Author Topic: Older model 10 (Read 1976 times)

gustmouse · « **on:** May 08, 2007, 09:38:33 AM »

I have an older model 10 serial# C 171**** stamped on the butt of the grip frame. I brought it at a gun show about 20 years ago for $105.
I guess the bunch of model 10’s the dealer had that day was from a police department in New Jersey. Not sure if it was the State Police or a local department.
Anyhow any guesses on a date of manufacture. It's in great condition with just a little wearing of the bluing at the end of the barrel. I remember when I brought it thinking man this hasn’t been shot much! Over the past 20 years I’ve shot it maybe 100 times with standard velocity rounds. I believe these older revolvers shouldn’t be used with +P loads. So another question is, what’s a good defense load for the older model 10s?

Thanks!

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #1 on:** May 10, 2007, 12:17:54 AM »

youve got a fine gun there. I went a little nuts when the prison around here switched to 40s and bought 3 15s 2 64s and one 10 all for under 200 bucks a piece. Some had holster wear but id be willing to bet not a one of them had a 1000 rounds through them. I preached back then that they were probably the best bang for the buck on the handgun market. Ive gave a few away to family members and sold a couple and only have the one 15 left right now but kick myself in the but for doing it. They were a finely made gun back when smith made them right. Butter smooth and accurate to boot. There about as much fun as a guy can have with his pants on. They are basically the same gun as the 19 .357s and will take +p in stride. But you may run into a problem with sight regulation using that ammo. What there really good for is light 38 loads by the bucketfulls. Probably no better learning tool for shooting a handgun in single action and double action has ever been made. DO YOU THINK I LIKE THEM!

gustmouse · « **Reply #2 on:** May 11, 2007, 01:55:05 AM »

Quote from: Lloyd Smale on May 10, 2007, 12:17:54 AM

youve got a fine gun there. I went a little nuts when the prison around here switched to 40s and bought 3 15s 2 64s and one 10 all for under 200 bucks a piece. Some had holster wear but id be willing to bet not a one of them had a 1000 rounds through them. I preached back then that they were probably the best bang for the buck on the handgun market. Ive gave a few away to family members and sold a couple and only have the one 15 left right now but kick myself in the but for doing it. They were a finely made gun back when smith made them right. Butter smooth and accurate to boot. There about as much fun as a guy can have with his pants on. They are basically the same gun as the 19 .357s and will take +p in stride. But you may run into a problem with sight regulation using that ammo. What there really good for is light 38 loads by the bucketfulls. Probably no better learning tool for shooting a handgun in single action and double action has ever been made. DO YOU THINK I LIKE THEM!

It is real nice revolver. It's a 5 screw and I think it was made in the late 40's. I'm in the market for a model 19 or 66. I think one of those would make a fine carry and camp gun. The model 10 really just sits on a shelf in a closet for my wife's use if needed! But I think I may shoot it a bit, because it's so nice!

papajohn428 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 19, 2007, 10:57:33 AM »

I can't speak to the age of your gun, but I'd guess it's a bit older than mine, based on the serial number and the five screws. Mine is a pinned (but not recessed) 4-inch Model Ten, thin barrel, made in 1961. If I could, I'd buy a dozen of these guns and hide them away, they are far better than anything coming out of ANY factory these days. Mine has digested a shade over 65,000 +P loads since I got it, and the only damage has been a broken firing pin a few years ago. It's as tight as a new gun, and after all those rounds, all fired double-action, it's as slick as a Ferrari. Our standard warm-up drill at my club range is blasting at clay pigeons at 50 yards, and they don't last long. Mine loves Remington bullets, but also gets a steady diet of plated 158 flatpoints used on bowling pins in speed drills.

With a little TLC that gun will outlast you, your kids, and probably your grandkids. They didn't know as much about metallurgy back them, but they understood quality, and it shows!

Papajohn

Shawnee Gene · « **Reply #4 on:** May 23, 2007, 05:43:06 AM »

There are five loads that I know of and use. Glaser Blue & Silver, Hornady 125 & 158 XTP, and Magtech 158 SJHP. I carry all of these depending on the season.

Shawnee Gene · « **Reply #5 on:** May 23, 2007, 05:46:28 AM »

I neglected to add that these are all standard velocity loads and rate very well on stopping power. They are controllable in light revolvers too!

gustmouse · « **Reply #6 on:** June 09, 2007, 03:04:16 AM »

I bought a box of Hornady 140 grain JHP/XTP, haven't tried shooting them yet.

papajohn428 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 16, 2007, 08:07:32 AM »

The only ammo I carry in my Model 10 is the Speer 135-grain Snubby load, my duty gun is a 4-incher but my CCW gun is a three-inch, so I keep the same ammo in both. It's designed to expand from a belly gun, so the added barrel length in either gun ought to make it that much better. The stuff shoots like crazy in both guns, and recovered bullets from Duxseal look like the advertising photos. Pricey, but worth every penny!

Papajohn

S.B. · « **Reply #8 on:** July 19, 2007, 04:23:29 PM »

I bought this S serial numbered M&P at a local pawn shop for $170 out the door. Never had a better deal, she shoots very good. I think "Cs" started in the late 40s or early '50s?
papajohn428, only magnum calibers and of course the rimfires were ever recessed in S&W revolvers?
gustmouse, if your has a c serial number, I'd venture a guess it's not a model 10 but, a M&P?

Hammerdown · « **Reply #9 on:** July 20, 2007, 05:07:02 AM »

Quote

if your has a c serial number, I'd venture a guess it's not a model 10 but, a M&P?

Hello
I would have to agree with member S.B. On this, as the C series is often referred to as a Pre-10 or the M&P. It is also the Hardest one to trace for a date because so Darn many of them were made, but one thing going for yours is I have a book that breaks down the C-Series serial numbers and if you would P.M. me the serial number I could check my reference book and get close to when it shipped. Feel free to leave off the Last two numbers replacing them with X's to keep your serial number Private as well. I hope this helps, Hammerdown

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #10 on:** July 21, 2007, 08:14:20 PM »

If you're a reloader, I recommend a 158 gr. cast SWC and Unique or Win 231 powders as suitable for accuracy ,defense, and sight regulation. Use your loading manual and be a bit conservative at first.

Old Griz · « **Reply #11 on:** August 11, 2007, 05:14:54 AM »

Quote from: S.B. on July 19, 2007, 04:23:29 PM

I bought this S serial numbered M&P at a local pawn shop for $170 out the door. Never had a better deal, she shoots very good.

You beat me, mine was $175! It looked like someone bought it, stuck it in the bedside drawer, and never fired it. And what a great shooter! Man, ya don't get that lucky very often.

S.B. · « **Reply #12 on:** August 11, 2007, 01:36:50 PM »

Sounds like yours is in much better shape than mine. How about a pic? Sometimes even a blind squirrel can find an acorn? Meaning me.

Hammerdown · « **Reply #13 on:** August 12, 2007, 06:37:34 AM »

Hi
M&P's have Taken a Big Price hike in my area in the past few years. With High Humidity levels it is very difficult to locate a clean example and when they do Pop up a Premium much the same of other desirable adjustable sighted revolver's is wanted. I came across this Interesting Mexican Pre-War M&P Victory Model. It is the First engraved handgun I had ever owned and the One I swapped for it I had around $350.00 in. I looked close after getting it home and can't be certain but want to believe this one had not been fired. I did not have the Heart to fire it and all I have get used, so I swapped it for a Model 25-5 target revolver in .45 Colt that I shoot often. Here is how the Pre-War Victory Looked and what I swapped it for. I had been Looking for a mdoel 25-5 for a while and when found they average $600.00-$725.00 in my area so I figured I was into this One real reasonable. Regards, Hammerdown

data · « **Reply #14 on:** August 13, 2007, 02:58:32 AM »

I have to join in the praise for k frames in 38 special. Both are my favorite. Favorite load 158 grain swc at 800 fps. All I need. Self defense 158 swchp +p.

Hammerdown · « **Reply #15 on:** August 16, 2007, 03:46:09 AM »

Quote from: S.B. on July 19, 2007, 04:23:29 PM

I bought this S serial numbered M&P at a local pawn shop for $170 out the door. Never had a better deal, she shoots very good. I think "Cs" started in the early '50s?
papajohn428, only magnum calibers and of course the rimfires were ever recessed in S&W revolvers?
gustmouse, if your has a c serial number, I'd venture a guess it's not a model 10 but, a M&P?

Hello S.B.
I have wanted a Nice Pre-War M&P for a Long time, and it is your Fault for wetting my whistle with the idea of Pounding the Pavement Looking for one. I came across a Nice example yesterday, which is a pre-War model with Walnut Grips serialized to the gun. It is one of the cleanest Pre-War examples of an M&P I have seen in a very, Very, Long time, so I Purchased it. The Price was Not as Modest as your's but They have taken a sharp rise as far as Pre-War examples go and I Paid $350.00 for it. It was In a Pawn shop and the owner Knew the shape of it would easily fetch his marked price, so rather thn dicker and lose it, I picked it up. Lately I have seen ones in less shape do well over $425.00 mark, so I felt it was good deal. I wil post some pictures of it later. Hammerdown.

Hammerdown · « **Reply #16 on:** August 19, 2007, 01:03:28 AM »

Hello
As I mentioned above, I will be adding a 1939 M&P to my collection on Monday. In the mean time, I came across this Early Post War model with it's Box, Paperwork and cleaning tools that also has a 5" Barrel so now I will have Two examples in this Model. Regards, Hammerdown

gooser · « **Reply #17 on:** August 19, 2007, 11:13:51 AM »

I have a model 10 with a 5 inch barrel. Have shot hundreds of rounds through it. I used to use it for rabbit hunting on occasion with 158gr wadcutters. Its a real nice shooting gun.

Old Griz · « **Reply #18 on:** August 19, 2007, 05:37:10 PM »

Hokie smokes Hammerdown! That's a fine firearm. I'm glad it found a great home.

Hammerdown · « **Reply #19 on:** August 20, 2007, 01:47:55 AM »

Hello Old Griz
Thanks for the Kind words. I will be Picking up the Pre-War model this Morning and it blows this one away in the Looks department. Pictures and range report later. Regards, Hammerdown

Hammerdown · « **Reply #20 on:** August 20, 2007, 11:27:41 PM »

Hello
I Picked up that Pre-War M&P Yesterday. I cleaned it up and after seeing it was barley fired and the bluing was Perfect, I could bring myself to take it to the range and shoot it. I did shoot the Post War model shown above, and it shot Point og Aim and grouped Nicely. Here is some Pics. of the Pre-war model and the reflections are of the over cast sky as there is not one flaw I could find in it Bluing, and that is why I could not bring myself to fire it. Regards, Hammerdown

S.B. · « **Reply #21 on:** August 21, 2007, 01:43:02 PM »

Nice one, Kurt.

S.B. · « **Reply #22 on:** September 02, 2007, 04:27:44 PM »

Quote from: Hammerdown on August 19, 2007, 01:03:28 AM

Hello
As I mentioned above, I will be adding a 1939 M&P to my collection on Monday. In the mean time, I came across this Early Post War model with it's Box, Paperwork and cleaning tools that also has a 5" Barrel so now I will have Two examples in this Model. Regards, Hammerdown

Very nice find. If it's a very good deal, that's when I buy.