I inherited a Smith & Wesson 38 Special, Model 10 (no dash), hand ejector, fixed sights, with a 4" barrel. The serial number is c4805xx. I am curious as to the year of manufacture and also the frame type. It has an L below the assemblage number but it seems to fit the K frame description. I remember my family referring to it as a police revolver. My aunt used this as personnel protection on the back waters fishing in south Alabama. I keep it under my pillow.

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Welcome to the forum. Your Model 10 dates to approximately 1960. There will others along shortly that can provide a more exact time frame. Post pictures if you can.

Best,
Charles

...and yes, you are correct, the M10 is a K-frame. I'm thinking that the L stamped on it is probably just part of the assembly number and if so it has no meaning beyond helping match up the parts in the factory.

Your gun is a K frame and it's hard to see but it looks like it has the
screw in the front of the trigger guard that identifies it as what's
known as a four screw type. That screw was eliminated around 1962.
Your gun's barrel length is actually 5" as the barrel length of revolvers
is measured from the face of the cyl to the muzzle, not just from the
front of the receiver. The police model reference surely came from the
model 10 being known as the Military & Police model before it was
marked as the model 10 and the name has stuck with it over the years.
Before auto loaders replaced revolvers the model 10 was used by many
US police depts. S&W has made several million of the M&P 38spls
over many years and it will serve you well for personal protection if
given reasonble care.

Welcome to the FORUM! I sure that you have a big fluffy pillow. I would be able to feel that under mine. Enjoy it (shoot it) Bob

If it has the screw in front of the trigger guard wouldn't that make it a five screw?

5th screw was at the top of the side plate, near the hammer. It left first.

__________________
Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

Love this revolver. Grew up shooting it; have a holster. It shoots great and I keep it on my side when I am out in the woods; we have big snakes here in Alabama. The gun is large and heavy though so I have ordered a 642 Lady Smith. 15 oz. Will be able to take it with me, easily concealed. Feeling a bit guilty.

Oh, there is screw in the front of the trigger guard. So that helps date the gun to pre-1962?

It appears your grips are correct for the revolver. If you remove the grips, the right grip should have the serial number, hopefully matching that on the butt, on the inside of the grip.

You refer to the backwaters. I have not heard that expression for year and while growing up in Dothan it referred to backwaters of Lake Seminole. Just curious?

My book says 1961 for shipping date. We all know that these dates are approximate.

I imagine that the 5" barrel may be more rare than the 4" or 6", but others would know more about that.

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You're shy a few manners.

YES, Seminole. We were on Black Water Creek (really a river) which emptied out into Perdedo Bay in Pensacola. Alligators, gars, moccasins, eels, turtles, all kind of back water life. And kids. Loved spending summers in a tiny community called Seminole, just off highway 90 between Pensacola and Mobile.

I didn't know there was a 5" barrel. I described it as having a four inch. So, a five inch barrel is more rare? thus increasing the value? (it is priceless to me because of the memories).

I don't know about the relative numbers of the different barrel lengths of the M&P revolvers, but I see a fair number of 5" guns from the 60's and earlier, many of which are former police guns. The 5" barrel is the longest that can be comfortably carried in a belt holster while riding in an automobile, and for me seems better balanced for the K and N frame sizes. A 6" barrel is difficult to draw from a hip holster unless it is a cross draw holster.

__________________
Tom
1560

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cowgirl2311 I didn't know there was a 5" barrel. I described it as having a four inch. So, a five inch barrel is more rare? thus increasing the value? (it is priceless to me because of the memories).

As AlwaysLate stated, it is a 5” barrel. You measure the entire barrel, including the portion that goes through the frame.

I think it is more rare than the others. For M10s made for sale in the US anyways, but I am no expert. Note that I am not saying it is rare. Maybe it would be better to say "less common".

I don't know if anyone would pay more for a 5 inch than they would a 4 inch, unless maybe a collector who had to have every barrel length. The average Joe may prefer a 4 inch barrel. You have a very nice revolver. I would put a ballpark estimated of retail value somewhere around $500.

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You're shy a few manners.

Thank you to everyone who contributed some information. I have learned a lot about my revolver.

You have a great piece of history. Love it, shoot it and enjoy. Its intrinsic value is immeasurable because of the history. Welcome to the forum from Arkansas.

Detroit PD had a bazillion 5" M10s. Great shooters. I'm looking at a full-flap swivel holster ,unissued for one right now.

Well, I have it on good information that they were at least a few thousand short of a bazillion.

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You're shy a few manners.

No need to feel guilty. Now if you had sold the mod 10 to buy
the 642 then you should absolutely feel guilty!