Hello guys. I hope this is the right forum for this pistol. I have been searching around for the last little while trying to obtain information on this gun, and this forum was in my search results.

I believe I have a pretty good idea as to value based on others I have found, however, I'm curious to know if anyone could provide a guestimate as to when this gun was built and what frame it uses. I'm finding info which states its a K frame - I was hoping to locate a holster for it and maybe carry it in a rotation with my Glock, and pretty much all I am finding are J frame holsters. Not knowing about these guns I do not know how similar or interchangeable items like holsters are in regards to them.

Anyways, to the gun itself...

It was acquired this evening from a friend of my father's. He is much too old for this stuff now, and told my father that I am welcome to it since I enjoy guns. So alas, I wound up with this for free. Great deal which was impossible to pass up lol.

Anyways, here are some images...

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Also, I'd be curious about what type of finish are on these. I was hoping it'd come out in the pictures, but it didn't reflect as I had hoped. The best way I can describe it is a black diamond type of finish they use on wheels. It doesn't look like traditional bluing (at least the type I'm used to seeing), and its obviously not nickle either. It's like an in between of sorts.

I also have no idea how to figure out how many screws it has. I saw a couple posts about a screw in front of the trigger guard, but I have yet to locate one there.

You can't see it in the pictures either, but in the corner of the label on the box, it's marked 135.00. All that remains are the indentations of the writing, but its very clear when held up to light. I'm sure that was a lot of money back then, but still quite odd to see a gun priced like that lol.

I have no idea if the bullets in the box are period or not either, but they are just plain lead which I haven't seen in a while. No jacket. Either way I wont be shooting those, however, I do plan on taking this gun with me to the range Wednesday to see how she shoots!

Anyways, thanks for any assistance and information you guys can provide!

Welcome to the Forum. You have a 2" K frame .38, numbered the model 10-5 but also named the .38 Military & Police as the top of the parts sheet notes. These came in blue and nickel finish, but as you note the metal of model 10s of this era were not highly polished. However, if you use a metal polish (no heavy abrasives and light pressure) you may be surprised as to how shiny it may look.

The D 870000 on the bottom of the grip frame is the SN, and puts it as an early 1976 ship date (the factory tracks by this and not production). It has the so-called 3-screw frame, all of which you can see on the right side (plate) with the stock panel removed.

Finally, if the ammo with the gun is round-nosed, they are probably 158 gr standard pressure, which was the police service load for decades. For a first target shooting session, this type of round should work fine. You will probably also see for sale 130 gr FMJ and 148 gr wadcutter rounds that are easy to shoot.

I think you owe someone dinner, at least . Hope this is helpful, and let us know how it shoots.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

Welcome to the forum. That's a very nice specimen of a M&P snubnose. Those are found with both round and square butts at different times in their production history; the round butt guns like yours seem a little more elegant.

I agree with Alan. At that price you owe someone a dinner or some serious favors.

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David Wilson

Your father has a great friend! And you have a great Mod 10! From what I can see, there's little, if any, turn line on the cylinder. Looks like the gentleman bought it new and put it away. Congratulations!

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Misty

Thank you guys very much. That was exactly the information I was looking for, and it's much appreciated. I can't wait to put a through rounds through it tomorrow to see how it shoots.

"He is much too old for this stuff now..."

Hey, watch it, sonny. Is that any way to talk about a generous gentleman who GAVE you a very nice S&W?

I have a 2" 10-5 made in 1969. Looks a little different than when it left Springfield.

Understood, but those were his words...not mine.

Those are some really nice looking ones you have!

Murphydog, according to my research, the D series was not started until 1968, so don't understand how it could have been shipped earlier. 1968 Serials started with D1 through D90000 the first year, according to the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson. I know my service revolver was D89580 was issued in late 1968.

Ophs, Murphydog, you are sporting one extra digit in that serial no. that I didn't catch. My appoligies.

I am new to this site, and new to gun ownership. I was given a gun after a family member had pasted away. It is a S&W Model 10-5 with a 5" barrel. It was given to me in the original box, but I don't see model 10-5 stamped on the gun itself. The sn stamped on the bottom shows a "D25558" and on the barrel is stamped "38 s&w special ctg"
The gun is believed to have been purchased in Texas back in 1968 for $75. My aunt can't remember if it was new then or if he purchased a used gun from the store they stopped at. The gun has the original box with a cloth bag inside to keep it in, also the original paperwork inside the gunbox.
Is this gun something I should store away for keeping or would it be something I could learn to shoot at the range and teach my kids how to shoot or would you recomend a smaller firearm?

Shoot it! And you'll find yourself shooting it a lot. Just take very good care of it and it will take good care of your. Can't think of a better heirloom to have...............

NGO, welcome to the forum. Your gun dates to 1968. If you swing the cylinder open, you should see the MOD 10-5 stamp on the frame face that is covered when the cylinder is closed.

It's nice that the gun is in good condition, but the .38 M&P or Model 10 revolvers are not scarce. Go ahead and shoot it, but take care of it during and after a range trip. Proper care will keep it looking new for years to come.

I would recommend that you teach kids (or anyone) to shoot on a .22 revolver, then move up to the .38 you just got and eventually to the larger calibers if there is interest. While the noise and recoil of a .38 are tame compared to other rounds, it is probably not the best round to use in learning basic shooting skills. Also, you will burn a lot of ammo learning to shoot well, and a box of .22 ammo is cheaper than any box of centerfire ammunition.

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David Wilson

Congratulations to you! As said before, your father has a great friend.

First of all, this should have been posted on "S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980", but as you can see no one is complaining!

Your gun is definitely blued. Smith had an uncanny knack for applying that high polish blue finish. I once had an S prefix Model 29 and the finish was so bright that if held properly in the right light, it appeared to be nickel plated. I actually have a couple of old photographs somewhere in my "stuff" in which it appears to be nickel plated.

Your gun is a 3 screw. By the time it was built the fourth and fifth screws had already been deleted. You can count them on the sideplate.

The price on the box seems to be in line with the date and the $75 price on another post in this thread would seem to be right for a used gun as he suggested.

The bullets, in whats left of the foam tray, also piqued my interest. I thought it curious there were 11 rounds in the box, but thats probably just what he had left and decided just to store them in the box. They are just standard lead round nose 158 grain. Perfectly okay to shoot them, or just keep them to display with the gun showing how it was when you got it. Just make sure when you go to the range to buy plenty of ammo cause once you start shooting it you won't want to stop. They're just that much fun...........enjoy!!

It is a nice one for sure...if you reload a mid 750fps wadcutter with good ear protection, it should be okay for your kids to start on. The 5 inch barrel will soak up much of the recoil, although .22's will be less expensive to shoot a lot of rounds through it's your choice.