I picked up my first double action wheel gun yesterday. Its a 10-7, seems to be in pretty decent shape, there was some rust on the butt that I have cleaned off. It does look like it was carried often, fired little. OTD I was right at $300. According to S&W's CS it was made in 1980.

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5903TSW 5904 5906 6906 4006

Very nice and you have just been bitten by the S&W revolver bug!

Good Luck

Thanks, I still haven't found a cure for the 3rd gen bug.

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5903TSW 5904 5906 6906 4006

Congratulations! For a first revolver, or any revolver, you could not have done better. The Model 10 is my favorite. And the .38 Special cartridge will grow on you.

That doesn't look like it was carried that often. Very nice looking piece. Congratulations!

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Cuad

Yes, there are a lot of rough looking Model 10 (good) shooters out there, but that isn't one of them.
It looks pretty nice to me.

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Old revolvers are works of art

If I had to pick one model of S&W, just one, as my favorite, it would be the model 10 with the "pencil barrel" (never really like that term). That is a beautiful example of the classic of classics and forget the cure, just give in to it!!!

Shoot it and you'll get hooked! Well done for your first piece.

I just returned from the range after a session with a newly acquired 65-5. For comparison purposes, and for the sheer joy of shooting it, I took along my Model 10-6.

After each range session I think to myself "that old nickel-plated model 10 is my favorite". Chances are one day you'll be thinking just how much you like your 10.

fine looking revolver, a true classic. as I was told by members here, you need at least one model 10. I hope you get as much enjoyment from yours as I have mine. you did well.

I'm looking at the same gun from a private party and he also wants $300 for his, so I guess that is a reasonable price for a 40 year old gun. I thought the 10 is SA and DA? But in any case it's a beauty and classic old gun too. But not +p.

Nice revolver. It may be your first, but i'll bet it won't be your last.

I forgot to ask what the -7 means after the 10?

Thanks everyone. I have wanted a classic revolver for a while now, and I think this fits the bill perfectly.

-7 is the 7th change to the design, the following was posted by a member on here that breaks down all of the changes for the model 10.


"The current-production Model 10 is the 10-14. The Model 10 has been in production since 1957, and before that it was known as the "Military and Police".

1957: Begin stamping model number.
10-1 (1959): introduction of heavy barrel (the frame is slightly different for the heavy barrel, and changes to the standard-barrel variant were generally carried over to the heavy-barrel variant, thus the engineering changes happen in pairs)
10-2 (1961): change extractor rod thread for standard barrel
10-3 (1961): change extractor rod thread for heavy barrel, change front sight width from 1/10" to 1/8"
10-4 (1962): eliminate trigger-guard screw on standard barrel frame
10-5 (1962): change sight width from 1/10" to 1/8" for standard barrel
10-6 (1962): eliminate trigger-guard screw on heavy-barrel frame
10-7 (1977): change gas ring from yoke to cylinder for standard barrel
10-8 (1977): change gas ring from yoke to cylinder for heavy barrel
10-9 (1988): new yoke retention system, radius stud package, floating hand hammer nose bushing for standard barrel
10-10 (1988): new yoke retention system, radius stud package, floating hand hammer nose bushing for heavy barrel
10-11 (1997): MIM hammer/trigger + floating firing pin for standard barrel
10-12 (1997): MIM hammer/trigger + floating firing pin for heavy barrel
10-13 (2002): limited production 1899 commemorative edition
10-14 (2002): internal lock"

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5903TSW 5904 5906 6906 4006

Oh, but I beg to differ, +P was designed almost with the Model 10 in mind, especially a newer one.

One of your best buys, IMO. Where else can you get quality like that, for that price?
On some older shooters, with rusted areas, and even just speckling,
I've been using Simichrome metal polish. Makes that nasty rust
pretty much go away. I've seen where some of the more experienced
members have some good ways to deal with the problem. Anything to
keep it from getting worse, 'cause that is a sweet looking 10. TACC1

Thanks, TACC1. I have Mother's polish, I was thinking about using on those rust spots. Do you think that will work? I really don't want to screw it up.

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5903TSW 5904 5906 6906 4006

Now ya done it. You just think this is your only S&W revolver. The greatest false statement I ever made to my wife was, "Honey, I just need one gun." Beautiful Model 10, great place to start. They just seem to be a S&W benchmark. Enjoy for many years. Oh by the way, I have the third gen bug also, unfortunately, my wife has a first gen club. I have a 3913, and Models 10, 15 and 18 revolvers.

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Endeavor to persevere. <><

I think you did well. Have fun.

Craig19,
I've been using it in anything with freckling. Because the Mother's, or Flitz, or Simichrome, has such a fine abrasive in it, I've polished away the rust without taking off the blueing. You'll still have gaps from the freckling, but it won't be rust you're looking at. Some use a copper penny and oil, I think, and some use oil and brass-or aluminum-steel wool, in like 4-ought super-fine. You might want to do a search for
methods first, and pick the one that sounds best. I'm just a shooter,
but I've used the polish on a 32DA fourth change, w/o messing up
the rest of the blueing. Hope this helps. (Don't know who started
that saying, but thanks.) TACC1

Craig, nice revolver! I just got a 10-8, that is a 1981 gun. Mine is a heavy barrel. Your grips look better than mine (style) Anyway, enjoy shooting it. Just started loading .38's, so I can shoot my Smiths to my heart's content! Bob

Like the old potato chip commercial "You can't eat just one", I have four if you don't count a Model 64 and a Model 13. They are addictive to the Nth degree. Maybe they need a government warning on the barrel like "Buying a Model 10 may be hazardous to your wallet".