Have S&W Victory, but want a Model 10...

[Ron M.]

Really hate to shoot my 1942 Victory much, it is a flawless (safe queen) specimen, and since we have a gun show up here this weekend, will be looking for an early 4-inch Model 10, shooter quality. My M&P is a six inch, as well as my K38, so I thought I would shake things up a bit. Hoping to score for $400 or less, but here in California, who knows? Last show before Tax Day, so hoping a bargain or two will be available. Any model (-1,-2, etc) preferences I should look for? Thanks in advance.

[Muley Gil]

To me, the dash number doesn't mean much, other than the change from right hand threads on the ejector rod changing to left hand threads. I prefer the 4" pencil barrel, but you might want to consider the heavy barrel option.

[Absalom]

I don't know the California market, but as Muley says, the dash numbers don't mean much, and scoring a nice pre-10 is a matter of luck and more a personal preference thing. In your price range, you are most likely to get lucky on a police trade-in 10-5; they were by far the most numerous.

[dkonrai]

They are around. I just dros a pre model 10 today in norcal. Paid cali prices of 400.

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[bruce5781]

Thats way pre-10.

Regards,
Bruce

[Camster]

Originally Posted by bruce5781

Thats way pre-10.

Regards,
Bruce

Pre the OP's Victory, me thinks.

[Muley Gil]

Welcome to the Forum, dkonrai.

Your 6" Military & Police revolver probably dates to the 1920s. It is wearing post 1968 Magna grips. Most collectors refer to the pre Model 10s as those built after WW II that have the updated short action up until S&W started stamping the model numbers on the frame, which is about 1958.

Your M&P looks to be in good shape. More pictures and the serial number from the butt will help us narrow down its age.

[Targets Guy]

This one shipped in 1950. Shoots just fine.

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Won it online for $300.

[Targets Guy]

Now here is a 1941 pre-Victory. 5 inch barrel. Found this one in Missouri for $315. I'll be shooting it within a week. .38 special and not reamed out.

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[Targets Guy]

and finally a BSR that cost me $310. Shipped in April '42 and now sports a 3.5 inch barrel.

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Another good shooter. Brits did a good job converting it to .38 special.

[Absalom]

Originally Posted by Targets Guy

Now here is a 1941 pre-Victory. 5 inch barrel. Found this one in Missouri for $315. I'll be shooting it within a week. .38 special and not reamed out.
....

Mike:
From your wording I assume you don't have the gun "in person" yet. The finish looks rather interesting, but not original. Do you know whether they just polished off the Carbonia blue or actually refinished it? I do not believe any pre-Victory .38 Special M&P's with barrel lengths other than 4" ever got the later utility finish, so that can't have been it.

[DocB]

Got this one a few weeks back for $400 OTD. So, I guess I paid $370 plus tax. It's a 99% 1977 Nickel M10-5. They are out there for cheap. I would hold out for a pencil barrel. . .can't stand those heavy barrel ones, although I have my share of them. Found a correct box and paperwork and tools on EBAY for it fairly quickly. I like to have the "stuff" with my Smiths in case I ever sell one. The typical buyer's eyes light up when his new gun comes with a box and all that.

[Absalom]

Originally Posted by Muley Gil

......
Your 6" Military & Police revolver probably dates to the 1920s. It is wearing post 1968 Magna grips. Most collectors refer to the pre Model 10s as those built after WW II that have the updated short action up until S&W started stamping the model numbers on the frame, which is about 1958.
..

If it were 1920s, it should have the small S&W logo on the left below the cylinder release, so I believe it dates even earlier than that.

[Texas Star]

I THINK he wants a gun as old or older than his Victory Model. So, M-1905 Fourth Change. And get one made after 1919, to have a heat-treated cylinder.


Someone post that serial no. in 1919 when heat treating began.


If I'm wrong, a more modern M-10-5, etc. is okay. M-10-6 is the heavy barrel version.


Personally, I'd get a Model 64, to have a stainless gun. I think anything beyond 64-1 is okay. Early ones had some galling problems until they started using normal steel (not stainless) actions, flash chrome plated.


I had a Model 64HB that shot very well indeed. I replaced it with a M-66-3 because I wanted a .357 with target sights and enclosed extractor rod. But a Model 64 with Plus P ammo will defend you quite well, and has considerable outdoors potential.


Be aware that S&W do not advise using Plus P ammo in any but all steel guns with a model number. That means a post-1958 gun.

[Texas Star]

Originally Posted by Targets Guy

This one shipped in 1950. Shoots just fine.

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Won it online for $300.

Boy, you don't have much trouble seeing those orange targets, do you?! Wow!

[dkonrai]

Originally Posted by Muley Gil

Welcome to the Forum, dkonrai.

Your 6" Military & Police revolver probably dates to the 1920s. It is wearing post 1968 Magna grips. Most collectors refer to the pre Model 10s as those built after WW II that have the updated short action up until S&W started stamping the model numbers on the frame, which is about 1958.

Your M&P looks to be in good shape. More pictures and the serial number from the butt will help us narrow down its age.

Thank you sir for the intel. Will post a thread when she gets out of jail. 8 more days.

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[JP@AK]

Originally Posted by dkonrai

when she gets out of jail. 8 more days

My sympathy for those of you who live in post-America states. Someday, maybe, all will be made right again.

As my late mother used to say, "Live in hope, die in despair." God rest her soul.

[dkonrai]

Originally Posted by JP@AK

My sympathy for those of you who live in post-America states. Someday, maybe, all will be made right again.

As my late mother used to say, "Live in hope, die in despair." God rest her soul.

Probably not here behind the iron curtain. The libertard is strong here. With no relief in sight. The new running governor is so anti 2a it's pathetic. The old mayor of San francisco. But the price one pays for good wages and unaffordable housing.

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[JP@AK]

Originally Posted by dkonrai

Probably not here behind the iron curtain.

I was born and raised in SoCal. In the 1950s it was a great place to live. I left for good in 1969 (except for a short time after I got back from 'Nam and the guv'mint decided to station me there until I mustered out). Not enough money in the world to entice me to return, especially now.

Lived in Oregon for 10 years and now in Alaska working on my fourth decade. Love it!

[DWalt]

"But the price one pays for good wages and unaffordable housing." "Good wages" is very relative to the cost of living and other factors. Not so good if you must pay horrendous prices for a home and equally horrendous taxes. I have turned down transfers offering substantial increases in pay to places where taxes and property prices were far higher than Texas, and far less than ideal from a political environment perspective, namely Washington DC, San Diego, and Chicago. And I might add, without hesitation and without regrets.

[dkonrai]

Originally Posted by JP@AK

I was born and raised in SoCal. In the 1950s it was a great place to live. I left for good in 1969 (except for a short time after I got back from 'Nam and the guv'mint decided to station me there until I mustered out). Not enough money in the world to entice me to return, especially now.

Lived in Oregon for 10 years and now in Alaska working on my fourth decade. Love it!

Ahh so you got out of dodge when the going was good. Lol.
Things only got really bad in 2014 for taking our 2a rights away. By 2018 it's going to be all bad.

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[JP@AK]

Originally Posted by dkonrai

Ahh so you got out of dodge when the going was good. Lol.

My parents escaped a decade after I did. Dad took early retirement and they moved to rural Utah, where they spent the rest of their lives. Both are buried there. My younger brother left SoCal while I was in 'Nam, never to return. He's buried in Colorado. My older brother finally moved out about 15 years ago. Now I only have a cousin in Escondido. He's a lawyer, so he doesn't have enough sense to move . . . (Love him anyway).

Cheers!

[Targets Guy]

Originally Posted by Absalom

Mike:
From your wording I assume you don't have the gun "in person" yet. The finish looks rather interesting, but not original. Do you know whether they just polished off the Carbonia blue or actually refinished it? I do not believe any pre-Victory .38 Special M&P's with barrel lengths other than 4" ever got the later utility finish, so that can't have been it.

I have the gun. My guess would be they wore off the original finish. When I was cleaning it I hit it with a solvent and I think I took some "cold blue" off or something because it is almost bare metal around the S&W symbol. It doesn't look like it was refinished. I now know it shipped in Dec 1941 and that the chambers have not been reamed and the barrel is stamped .38 special. Here are some shots with different lighting conditions.
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[Targets Guy]

The grips are very ill fitting and pretty beat up. There are no markings on it from all I can tell unlike my other BSRs. The top of the hammer is almost smooth, worn smooth.

[dkonrai]

Originally Posted by Targets Guy

I have the gun. My guess would be they wore off the original finish. When I was cleaning it I hit it with a solvent and I think I took some "cold blue" off or something because it is almost bare metal around the S&W symbol. It doesn't look like it was refinished. I now know it shipped in Dec 1941 and that the chambers have not been reamed and the barrel is stamped .38 special. Here are some shots with different lighting conditions.
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Nice looking shooter!

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[Absalom]

Originally Posted by Targets Guy

The grips are very ill fitting and pretty beat up. There are no markings on it from all I can tell unlike my other BSRs..

Those additional photos make it look much more "normal" . The yellowish light in your photo just made it look odd.

If the barrel is marked .38 Special, it is not a BSR, or at least very unlikely to be one. The last 5" M&P contracts for Britain in .38 Special were from summer 1940. if you are sure it is from 1941 and the barrel and cylinder match the butt serial, it must be a standard US pre-Victory M&P.

Do the numbers all match, and what is the serial (at least partial)?

[Ron M.]

Originally Posted by DWalt

"But the price one pays for good wages and unaffordable housing." "Good wages" is very relative to the cost of living and other factors. Not so good if you must pay horrendous prices for a home and equally horrendous taxes. I have turned down transfers offering substantial increases in pay to places where taxes and property prices were far higher than Texas, and far less than ideal from a political environment perspective, namely Washington DC, San Diego, and Chicago. And I might add, without hesitation and without regrets.

Left Silicon Valley in July 2014, but stayed in CA. Moved up to the "ridge" in Butte County, CA. Different mindset up here, but only stayed in CA because of extended family here on both sides. Just came back from San Jose area, spent three days away from my home, and glad to be back. Rude folks, lousy drivers, angry people encountered everywhere I went down there, everyone in a hurry. Rinky dink houses going for $800K plus, three hour commutes per day, bumper to bumper traffic, and the crime rate is unbelievable. Our local news is pretty much local sports team results, weather, and what's going on in the valley. Murders aren't part of the daily broadcast, for the most part.

[dkonrai]

Originally Posted by Ron M.

Left Silicon Valley in July 2014, but stayed in CA. Moved up to the "ridge" in Butte County, CA. Different mindset up here, but only stayed in CA because of extended family here on both sides. Just came back from San Jose area, spent three days away from my home, and glad to be back. Rude folks, lousy drivers, angry people encountered everywhere I went down there, everyone in a hurry. Rinky dink houses going for $800K plus, three hour commutes per day, bumper to bumper traffic, and the crime rate is unbelievable. Our local news is pretty much local sports team results, weather, and what's going on in the valley. Murders aren't part of the daily broadcast, for the most part.

Some of us are still nice. I have taught my 3 kids to be respectful to others as well. But boy there is definitely too many unkind folks.
Commute is pretty bad too.
And my run down shack is worth waaaayyy too much.
But my kids are grown and are here in the area. Keeps me and the mrs in the area.
Given a choice I would be in Nevada or Wash state.
Op, sorry for the thread jack.

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