RE old smiths and colts, Once upon a time, there was this thing called customer service, you see, you had the opportunity to write a letter, or type it on a real type writer and maybe make a carbon copy of it, and then put that letter in an envelope and lick and then place a stamp on the envelope and hand that letter to your mailman in the morning. That letter would go to Colt or S&W and they would read it and find out that you wanted a revolver made up in a certain pattern. They would figure out a fee for that revolver and send you a letter in return that would say, sure that is no problem, we have all the parts you want and it will cost you 69.52 for us to build it the way you want. You would mail them a check and in a month or so, your pistol would show in your mailbox. Exactly the way you ordered it... I have seen .38/44's with all sorts of rear and front sight combo's from the factory. smooth triggers, checkered triggers, grooved wide triggers, you name it, all from the factory, all pre 1968.
I own a pre model 15 with a six inch pencil barrel, fixed but not a "groove" rear sight, checkered trigger, checkered hammer, with round grips. Ordered from the factory by the previous owner. I was lucky enough to get the correspondence that went back and forth between springfield and west point, detailing the selection of the gun. That same person also ordered a .22 from the factory asked for fitted stag grips, a $6.25 cent option. Both guns ALSO have the same serial number. As ordered.
Before anyone goes off and says that x could not possibly be so, be careful. There used to be very very wide latitude in what was done.
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