Looked up the S.N .you have a 38 m&p of 1905 3rd change s/n range 146900-241703,manufactured 1909-1915.built on a round butt or SB. /K frame..Large s&w logo on side plate,Barrel with pattend date onright side "38 S&W special ctg.
condition rating poor=$85.,fair =$150.,good=$225.,v.g. =$285.,Exc.=$385.,Exc.+=$600.,ANIB=$1500.
Target model 50-100% premium.
They were made with blue or nickle finish ,But again hammer & trigger color case color
& the 40's 5o's plating was cheap and many plating shops were local cost was a flashy way to make an old gun look good.
On a side note S&W did not start heat treating the Cyls .until the 4th change @S/N 316648
HOPE THIS HELPS
Looked up the S.N .you have a 38 m&p of 1905 3rd change s/n range 146900-241703,manufactured 1909-1915.built on a round butt or SB. /K frame..Large s&w logo on side plate,Barrel with pattend date onright side "38 S&W special ctg.
condition rating poor=$85.,fair =$150.,good=$225.,v.g. =$285.,Exc.=$385.,Exc.+=$600.,ANIB=$1500.
Target model 50-100% premium.
They were made with blue or nickle finish ,But again hammer & trigger color case color
& the 40's 5o's plating was cheap and many plating shops were local cost was a flashy way to make an old gun look good.
On a side note S&W did not start heat treating the Cyls .until the 4th change @S/N 316648
HOPE THIS HELPS
Are you completely sure that the finish is Nickel? I've seen a couple older guns that were chrome plated and they were mistaken for nickel. The 38 special was not invented until the 30's.
Your right I should'a looked it up instead of going by memory or by what someone told me.
I think you were referring to the 38/44 Cartridge which was basically a .357 magnum crammed into a 38 special case...It came out in the 30's and like the .38 super was at the request of LEO who were having a hard time cracking engine blocks of V8's with the standard .38 special round...
The name 38/44 comes from "A beefed up 38 special to ONLY be shot out of a .44 frame .38 special".....There were (obviously) issues with folks putting 38/44 cartridges in .38 special guns and blowing them up.....In response to this Smith and Wesson brought out the .357 magnum and the rest is history....A nice 38/44 N frame Smith and Wesson is a joy to shoot and built like a tank....
My old hand ejector, the only one I've seen with factory adjustable sights. Came from the old MCSD auction, they melt these now.