I have had this gun for about 8 months now. And still, every time I open it's case the smell of death creeps out. I could tell where this gun is with my eyes closed it stinks so bad.
I bought it like this and thought the smell would weaken over time and with cleanings. Nope. It smells just like a rotting animal.
It is a heavy barrel model 10-8. It is decently worn looking and the grips even more so. Figured I would see if anyone on here has suggestions on what to do about this unique problem. Gun is amazing otherwise, shoots right on and is silky smooth.

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I'd pull the grips and hose the pistol down with a can or two of carb cleaner then oil it well. Then clean the grips with dish soap and an old toothbrush and dry well.

Maybe it's the case? I'd toss the case..and slather that fine revolver down in Ballistol.I love the smell of Ballistol in the morning..or any time for that matter.

I'll bet those old stocks are impregnated with the stinky hand smell of the original owner ( from the looks of them, they were handled a lot). A nice Model 10 like that deserves some new stocks

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John

Not having smelled your revolver, could those wood grips be starting to rot?

If it were mine I'd take the whole thing apart and put every part in an ultrasonic cleaner (or more realistically have my gunsmith do that for me).

Steel shouldn't hold any smells after cleaning so take the grips off and store them somewhere separate and see how the smell is after a few days on them both.

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Hue 68 noli me tangere

Discard case.
Remove and discard grips. Soak revolver in a pan of Marvel Mystery Oil for a long time ... a week perhaps , or more if you like. Remove gun from MMO bath and blast clean it with compressed air from every possible angle. (Messy ...) Install newly acquired grips.

That should do it.

OR , as suggested above , disassemble (yourself or via gunsmith) , and go ultrasonic.

My way is easier. However , doing it yourself is fun and educational. The model 10 - a worn one like yours - is a very good learning platform. If you decide to disassemble it yourself , the need for proper gunsmithing screw drivers cannot be over emphasized!

No way steel can stink. Something in the case or the grips. I kinda doubt its the grips. Most likely something in the case. Remove grips and side plate, blast out with carb cleaner. Clean grips with soap and water and a scrub brush. Keep case outside and open for a couple weeks and see if smell goes away. Might be something trapped in it somewhere.

You may want to check the person/entity from which you purchased the Model 10 for its history. If that weapon harbors body fluids that leaked from an animal or human being, that may be the cause.

In that case a thorough cleaning of all crevices is warranted as well as the possible discard of the stocks if they can't be salvaged.

You may wish to consider putting the revolver in a pot of boiling water for a few minutes. This should dissolve any putrefied material. When you remove the hot weapon from the water it will "air dry". You still will need to lubricate same.

I'm no expert, but if you are smelling the odor of decaying/putrefied tissue, it can't be good for your health in the long run.

HTH

As Vonn suggested, separate the three components, gun, grips, and storage container. That way you can determine which is causing the odor problem. Once you know where the problem is coming from you can eliminate as necessary.
Best of luck and keep us posted.

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Always Stay Strong!

Buy a cheap bag of ground coffee and put the case and grips in a plastic bag with the coffee. Give the revolver a good detailed cleaning.

1 - Dump the case
2 - Remove the stocks and clean ALL surfaces with Murphy's Oil Soap
3 - When stocks are dry, polish the OUTSIDE with Johnson's Paste floor wax
4 - Clean your firearm with ORIGINAL Hoppe's #9
5 - Reassemble
6 - Go to the range and have FUN punching paper
7 - Clean your firearm and store in a silicone pistol sock

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Fred
S&WCA 3238

Boil the gun, and grips, toss the case. It sounds like your revolver was a crime scene gun sold at a police auction. It may have some grey matter inside the lock work. Dried blood usually does not smell for a long time.

I lay odds it is the case, once the smell of death gets into foam, or cloth it never goes away. Plastics also absorb odors, and it is difficult to remove them. Sunlight is about the only way, and that degrades the plastic. New cases are not that expensive.

After cleaning the grips drop them in a bag of baking soda for a couple of days.
I've used this trick on stocks that reek of cigarette smoke. Works every time.

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Living a dream - S&WCA #2364

Like everyone else mentioned, dump the case. Just throw it away. Even if the smell was originating from the revolver or grips likely the case has soaked up the smell by now.

You shouldn't store the handgun in a case anyways.

I once found a hunting arrow with broad head near a pile of old weathered elk bones. I drug it back to camp thinking it was probably from someones trophy elk kill. On the way home I carefully wrapped the broad head and slid it under the truck seat and sort of forgot about it. A couple of week later I could not figure out why the truck had an awful stink. I thought maybe I had left some salmon eggs or sand shrimp in with the fishing stuff. Finally found that arrow that had been sitting in the truck for several weeks, and boy did it stink. I carefully unscrewed the broad head and almost puked!!! Turned out the threads and tiny void in the shaft had been full of blood that was slowly rotting away----nasty yuck and lesson learned.

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"Tastes just like chicken"

There are some cold bluing solutions that can leave a smell, but I see no evidence of their use on this revolver.

After using your choice of the many recommendations above, you might want to apply a coat of Renaissance wax polish over the outer steel and wood.

I agree with above suggestions. Completely separate the grips and the case (wood or some type of cloth or other materiel?) from the revolver. Clean the revolver as suggested. Sack up the wood parts (and case) in a grocery bag and tie it shut, then put the sack somewhere you don't mind stinking up. After the steel parts get aired out well, put the revolver in a similar sack and tie it up. Let both sacks sit for a time and then open them and see if the smell is the same in both.

Doubt it will be. The smell can be impregnated in the wood parts but not
"in" the steel. If you removed the smell from the surface of all the steel parts, it should be gone. Whether you can remove the smell completely from the wood parts is doubtful to me, but maybe possible? The case probably will never be tolerable, but you might salvage the wood grips by soaking them in acetone as if you were going to refinish them completely and then allowing them to completely dry out of doors in the sunlight. Of course, you will have to refinish the grips after doing so!

I'll bet you can get the revolver to the point where there is no smell attached to it, but it may take a very thorough cleaning of a completely disassembled Model 10, perhaps even a second cleaning! It will be iinteresting to hear your results.

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So long ... Ken

Toss the stocks! You can find decent used ones on ebay, or a gun show, quite reasonable. As mentioned, steel should not smell. Say bye-bye to the case! They can be found the same as the grips. Good luck! Let us know your findings! Bob

As you all said, I probably will have to toss the case as the gun stunk it up. Though I know the smell is not originating from the case (I bought it brand new right after getting the gun).
Just curious, is there any way to find out if it is a police auction gun? I bought it from a guy at a local gun show.

Time for an exorcism. Call a priest.

And burn at the stake those stocks.

The gun stunk up a brand new case ?????
This is interesting. Take the grips and side plate off , something is causing the stink.
Blood ? I wonder if blood seeped under/into somewhere ?
That's the only thing I can think of. If you can find a dark mass , that might be it. Keep us posted and good luck!
Gary

Tried to take the side plate off but one of the screws is stuck, any tips on how to loosen the screw without stripping it?
Interestingly enough, despite steel itself not holding smell I do think the gun holds most of the stink.

Penetrating oil.

You can also insert the screw driver blade into the screw slot and then tap the top of the screwdriver lightly with a mallet to try and loosen it

A nice long soak in penetrating oil.
A 50/50 mix of acetone and Dexron (General Motors ) automatic transmission fluid , regular type not synthetic is actually the best penetrating oil you can use.
I would soak the whole gun in it in a shallow pan with a tin foil cover. A day of soaking and try the screw , let soak more if it doesn't want to unscrew . The light tapping and soaking helps.

Might even help with the stink .
Gary

I suspect the gun got a lot of exposure to body fluids, or tissue. Blood will that seeps into a screw will seize it up permanently if left for a long period. Only way of getting it loose is with heat.

As suggested boil it for a good half hour, pressure cooker would be better. If there is anything in the lock work that is tissue it will come out. Remove it immediately with a hanger while hot, let dry, blow out, then oil internally. Blow excess out after letting it set into the metal.

Keep in mind that boiling will turn that nice brown patina to black, that is how rust blue is applied. Soaking the grips in bleach should remove the smell from the wood, but they will need to be sun dried, and they may shrink, or warp. Also some types of oil can become rancid, I doubt that though. I would think most people would not use animal fats for wood. But never know, sperm whale oil stinks real bad.

Spray gun with Febreze....sell immediately afterward........

Probably a suicide gun, and I wouldn't want it......

Not to derail this thread, but what would bother you about owning a suicide gun?

Maybe a spray can of Summer's Eve?

Before I disassemble my old guns, I take off the grips and put the gun in a gallon baggie, spray it down really well with Kroil, inside and out, and let it soak for a day or two. After that the screws should come out pretty easily, wipe it down and spray the insides with brake cleaner and lightly oil the insides and put it back together.

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Get off my lawn!

Say what ?

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wanna do right-- not right now

I am puzzled that someone with "goat" in their forum handle would be bothered by something that smells.

And anyway; to get the REAL gunsmiths involved solving an S&W problem you'll have to show a picture of the stink.

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wanna do right-- not right now

I would rather it smell of goat than the inside of a coffin. A little hard to aim and wince at the same time.

It's been about a day now, have you separated the stocks from the revolver to isolate the problem? Have you attempted any of the suggested cleaning procedures? We want a progress report!

The idea about putting the stocks into cheap ground coffee sounds promising. Maybe the same could be done for the case. Or baking soda? I sure wouldn't throw it away without first at least trying to clean it / de-stink it. There are all sorts of spray-type products to take dog smells out of furniture ...

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You're shy a few manners.

Bad Ju-Ju.....................

I've owned several guns over the years that I either knew, or suspected, were suicide guns. They all shot just fine.

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Retired Dep Sheriff & Armorer

This is one of the most bazaar threads!! I suspect your revolver was recovered from a rotting owner! Open it and flush with oil like everyone else is saying. Separate it from the grips. See which one stinks in a few weeks. Do report your findings.

I am trying the baking soda for the grips right now, I will try something else if the stink lingers. As for the gun, I am still attempting to get that screw loose.

Thanks. I have two suicide guns. The first one had some family significance and it bothered me to own it at first. In fact, it stayed locked away for probably twenty years and I didn't look at it or touch it. Getting older made me realize that gun really was just an object in the event and that the action of the individual really can't be blamed on the implement that individual chose to use. Years later I had no problem taking possession of another fine firearm when nobody in that individuals family wanted anything to do with it.

I guess it's good I'm not superstitious.

Although, in a weird coincidence, both guns happen to be nearly identical Ruger Security Sixes. Maybe that model is bad ju-ju.

Be careful with that screw, strip the head off, and it is for sure off to the gunsmith.

If as some suspect blood or other matter is inside, usually that causes rust from body salts. Does the gun cycle OK. With a lot
of rust I would think not.

How are you "trying the baking soda"? Remember that sodium bicarbonate is moderately effective by reacting with (to avoid using too technical terms ) "odor particles" in the air and in a way neutralizing them and thereby the odor. It does NOTHING to the source of the odor, so whatever died inside your gun or attached to the grips and is decomposing there is still doing so. That's why people put baking soda in the fridge; it neutralizes floating odors, but the food still smells like food when you take it out.

Bleach will kill the odors, but cannot be used on metal/blue. We used 1/10 bleach to clean bone cans on the slaughter floor.

If you have Kuhnhausen's "The S&W Revolvers, A Shop Manual", in the section on disassembly, page 38, it describes how to use a drill press to maintain pressure on the screw to prevent the blade from jumping out of the slot.

Things that smell dead should be buried

Not only has he have to worry about that, he also has to worry about sheering off the screw head. I would take it to a gunsmith. A gunsmith can apply the right amount of heat without losing the temper to remove the screw safely.

In racing, we call a car in which a driver died a Hoodoo wagon. Yous gots a Hoodoo gun!

So now that it's separated from the stocks, does the revolver still stink? If not, there's no hurry on any further disassembly.

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You're shy a few manners.

Agreed, why risk buggering up the screws. Get you a can of Brake Cleaner, it should come with a straw, and spray thoroughly through the grip frame. This will clean it well. Then drop some oil in same location. Clean grips separately. If this doesn't work, do the next step and remove side plate. Let's get this done, we're coming up on a second page now!

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Get off my lawn!

I did do that to the grips, not with brake cleaner though, I used Ballistol. I still think it is coming from the gun though. I am going to try the side plate again today when I get back from the store.