Model 10 inherited

[Burb-29]

Just a quick story about this gun and a date inquiry. In the early 70s my grandparents house burnt down and I remember helping look for anything to save. My dad found my papaws pistol and brought it home, I believe he took it to a gunsmith who sent the gun to S&W. This is the gun he received back as far as I know my dad never shot it and papaw told him to keep it. I have had the gun for over 20 years after my dad passed, it stays put away in the box wrapped with dad's monogram handkerchief wrap by S&W anti rust paper just the way dad kept it. I only take it out of the box a couple times a year to clean it with flitz and make sure no rust is appearing. Question is about production year from serial number, no model number is in the yolk just assembly number which is different from frame.

[Baxter6551]

Great story (except for the house fire) and great gun. Glad to hear it is a treasure to you and that you are caring for it. Obvious you are doing a great job! Can’t help with the date but others will I’m sure. May I suggest Renaissance Wax vs Flitz. To protect vs polish.

[alwslate]

I thought the K prefix was only used on adjustable sight models.

[bananaman]

Very nice 10! Probably great to have in your possession! I have a 10-5 RB that is just a shooter! {but I still like it} Bob

[erikpolcrack]

That serial number would make it a 1966 production Model 10 according to the SCSW 4th Ed. However, the lack of a model number on the gun and alwslate's valid comment in Post #3 makes me wonder if that is correct.

[stansdds]

That is a very nice Model 10 that you inherited and I understand you wanting to keep it in pristine condition. My advice is to stop cleaning it with Flitz. Flitz is a metal polishing paste and as such it does not contain wax or oil, but does contain a very fine abrasive. Cleaning with polish slowly removes the finish from the metal. Since this revolver is not being used and is kept in the vapor paper, I think the best thing to do would be to apply a thin coat of oil or wax it with Johnson's paste floor wax or Renaissance Wax. Oil or wax will not damage the finish and will provide corrosion protection.

[Wyatt Burp]

What years were that type of hammer spur used, late 40s-early 50s? i”m sure no expert on this. Looks like S&W put new grips on it later. I love Diamond grips original to the era and even put them on later guns. I would put some on this very nice and sentimental gun.

[Burb-29]

Just something else to add I remember my dad had said that he wasn't sure if that was the same gun he had sent, he felt it was different somehow, I vaguely remember the seeing the gun after it was found and I think it was melted or had something melted onto it. My mom said she thought dad paid around 40 dollars when he picked it up. May be worth getting a letter from S&W.
Should clarify dad's recollection of seeing the gun before it was in the fire and after he got it back.

[Rudi]

A very nice M10 and family history too!!

[Wiregrassguy]

Welcome to the forums from the Wiregrass!

First, is that the original box your GF's gun came in? I sorta doubt it since the gun was in a fire which likely destroyed any box. But, if it somehow is, what is the serial number on the bottom of the box. It should match the serial on the gun if original.

Second, that gun has a K target frame like those used for the K-22, K-38, Model 19, etc. That's why the serial starts with a K. The box says "round butt" and it is definitely a square butt. Could be why your dad isn't sure about whether it is the same gun. I can't see the top of the gun, but it appears the rear sight relief is not milled on your frame.

My SWAG is the original gun was too damaged to reuse the frame and other parts so S&W assembled a gun from whatever parts they could put together. Apparently, they used a K target frame before it was milled for the rear sight leaf.

I would not spend $100 on the off chance that the historian can find service work. That is usually not fruitful. YMMV.

[erikpolcrack]

The box says RB, the gun is SB.

[dobegrant]

Very nice pistol

[weatherby]

I wonder what the whole story is on this one.
K pre- fix and at 705,xxx it shouldn't be a 5 screw either.

Are either or both the back face of the cylinder or underside of the barrel numbered ?

[James K]

Whatever it turns out to be, it looks very nice.

[mk70ss]

You need to shoot it a little in memory of your dad.

[AC Man]

Awesome looking firearm, but if there was a fire that is not the box. Box says round butt, gun is a square butt. Would love to here the rest of the story.

[ISCS Yoda]

Parallel thread:

Cleanest Model 10 I've ever had came home today - and it's a snub

[Burb-29]

I will look on the box and at the gun to see if the numbers are where you all have suggested. Honestly when I handle the gun I lift the top, open paper and handkerchief look gun over then put it back. I will take a few pictures of areas that would help if suggested. I am fairly positive the box is not original because the house was completely burned down. Mom said dad picked the gun up and a big wad of melted coins in the same spot, which she still has in her closet.

[Hawg Rider]

It will interesting if we can ever figure out the origin of this revolver and what S&W did with it. But with that said, it's a very nice "Model 10" family heirloom and should be fun to shoot. As others have suggested, it's now time to skip the Flitz and use a quality wax like Renaissance Wax or Johnson's Paste wax on the finish and stocks.

Burb-29: If you have some DIY skills and the time, you could do a little restoration on that box. The tape and residue can be carefully removed, the corners can be cleaned and straightened, and the box lid can be carefully cleaned and waxed to protect it. Just my 2 cents. Enjoy!

[Burb-29]

Here are a few more pictures of the areas mentioned.

[Burb-29]

I looked and no serial on box anywhere just a date stamped inside the top Sept.21 1970. The magnas have a 8 written on top cut in a wax pen it looks like very hard to see in the picture.
I would like to thank everyone for your help and suggestions, all will be taken in with the knowledge of your years of experience.

[Jim Watson]

Sounds like Washington's Axe.

I don't know about extreme rebuilds like that but I would not attach too much importance to the mismatched box. I have an Outdoorsman that was said to have been sent in for upgrades - red and white sights, TH, TS - and came back in a M27 box.

[oink]

A very nice family gun.

In the early 80s I sent a gun in to S&W in the original box. It came back in a different box with stickers stripped off and others stuck on. I learned to never ship to Smith in the original box.

[Wiregrassguy]

The Service Department worked on the gun in November 1970 (1170) where it received a standard blue [R - S] refinish. There may be other marks like O or <> on the barrel and cylinder to indicate work/replacement.



The serial number falls in the range of K series serials around 1970 but the frame is much older from the 1948 to 1956 time period. So, IMO, this did not start as a K target frame. I now believe the serial was applied, or modified, when it was refinished and the K was an error. Again, this is just my SWAG. There are some mighty smart experts on this site who might have a better explanation. I hope they weigh in.