Wow, babyblondeone, I need to go look in my closet and see if I can find a gun.
Any road, many makes and models of guns started at serial number one. So they did not have a six figure serial number until 100,000 had been made.
If we are to tell you anything about your 55XXX, it will take pictures or a very detailed description.
MrDig, there was a discussion of the "I've got a .38 S&W CTG, what is that?" syndrome on the S&W board.
I think what is going on is that we are learning less out of well organized books and the general sort of magazine article that used to be common before the gunzines turned into advertising brochures and more on depending stuff to just pop up out of the blogosphere as needed.
Oh, by the way, if it is a H&R or IJ, it will be inscribed ".38 S&W CTGE."