1994T600,
Are you thoroughly confused yet? One fault many on this forum have is commenting on a post without first taking the time to read and understand the original post thoroughly. There are also often too many "could be's" and "what if's" included! Your post and the subsequent photos are very clear and adequate! You clearly stated the SN was from the butt of the gun and there was a trigger guard screw!
Based on the information you have presented your gun is an early "Chief's Special". Since it has the early more round shaped trigger guard it would be referred to in collectors circles as a "Baby Chief". not S&W terminology!
By SN your gun would have been manufactured between 1952 and 1955. A "factory letter" would give you the shipping date but costs $100 currently. That's a lot of curiosity!
If you remove the left stock there may be a service date stamped on the left side of the grip frame in the form of generally 5 digits that may be separated by a space or period. If the gun was factory re-finished there will be a re-finish mark on the left rear side of the grip frame. It would be RN for re-finish, Nickle, and possibly be within an oval "cartouche' ". My guess is it was re-finished outside the factory though at some time because of the plated hammer and trigger.
From 1852 until 1957 all Smith & Wesson firearms were what is now referred to as "Named Models". In 1957 the decision was made to add a numeric designation to the model. The original model name is still correct. The model number added to the Chiefs Special at that time was Model 36 The collector's reference to a pre-model just means it was made before the model number was assigned and has never been official S&W terminology.
The "Chiefs Special" was so-named because it was first introduced at the International Association of Chiefs of Police convention in 1950, and the market focus for the model was police use.
A final comment. Look at the SN on the bottom of the barrel. If it is followed by the letter "B" then the gun was originally blued.
