I recently picked up another revolver for PPC matches, this is a model 10 - 7 from approximately 1977. The barrel is marked Davis custom but no other markings on the gun other than Factory. It has a Bomar rib and an action that's very very smooth double and single. I'll try to add a picture if I can figure out how. My question is is this a Bill Davis gun from California from back in the day or did they sell Barrel separately?

Attempted to post a pic.

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10-7 Davis?

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Here is one I acquired earlier this year. It is also based on a Model 10-7 and done by Ken Eversul.

Is there much similarity to yours?


OK, I see you got pictures posted while I was responding.

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I also have one of these guns which I got from a buddy who picked it up cheap. These guns are fun to shoot for targets and PPC if you can find a match. Just don't pay much for them since many are coming out as older shooters pass on.

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Bob.
SWCA 1821

Those are nice guns. Be aware that the sliding front sight can sometimes be self-adjusting due to recoil. I have lost a match or two from that in the previous century.

My concern is if I bought a Bill Davis revolver or did I buy a revolver with a Bill Davis Barrel? The workmanship is nice but it doesn't look like some of the other Bill Davis custom PPC guns I've seen

From my experience in dealing with old PPC guns, these have quite a bit faster twist in the rifeling than factory barrels and are more accurate especially with hollow base wadcutters. You can tell a difference when you bench them at 25 yards.

Other than owning a PPC revolver, I have little knowledge to help you answer the question. I know when I bought mine as a whim, I did a lot of research on the internet. It seems a big part of Mr. Davis' company was the production of parts/components used in the production of PPC firearms. Many top name gunsmith's used his components like on my revolver.

It seems there are a number of old forum post on the internet. You maybe able to wade through those to determine how Mr. Davis marked the guns he personally built. Maybe his old company has records by serial number he personally built. I think I read somewhere that family members still run the company.

All the Davis built models I've seen had his logo on the barrel.....see attached image.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

I don't have a definite answer and know only a little about these guns, having just bought my first a few weeks ago. When I removed the sideplate and internals for cleaning I noticed the method of attaching the hand to the trigger was modified from factory. Rather than the larger of the two pins being a permanent part of the hand, a pin was permanently attached to the trigger, and it was considerably larger diameter than the usual Smith pin. The hand had a corresponding hole drilled through & through and it sipped over the pin, the handspring slipped over the smaller pin in the usual fashion. If this is a usual Bill Davis modification I suppose that would indicate the gun was modified by him, not another gunsmith.

Perhaps there are other "tells" not readily apparent or so well known that could tells us if a gun is genuine?

What you are describing is the "floating hand" system used by S&W for a short time in the mid-80's and then later abandoned. It is one of those love it or hate it modifications they made for a time.....I personally hate them.
The larger pin in the trigger body can be driven out, and a regular, pinned hand installed, if desired.

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Ret. LE, FA Instr, S&W Armorer

Wow. I've been taking apart pretty much every Smith I've owned since 1972 or so and never come across one of them before, ever. I thought it was an aftermarket modification. So now I'm curious - what issue was Smith trying to address, what's to so strongly like or dislike?

The revolver locks up tight now but I was wondering what the heck to do if the hand got a little tired. Glad to know there's an option. Thanks for the info.

There is even a lot more difference if you bench them at 50 yards. The factory Smith barrels are 1:18-3/4". Much better for light target loads is in the 1:10 to 1:14 range. I build mine with either 1:10 Douglas or 1:10 (close metric equivalent) Walther blanks. I wish S&W would go to 1:12 across the board for their revolvers. They would shoot better groups with light target loads then.

SWEET !
They bring back fond memories of NRA Bullseye Match shooting , we all wanted one like that for the 38 cal. leg.
Slab sided bull barrel and adjustable sights on the target rib....that was cutting edge at the time , late 1960's - early 1970's .
Still not a bad choice for a day at the target range !
Gary

This is my Bill Davis built 10-3 Custom. I purchased it about 30-35 years ago from the original owner, who had Bill build it. It came with the Herret's grip, and a pair of original S&W grips.





The double action feel is finer than any S&W I've ever owned, as is the single action.