S&W Model 10

BRobb19 · #1 11-01-2012, 09:19 PM

I bought this at a pawn shop today for what seems to be a bargain price. It's a Smith & Wesson Model 10 .38 Special, and the butt of the handle has a # C530XXX on it, while the interior of the frame has a # 46XXX on it. There are a total of 4 visible pins, although there may be a 5th pin under the grips. The gun is in very good 95% condition.

Can anyone tell me what year this was produced, and how much it's worth today? Is the frame stainless steel or "nickel plated"? Are the pearl grips factory or an aftermarket add-on? Nearly all search results for "Model 10" turn up blued finishes, so is this particular gun "rare" to some degree?

I apologize for such a noob post, but this is my first revolver purchase and my first Smith & Wesson handgun purchase. I would greatly appreciate any and all information that you can provide.

KEN L · #2 11-01-2012, 10:27 PM

Hard to tell from your pic, but seems to be in pretty nice shape. Serial number places it 1961-1962 time frame. Those grips are aftermarket added by a previous owner. The nickel finish is not rare. It was the other common finish. Is this a 10-2?

So, how much was the bargain??

VM · #3 11-01-2012, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRobb19

I bought this at a pawn shop today for what seems to be a bargain price. It's a Smith & Wesson Model 10 .38 Special, and the butt of the handle has a # C530XXX on it, while the interior of the frame has a # 46XXX on it. There are a total of 4 visible pins, although there may be a 5th pin under the grips. The gun is in very good 95% condition.

Can anyone tell me what year this was produced, and how much it's worth today? Is the frame stainless steel or "nickel plated"? Are the pearl grips factory or an aftermarket add-on? Nearly all search results for "Model 10" turn up blued finishes, so is this particular gun "rare" to some degree?

I apologize for such a noob post, but is is my first revolver purchase and my first Smith & Wesson handgun purchase. I would greatly appreciate any and all information that you can provide.

Welcome to the Forum.
Your "C" prefix serial number from the butt tells us that it was shipped about 1961 from the Factory.
The grips are aftermarket and not original.
The fact that you bought it today ..........you'd be best person for knowing it's current value.
If it is original nickel gun, it will have "N" stamped under the grips on the left side of the frame.
Here's an original Nickel M&P with the original grips - (if you are wanting to look for proper ones)

Goony · #4 11-01-2012, 10:47 PM

First off, welcome to the forum.

The nickel finish is certainly in the factory style, so may well be original. The grips are most likely faux pearl made by Jay Scott, a big aftermarket supplier in years past.

It's probably been posted here dozens of times in just the last week, bit the numbers on the yoke and frame recess were utilized merely to match up components during the manufacturing process, but are now utterly immaterial for identifying or dating the gun.