Finally took possession of my Dad's NYPD Service revolver, a S&W Model 10-3, circa 1961:



When I went to Florida to setup the transfer, his wife said "It's up in the attic where it's been for the last 25 years." I climbed the ladder and saw the lock box cover with dust. Long story short, It sat in that box, in his holster for 25 years. When I popped the cylinder, I noticed live rounds and ejected them. They came out in pieces. Dear old Dad, he retired the gun just as he retired from the force. His dear wife got his Colt Detective Special which was always serviced.

I gave the gun a good external clean, along with the bore and any nooks and crannies that are easily accessible including the chambers. I took it to the range and shot the first six rounds into the red at 7 yards. Everything seems nice and tight, and, it's still accurate even after 25 years in a wooden box.

My question is; Should I do a complete field strip of this gun? My 3 handguns are all semi-autos and I have no problem stripping and cleaning them, but I am new to revolvers. Going over the manual, it looks like there's many parts to contend with. I'm thinking that if it works, don't mess with it. Any opinions? And yes, I'm going to shoot this gun not put it away. It was on Dad's hip for over 20 years and it shows.

I would definatly remove the cylinder and ejector by taking out the screw above the trigger and slide it out of the frame give it a good cleaning and some gun oil. Loosen the mainspring screw which is near the bottom of the grip frame. Remove the rest of the sideplate screws and turn the gun in the palm of your hand with the sideplate facing your palm tap on the grip frame with a rubber or non marking hammer with the grips off and the sideplate will come loose DO NOT do any type of prying with a screwdriver it will come loose it is just fitted tightly. Once you get the sideplate off you will find the hammer block will also come off too dont worry that fits in a small groove on the back of the sideplate when you go to reinstall the sideplate. That will be the only thing to come off so dont worry about springs to come flying out! Give it a good cleaning with WD40 or similar to get all those years of grime. Posistion the hammer block back and insert the sideplate starting at the top you will see a little hump that will fit under the frame and push with your fingers to get it evened out and reinstall screws and your good to go, just use the correct size screwdriver to remove and install screws. More will come along with tips. Good luck

Thanks Gunnut44. I'll go ahead and take it apart per your advice. It can't be any more difficult than the first time I stripped my Ruger MarkIII 22/45.

It does deserve a full clean. Probably gummed up in there, and I do like to keep my guns in top shape. Thanks again for your response.

No problem and forgot to say welcome to the best forum on S&W's. There are alot of little parts inside but just by what you will be doing it is no problem. Just pay attention and reverse steps when going back together. Once the sideplate is off dont try to cock the hammer or pull the trigger. Cool gun with alot of history and most of all it was your dads.

Taking apart a revolver is not rocket science, I'm sure you could do it without a problem. Make sure the screwdriver fits, don't force anything.

Heres a thought for you though. If you know anybody with a car parts washer or a good ultrasonic cleaner, you can just dump it in the for a little while, blow it out and spray some good oil in it.

Another option. Get a .50 cal ammo can. Half kerosene, half WD-40 and a cup or two of Marvel Mystery oil makes one of the best gun cleaning soaks I have ever found. Old school gunsmith showed me that one. Take the grips off and just let is soak. Scrub everywhere you can, slosh it around, work the action a few dozen times, let it drip dry and then wipe off the excess. Blow it out if you have compressed air or even a blow dryer. All the carrier evaporates and leaves everything coated with a nice light film of oil.

I've used one for 20+ years. You can run it through a coffee filter every once in awhile, when it finally gets too brackish, use it to get a bonfire started and mix another batch.

Thats a great old family gun. Glad to see it in good hands.

This is a great tutorial.

S&W model 10 disassembly,inspection,select repairs and reassembly - discussion - THR

Here is another thread with some good information.
FAQ's

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John. SWCA #1586

One more suggestion before field stripping it. Go on the internet and see if you can find a Youtube video about this gun and how to remove the side plate and clean things up. I found this helpful when I purchased my first 1911. Best, Old Cop

Thanks for the links and suggestions. I think I'm going to invest in a small gun tool kit.

Interesting off topic was being at the range and asking my girlfriend if she would like to put a few rounds through it. She has a .22 pistol and was looking at, and shooting several 9mm's as her next gun. She fell in love with the Model 10. A used model 19 was for sale at our range. She put 20 rds. through it and bought it on the spot for $357.00 for the .357. Only goes to show that the shoot before we buy approach really works.

I use diesel fuel. I have posted pictures of the old Chiefs Special I have been carrying so long. I have removed the side plate on it twice in 33 years. Neither time did I find that it really needed to be detail stripped. In addition to the yearly diesel fuel bath, a couple of times a year I will spray the internals with P'Blaster. I keep spraying until the oil runs out clean. This is a gun I carried in my pocket. I wish the outside of the gun looked as good as the inside.

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Georgia On My Mind

If it ain't broke fix it 'till it is.

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Forum consigliere

Clean it, Shoot it, Does it make you think why it was left in the attic as opposed to you taking care of it all those years?

Does it have his shield number stamped on it?

Thats a waste of perfectly good diesel! I could get 20 miles out of what you are wasting on cleaning a gun! (I drive a VW TDI)

Diesel works great. I talked to some old guys that were on the Army Marksmanship team and they said they always dropped thier National Match .45's in a big vat of diesel at the end of the day, worked like a champ.

Nice old gun with family history. Good advice given, too.

You're a little far from me or I would be glad to go through it for you...I have a real soft spot for those old warhorse guns in need of TLC. Properly taken care of that gun has at least another 100 years of service in it.

I would like to think that I have an idea why; He always said that he was glad that he didn't have to shoot anyone with it. It had to be a ceremonial thing when he put it away, or making a point of putting his years on the force behind him. Kind of like "It's over and done with." He spend his remaining years living on a golf course, but always carried his Colt. I learned a lot about gun safety and discipline from him. Even being a Cop, it's still a huge responsibility to own and carry guns all of those years with no issues, and, having 5 kids in the house. I don't know what his approach was, but growing up I was never curious enough about his firearms. Kind of like I accepted them as part of who he was.

I've been looking at buying another revolver, and will probably stay with S&W. I do like Rugers, especially their single action, but there's something special about a S&W DA Revolver.....guess I'm getting hooked. Not a bad thing.

Thanks for all the additional responses. I will take heed to the suggestions.

During my research of the Model 10 Service Revolvers, there was mention of a badge # and an actual shield in some cases, but the number on the butt of the grip matches the serial number. So, no, not in this case.

i would NOT use wd40 as it will get gummy...use a gun oil instead i would not pull the side plate unless something is amiss..i shoot 100 year old guns without all that..just do an external clean and thats all that is needed...you mentioned that when you unloaded it the rounds came out in pieces...that being said something is way wrong..25 year old ammo is perfectly fit to fire...military surplus from WW2 or even before is fine to fire...many,many guns are put away for 25,50,100 years and more...most require no special attention to fire

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

They only stamped shield numbers on the back strap for a few years. I guess your Dad missed that era.

If it works I would leave it as is, maybe take the grips off and blast it out with Action Blaster.

If it were me, and probably only me, if it were my father's service revolver I would probably leave it as is, the last way it was when he put it away. I might just hang his old duty rig, with the 10 in the holster, somewhere in my home as a way to remember his days as a cop, but I would not make the gun a "shooter"...... I would put some Eezox on the surfaces to protect it from rust, probably put it back in the holster where it was for the last 25 years and keep it in a safe place. Because of it's history to you and your family it's much more than just an old Model 10, it's a part of your heritage.

I did the same thing (sort of) after I got out of the Army, I kept my helmet, the same one I wore overseas in 2007-08 and also for the last year I was in. I kept it, dirt, sweat, grease and all, and put it away in a box in my basement, it was my way of keeping something that I used every day during some dark days in my life, but also my way of putting the past away and "closing" that chapter of my life. I would kind of be upset if in 10-20 years, if I have a son then, to find out he dug it out, cleaned it and started using it as a skateboard helmet or something. That helmet is just a "time capsule" for me, just like maybe that 10 was to your Father, he took his gun belt off, left everything the way it was, and just put it away........

Agree, and one of the reasons I'm looking for another one. It just shoots so nice, it's hard not to. Had it out probably 3 times since I got it, and didn't shoot a lot of ammo.

When WC rounds came out, a bunch of flakes came out with them. I had to chuckle. The wads were still intact in the cases, but still....

Looking forward to my next S&W revolver. Shooting a revolver is totally new to me and I really want to get better at it. My home range always has a good selection of used revolvers, just have to wait for my purchase permits. Wait time for my last set was 18 weeks, but I'll save that discussion for another thread.