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Hi atomicsmurf

These are not unreasonable questions, but let me offer a few opinions, some of them are with tongue in cheek.

1. "Old?" The 10-6 came out in 1962 and the 10-8 in 1977. Some of us have lived for 2/3 to 3/4 of a century. None of us like to think of guns made in the 1960s or late 1970s as "old." My .32-20 that shipped in 1904 is old. Guns made well into my own lifetime are not old!

2. I've been shooting S&W revolvers for more than 50 years and I've never had a hammer nose break. Yes, it does happen, but seldom. Unless you are likely to do a lot of dry firing without snap caps, I rather doubt you will ever break a hammer nose and it is even less likely you will break a hammer. Even with lots of dry firing the chances are slim. If you tend to throw or drop your revolvers on concrete frequently, maybe the risk of broken hammers will increase. But I don't think that is the way you will be handling your revolvers . . .

3. I have accumulated some spare parts for S&W revolvers, but it has been on random and incidental occasions; usually when purchasing odd boxes of gun stuff that had other things in them that I could use (like reloading tools). Some parts have come my way incidental to my collecting practices. But I have never felt the need to stockpile specific parts to address potential breakages. Others may feel differently, but I can't see the necessity, given my experiences with S&W revolvers, which have been quite extensive.

Now - to address directly one of your questions: the hammers for a Model 10-5, -6, -7 and -8 would all be the same. The difference between and -5 and -6 is the barrel profile. Everything else is the same. Ditto for the -7 and -8.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I have had one broken main spring. I have lost at least 2 thumb piece nuts, and two of the ejector alignment pins on different guns. I have also lost the upper sideplate screw on occasion, but your guns don't have those. A selection of various weights of rebound springs is handy to have around. All of that stuff can be found at gun shows, made yourself (ejector pins), or online. If you are going to tinker, I recommend a set of screwdrivers that fit, such as Chapman. Good luck and have fun!

Tons of parts for both available on eBay; no need to stockpile them.

My general philosophy is that you can never have too many spare parts. But if you are concerned about some sort of "Zombie Apocalypse", you had better also be sure you have the tools and the ability to do the work required if something breaks.

I have been shooting S&Ws for decades and have yet to have one break. I did have an old Brazilian M1917 that had failures to fire due to light primer strikes, but it was a 1937 used and abused revolver.

Any S&W I have owned that is /was in any kind of reasonable condition has always worked ... PERIOD.

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You're shy a few manners.

Obtaining NEW parts for these Smiths is a good idea.
Parts do break, and they will not be available on Ebay forever.
Since S&W stopped supporting those "older" guns, people are buying up the parts that do show for sale precisely BECAUSE S&W won't have many of them.

Beware of take-offs though, previously-fitted parts may not fit in your gun.

I have triggers, hammers, etc, just in case.
Definitely pick up hands.
Denis

I would pick up a hand if I were shooting DA around 3000+ rounds a year. It will only stand up to ten of those years but is much more forgiving in SA mode. They are not AR's, and seem to run a long time if treated well.

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Front sight and squeeze

If Smiths never break, howscome my PD sent me to armorer's school years ago?
And if Smiths never break, it's news to my gunsmith who does a not-insignificant percentage of his business repairing older Smiths.

He handles repairs the factory can't, and he's been in the biz long enough to have accumulated a good stockpile of NOS Smith parts that no other gunsmith in the state has.


Your local guy, if he's anything like this, will not have a stockpile forever, he'll be using them up on keeping customers happy with hundreds of thousands of older Smiths that the factory won't service any more.

And the same deal goes with Ebay & other parts sources.
Right now, if you look around, you can still find NOS parts.


Those are drying up, won't be there forever, and the inevitable "Go to Numrich" advice may or may not be any help at all.

Many of those are take-offs from other guns in various condition, and if previously fit may not fit in yours.
Numrich also ships the wrong parts, rusty parts, and other problematic parts on occasion, along with the good stuff.
And just like the other sources- Numrich won't have "new" parts forever.

Aftermarket specialty shops like Jack First & Ron Power may or may not continue to produce parts for these, and may not have what you need anyway.

I'm slowly building up stocks here, and not just Smith parts.
Picked up NOS hammers, triggers, and other small parts for Ruger Security-Sixes & GP100s from my local guy that now even he can't get from Ruger any longer.

I'm too old to ever wear anything out, but occasionally things do break.
And if you're young enough to actually be using a Model 10 for a few decades, you've got a fair chance of something needing a fix at some point along the way.

I've told a contact there in a position to do something about it that I think S&W is seriously missing a bet in not continuing to maintain at least quality factory parts for the pre-MIM guns, but no interest.

Essentially, that leaves many, many older guns that aren't even all that old orphaned.
Since the maker no longer takes responsibility for those guns, if you've got one, it's all on you to do what it takes to keep your Smiths running.

And that includes passing them down to another generation.
Denis