model 10

[kix]

  Hello all. I inherited a model 10 from an uncle and I was wondering about it's d.o.m. When I was about 7 years old I heard a story about said uncle; seems a stranger beat on the door of his north Louisiana home about 2am wanting to know where the bus station was. My uncle,not opening the door,just yelled,"There ain't no bus station in this town and I've got a .38 pointed at the door so git! And he did. Anyway, back to my question.  When the cylinder is opened there is a W on the frame with 74910 underneath.The serial no. is C404xx stamped on the bottom of the grip.The uncle story is,as I recall, happened in the late fifties so I am really curious about it's age. What's funny is that I heard that story so long ago and never laid eyes on that .38 until it was presented to me. The old saying "could have knocked me over with a feather" certainly holds true.  Thanks for any info. I receive.  Kix

[Reed1911]

For 30.00 you can have S&W research and letter it. Considering its history to you and your family; it might be a good idea, if you can have your uncle re-tell the story and record it or write it all down to keep with it for your kids.

[kix]

  Thanks Reed for the reply. I wish I could ask my uncle for details but he died in 1978. He was quite the eccentric, by far the wealthiest person in my family, 10,000 acres of prime farmland, a grocery store and three or four banks in the area were full of his money but he lived like a pauper. I suppose he was waiting for the next "Great Depression". He used to carry around an old "tow sack" full of iou's that people owed him. After his death relatives found a year old un-cashed check for 90 thousand dollars that a pipeline co. paid him for an easement across his property!  And how I remember, as a kid, going out to the two-holer outhouse at night with snow on the ground. Now I am just rambling with to much time on my hands.  On a good note It looks like "Ike" will miss me by a small margin here in S. Texas although we expect to get some wind and lots of rain.  Thanks again.   Kix

[StrawHat]

For 30.00 you can have S&W research and letter it. Considering its history to you and your family; it might be a good idea, if you can have your uncle re-tell the story and record it or write it all down to keep with it for your kids.

Current price is $50.00.

[Reed1911]

I just made mine in under the deadline; got it off last week.

[pastorp]

Kix, you called this gun a model 10. Does it say 10 under the craine on the frame?

If its as old as you say there were no models numbers before 1958. If it is a K frame it would be a M&P model. A picture sure would help to know if it is of pre-war mfg. Regards, Byron

[kix]

 Thank you for the replies. Byron, as you might expect I am flying a little blind here, I called it a M. 10 because it looks like a 10. Under the crane it is stamped 74910 and I assumed the last digits meant M. 10 but now I realize that's probably wrong. I have a 586 that is marked as such and I have fondled (but not owned) many M. 29's marked 29-2, 29-3, etc. As far as frame size I know a 19 is a K and my 586 is an L but I would be showing my ignorance again to flatly declare it a K. As you can see by my number of posts I am new at this so posting a picture is akin to my building a space shuttle but I will learn eventually. And Byron, since I am unable to show a picture could I please ask you to describe the difference in looks of a pre-war compared to a later model? You know, I have a chart where I can date all my Rem. rifles and shotguns and I assumed someone would have access to similiar info for Smith & Wesson but I guess that is incorrect. But thanks for your interest in my old revolver.  Kix

[pastorp]

Kix, after WW11 when commercial S&Ws became available they used up pre WW11 parts and some guns show various vintage parts but generally pre war millitary & police models had rounded front sights shaped in a half moon. Narrow rear sight v shaped notch. 5 screws, and either magna grips or grips that did not go up past the hollow portion of the grip frame.

Early post war could have any combination of parts. The SN would be inside the frame under the craine. After 1958 there would be a moder # there  SN on butt. Ramp front sight and square notch rear sight.

There are other differences but these are the main ones that come to mind. Hope this helps. And by the way S&Ws were not always shipped in order of the serial #. Thats one reason to letter the gun. Regards, Byron

[kix]

    Thank you very much, Byron. From your description it seems my gun was made after 1958 due to the ramp sight, square rear sight and s# on butt. It is in very good shape; I have shot it about 70 times, probably 69 more than my uncle ever shot it. Thanks again.  Kix