps base. The southern 1/2 of the island is in Pender County, NC (Surf City & Topsail Beach, not to be confused with the north end Town of North Topsail Beach) I worked for the Town of Topsail Beach Water dept when I graduated from Dixon High School in 1977. When I was around 5-8 years old, the Surf City Police Chief,(he was the only cop on the entire island in the 60's) had a .38 Smith & Wesson revolver with an 8" barrel. Yes, 8 inches,, I feel certain he had modified it or took the barrel off of another gun. He wore bib overalls, & my cousin & I still laugh about that long range long barrel gun. I've never seen a .38 revolver since with that long of a barrel, I worked for NC Dept Of Corrections in Burgaw, NC at the state prison & we carried .357 magnum revolvers with 4" barrels when on duty outside of the unit.

Hi
To answer your question there were at least 3 revolvers built with 8 inch barrels.
Mike Priwer and I did a display at the NRA last year for the Smith & Wesson Colectors.
In that display of famous shooters is the gun below and the write up for that gun.
If is possible the gun you seen could have been one of the 3 made.
I hope this helps.
The display that we did won 7 major awards last year at 3 display shows
NRA, Denver and Spokane

Jim Fisher & Mike Priwer
enjoy the information

Here are a couple of pictures of this revolver, from the Spokane S&WCA meeting.





Regards, Mike Priwer

Here is the poster that was used for displaying the 8" revolver in the three shows
Jim mentions. This poster is Jim's handi-work!




Regards, Mike Priwer