I enjoyed this thread, looking at all the Model 10 revolvers (and some earlier M&P revolvers) in the pictures posted here. They are great guns, and I too prefer the "standard" tapered barrel to the heavy barrels on the 10-6, 10-8, etc.
Now, not to put too fine an edge on the matter, I do want to address something that others have passed over.
John R posted this back in Post #2:
Quote:
Not sure how popular they are, but I have one that belonged to my dad he got when he was young.
It's a 5 screw and I think he bought it the 30's and I learned to shoot a handgun with that thing.
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Since the thread was specifically addressing the Model 10, we should all be cognizant of the fact that there
were no Model 10s in the 1930s. John may well be conversant with this truth, but I thought a comparison might be useful for those reading this thread who don't understand the distinction, So here are some comparison pictures:
A .38 Military & Police revolver from 1926 (5" tapered barrel):
A .38 Military & Police revolver from 1946 (5" tapered barrel):
A Model 10-5 (4" tapered barrel) which were in production from 1962 through 1976 (this one dates to 1968):
A careful perusal of these photos will reveal some of the more obvious differences, especially the hammer shape.
While all built on the same basic design, these are different revolvers internally and externally. Notice especially the hammer on the earlier two guns. This is a long throw action, which was never used on any Model 10.
Another evolutionary feature that had completed its transformation by the advent of the Model 10 is the knob on the extractor rod and its mating notches under the barrel. This also was long gone by the advent of the Model 10. The early type required a two-step notch to be machined into the bottom of the barrel. The later type (1927-1947) required a single-step notch. The knurled end seen on the Model 10 required no notch at all.
Internally, the first gun in this sequence did not have the perfected sliding hammer block safety. The 1946 gun does have it, as do all Model 10 revolvers.
The earlier two guns had a hammer pivot stud
screwed into the left side of the frame. Model 10s never had this. It always had the hammer pivot stud
pressed into the frame, a change that was made in 1946.
The earlier two guns had 5 screw frames. No Model 10 had these. The earliest had 4 screws and, after 1962, they had 3 screws.
Of course, the stocks went through an evolution too, but that matter is beyond the scope of this discussion and does not address the revolver design itself.
That concludes my
very abbreviated walk through the history of the .38 Military & Police revolvers (at least from 1920 onward), which finally, in 1957, were designated the Model 10. I hope at least some people find this interesting and helpful.