Roy Jinks is a personal friend of mine, and he seldom goofs, but this time he did and I can see why if you sent him a copy of the photograph(s) you posted because for all the world it does look like a pre-model 36. Also the serial number you gave him could have thrown him off.
The .38/32 Terrier was introduced in 1936 at serial number 38,976 in the .38 Regulation Police serial number series that started at No. 1 during 1917. The Terrier was made on S&W’s I-frame, chambered exclusively in .38 S&W, and had a cylinder 1.250” (1 ¼”) long, with a round butt and 2” barrel. Following World War Two they slightly revised the frame, principally by changing the mainspring from leaf to coil, and called it the “Improved” I-frame. It also had a cylinder 1.250” long. In 1957 they started stamping the frame inside the yoke cut with the model number, in this case the model 32. In 1961 they discontinued the I-frame (Improved and otherwise) and changed to the well-known J-frame that was normally made in .38 Special. The first J-frame version was stamped “32-1.” It supposedly had a cylinder 1.38” (1 3/8”) long. For reference, the model 36 cylinder is 1.53” inches long. In the model 32-1, the flat latch (which is on your revolver) was introduced in 1966, and the diamond around the stock screw was discontinued around 1968. J-frame production started at serial number 712,954, but 1969 they started a new serial number series with an “R” prefix. The .38/32 Terrier was discontinued in 1974.
Your Revolver has a serial number of 80,563 – which is way out of sequence unless the letter “R” precedes it. Check the number on the butt again. The number “74017 in the yoke cut is an assembly number, and of no consequence to us here, although the same number should be stamped on the yoke. It has an I-frame length cylinder, which is quite possible because they often used up surplus parts. Serial number R-80,563 would have been made around 1971-72, and I suspect they were using up the last of the I-frame cylinders, rather then making new ones in the 1.38”, J-frame length.
Run this across Roy Jinks again with the additional information I’ve provided, including a full description of all the markings on the gun. In particular check for the letter “R” as a serial number prefix. I think you’ll get a second letter at no additional charge. If the letter “R” is there on the butt I know what threw him off.