Picked this up for free tonight. 1959-1961S&W Model 10 .38 Special w/ 4" Barrel

Yeah, its my third gun thread in 2 days. I feel like this definitely deserves its own thread though.





My understanding is the C at the beginning of the Serial number means it was manufactured between 1948 and 1952. I know it is at least older than any of the Model 64s. Because they are the stainless steel versions of the 10. However, this is a Model 10, not a model 64, and is stainless rather than blued.

Is anyone a S&W history expert? Would love to know a bit more about it if possible. Included every identification feature I could find in the pics below. For such a popular model, I cant find as much information as I thought I would be able to. At least, on my initial searches.

Personal History:

This was my grandfather's for years. In the early 80s it was stolen from his home, and took a couple months to get it back. When the Police finally found it, he gave it to my dad because he had already bought a replacement. It's sat in my dad's drawer safe ever since. In fact, the only time it was ever fired was by the thieves. My dad has no use for it, and I wanted something my wife could use in an emergency. She only has one arm, so using a slide on a semi-auto is difficult. Talked to my dad and grandfather tonight and both agreed I could have it. The one condition my grandfather had was that the gun had to stay in the family. I am not allowed to sell or trade it.

Based on its manufacturing age, and my grandfather's age(he was a kid when it was manufactured), I am wondering if it was my great-grandfather's. Forgot to ask him tonight. My grandfather's memory is failing, so I need to ask him next time I see him. Get the answer before its gone. I am hoping it was, because my G-GF's name was Artillery. The last of 3(maybe 4) straight generations in our family to have that name, and my son who is due in Sept will have the middle name Artillery. It would be nice to have something from his namesake to hand down to my him.

Do ya'll think the powder in the ammunition is any good? I am going to buy more anyway, but until I can this is all I have. It's been in the same drawer safe as the gun for 25+ years, always in air conditioning. I'm guessing the hollow point tips oxidized?

The gun itself is still really tight. Action is incredibly smooth. Feels and looks like it was cleaned yesterday. Its kinda crazy to me, considering how long it has been sitting.

It does look like there may be some pitting inside the barrel. Actually, scratch that, I shone my flashlight down the barrel. Its a bunch of white streaks, only at the end of the muzzle and the end of the breach, none in the middle of the barrel. Gunpowder burns? I'll try to get some pics on my wifes phone tomorrow. Her camera is a lot better than mine, might be able to zoom in enough.

Some more pictures of this beauty.

















Ammunition:







These are the closest things to defects on the gun. A small discoloration on the grip, and a few slight rough spots in the wood. The metal S&W emblems embedded in the handle have a little bit of patina on them as well.





Edit:

Apparently I am off on the date, but it is hard to tell because S&W is so dagnabbed confusing. I think it was manufactured around 1959. It is a 4 screw, not a 5 or 3, and it is a Model-1-0. Not a 10-1 which started in 61. The serial number suggests early 1961, but the model number suggests earlier. It's friggin weird.