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Started By
Message
Picked this up for free tonight. 1959-1961S&W Model 10 .38 Special w/ 4" Barrel
Posted on 7/5/15 at 12:28 am
Posted on 7/5/15 at 12:28 am
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.
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.
This post was edited on 7/5/15 at 9:33 am
Posted on 7/5/15 at 12:42 pm to VaBamaMan
Damn.....that is a pretty piece.
Posted on 7/5/15 at 5:13 pm to VaBamaMan
Buffalo Bore makes a very hot but non-plus P load. 158gr hollow point is what you want. It essentially duplicates what was known as the "FBI load," which was an effective round. If you plan on shooting it a lot, look into getting a Tyler T-Grip grip adapter. A T-Grip will look appropriate on a classic gun like this (its what cops used back then).
Posted on 7/5/15 at 7:56 pm to VaBamaMan
I have that exact same gun. I has the best trigger pull of any gun that I've ever owned. I bought mine in a pawn shop in Tampa about 25 years ago.
Posted on 7/5/15 at 8:09 pm to VaBamaMan
Ammo lasts like forever.
Nice nice piece. Congratulations
Nice nice piece. Congratulations
Posted on 7/5/15 at 9:22 pm to VaBamaMan
Nice gun, I love S&W revolvers. I also inherited one very similar to yours that was my uncle's service weapon as he was the chaplain of a police dept.
I would agree with you and stay away from the +p rounds. Although not much compares to firing 357 rounds out of it.
I would agree with you and stay away from the +p rounds. Although not much compares to firing 357 rounds out of it.
Posted on 7/5/15 at 9:34 pm to VaBamaMan
Very nice.....I have a 10-7 5 inch pencil barrel stamped Detroit Police. Love that gun. Also have my dads old pre model 10 5 inch pencil barrel.
You can see my nickel one in my awesomely terrible sig
You can see my nickel one in my awesomely terrible sig
Posted on 7/5/15 at 10:02 pm to VaBamaMan
VaBama Man,
Congrats on a fine gun that's also a family heirloom. I'm sure you'll have LOTS of good shooting memories w/ the gun.
Congrats on a fine gun that's also a family heirloom. I'm sure you'll have LOTS of good shooting memories w/ the gun.
Posted on 7/6/15 at 11:01 pm to VaBamaMan
I'm jealous. This is what I got from my grandpa:
An old model RG31. Value is about $10 in mint condition. Some experts say they make great weights for loose paper and/or trot lines. I'll never get rid of it though.
He unloaded the cylinder at some AA at his gas station way back in the day. There may or may not have been a bullet hole in the columns at the front of the northwestern campus.
Eta: also got his savage model 24 (made in 1952 I believe). It's got a cracked stock and a broken selector. Pawpaw was rough on his guns.
An old model RG31. Value is about $10 in mint condition. Some experts say they make great weights for loose paper and/or trot lines. I'll never get rid of it though.
He unloaded the cylinder at some AA at his gas station way back in the day. There may or may not have been a bullet hole in the columns at the front of the northwestern campus.
Eta: also got his savage model 24 (made in 1952 I believe). It's got a cracked stock and a broken selector. Pawpaw was rough on his guns.
This post was edited on 7/6/15 at 11:11 pm
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