I have a howard arms 38 special what is the originand years of manufacture?

I suspect your firearm is a .38 S&W, not a .38 Special. The latter is more powerful and too much for an older .38 S&W revolver...so the .38 Special case was lengthened to avoid such a mistake. In the same way, the .38 Special case was lengthened to create the .357 Magnum in 1935. I have a small revolver I believe to be made by Howard Arms and found this site while researching my gun. I know nothing more at this time.