In a moment of weakness I sold my 1006 and 1076 and haven't really slept good since. I finally decided I needed the rest and began searching the local KSL classified and today an individual had placed an ad for a 1076.

When we hooked up the pistol had a minor flaw, it was stamped 1026. At this point I was desperate for a Smith 10mm so I went ahead and bought it.

He had no information on it, but it looked in overall good condition. I figure in its previous life it was a law enforcement pistol as it's action will operate with the magazine out.

Anyway, I slept better tonight, but won't be completely confortable until I find a 1006 w/ adjustable sites.

My wife still reminds me of the "I told you you'd be sorry for selling!"

Additional note, even though it will fire w/o the mag, it has the refer to owner manual writing on it and no warning about firing w/ mag out.

The gun is in fact a 1026, it wasn't stamped wrong at the factory. You can tell by the long slide/barrel. Seller just didn't know what he had.

additional note: you lucky stiff

I hope you haggled over him about the pistols 'flaw'

Most likely a Virginia State Police issue gun. I have a civilian model,,will not fire with mag removed and a VSP labeled on slide that it will fire. Ask S&W for a history letter. Great find on your part definately a keeper.

I plan on sending in a history letter request for my curiosity.

As far as the minor detail, I was kinda of joking in the topic line, I immediately knew it was a 1026 and pointed it out to the individual. He didn't know much about Smith's ten's, but he did have a Sam Brown (Duty Belt) and holster for the gun which he gave me, leading also to the speculation of a police gun.

With three white follower mags I gave him 550 for the gun.

Now a search on for a 1076, which was my original intent. Again, teach me for getting rid of mine in the first place!

Does the slide say it will fire without the magazine on the flip side?

I've got two Smith 1006s with adjustable sights that I'd consider trading even for two 1086s in like condition.

Even though it will fire w/o the mag, the only lettering on the slide is "Caution refer to instruction manual"

Through the forum I also was able to obtain a replacement 1076.

If it isn't engraved on the slide, it's "post-op" then...

That is, somebody modified it without S&W's "OK"...

In your situation, I'd take it on myself -- for safety sake -- to have "Caution: Gun fires with magazine removed" engraved on it -- if you plan to keep it.

My understanding is, unless Smith did it for a LE agency, the warranty is voided.

I'm not sure of that, but I'd check.

Odd thought, here, but you might also pick up another slide that hasn't been modified so you could keep the warranty in force. However, I don't know what kind of weird, funky frame seating and problems or slide wear you have with running two different slides on it.

As a SWAG, if you did send it back to Smith, they could probably tell the second slide and frame hadn't "mated" -- and might ask what happened to the original slide...

The pistol does have two dots under the decocker, so it's been back to the factory sometime.

I'll check with Smith and see what I can find out.

The gun shoots and operates fine, and plans are to keep it.

I'd be "hypothetical" in talking with Smith...

For a fee, I wish Smith would do the conversion themselves for all of us, with the engraving -- and enter our guns as "magazine safety removed" in their database...

It shouldn't be any big deal...

So in three days time (or so) you got a 1026 and a 1076 coming......I repeat You Lucky Stiff.

FWIW I paid about the same (including tax) for my 1026 - which has the will fire marking intact. I paid about $440 (inc tax) for my 1076 (civilian version) last winter. Both came with a single mag and nothing else.

quote:

I wish Smith would ... enter our guns as "magazine safety removed" in their database...

Why is that important?

Database was a poor choice of words.

I meant "warranty records". Basically, I'd like for Smith to accommodate individual customer wishes -- and remove the magazine disconnect -- if the customer wants -- while still honoring the life-time warranty.

The only way they'd ever consider doing that is by showing on the gun it will fire without the magazine -- and by having a record that Smith -- themselves -- had officially modified the gun.

It's not a lot to ask, actually -- and everybody is happy.