
38 M&P (Second Model) was introduced in 1902.

The cartridge also birthed the popular common name of ".38 Special" which has stood the test of time. 38 S&W Special cartridge to which M&P guns were rechambered for. 38 Long Colt generally inadequate for military service. 38 Long Colt cartridge until actions during the Philippine-American War (1899-1902) proved the. The revolver was offered with varying barrel lengths measuring 4", 5", 6" and 6.5" long. Smith & Wesson, the famous gun concern founded in 1852 by Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson, responded with their new offering which was accepted by way of a contract in 1899 - bringing about the Model 1899 "Hand Ejector" legacy, recognized formally to the US military as the ".38 Military and Police" ("M&P"). Origins of the Model 10 could be traced back to a US military requirement specifying a centerfire revolver sidearm. Beyond its use by US forces, the weapon served other national powers including Australia, Canada, China, France, Norway, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom and others for decades since its inception. The "double-action" quality signified the cocking and release of the hammer with a single trigger pull as opposed to the manual setting of the hammer prior to each firing seen in a "single-action" design.

The weapon was a no-frills design with a solid frame, six-shot capacity cylinder and double-action trigger system. The famous ".38 Special" revolver was the Smith & Wesson Model 10 which first appeared in 1899 and went on to see some 6 million produced and used across two World Wars and countless conflicts in between.
