I picked up this 10-8 a few years ago as my first wheel gun. It may not be the prettiest, but it's probably my favorite shooter.

S/N is 6D794XX, which places manufacture in 1980. I understand a fair number of these models went to overseas military/police. Does anyone have information about this S/N range, regarding possible original destination?

It sure looks to have a lot of use-wear, though the barrel and cylinder are in great shape. Probably holstered a lot, but rarely shot.

Also, in top pic, it looks like there may have been a mark that was scratched out, right above the trigger.

10-8 - Album on Imgur

bumpity bump

The stamp above the trigger may have been scratched out to hide where that gun has been.

The importer is Century International Arms out of Georgia, Vermont. That importer's mark reads "C.A.I. GEORGIA, VT"

CAI is one of the largest, or maybe THE largest importer of historic firearms and Cold War Era guns from Eastern Bloc countries (Czech Republic, Poland, Romania) They bring guns in by the pallet.

Unfortunately, they don't have the best reputation for a variety of reasons, the most public one being importing weapons from Eastern Europe, modifying them in the US, and selling them on to Mexico to drug cartels. It makes the more law abiding gun owners a bit leery. There are a few articles about the company on the Internet.

Some people who are more knowledgeable collectors of the more historic examples of guns from the former Soviet Bloc countries (Makarov, Tokarev, other Russian calibers etc) feel that guns from CAI are not always quite what they are advertised to be, or from legit sources. This may be because CAI doesn't know, or doesn't care, or both.

It would not keep me from enjoying shooting the gun, but you may (or may not) want to consider that in looking into the provenance,

The scratch mark above the trigger doesn't look very big. It could have been a little damage that someone clumsily attempted to repair. If it was a property mark, proof mark, etc., that someone obliterated, it certainly was little.

I believe that will be a great shooter. You may find that applying a little wax to the exterior makes a big, possibly startling, improvement on its appearance.

__________________
You're shy a few manners.

Unfortunately, they don't have the best reputation for a variety of reasons, the most public one being importing weapons from Eastern Europe, modifying them in the US, and selling them on to Mexico to drug cartels. It makes the more law abiding gun owners a bit leery. There are a few articles about the company on the Internet.
Hummm Thats simply not true. As a Matter of fact Most weapons used in Mexico to Central America Comes from American Non FFL's Illegal Sales, Russian sales from Non Dealers/exporters. As a Matter of fact Sir El Salvador receives about 200M in arms sales that are resold by Senior Military Officers to Gangs .... been their seen that.

Those heavy barrel Model 10`s are great shooters. Back in the late 70`s I bought a local Police trade in Model 10-6. With hand loaded 158gr Hornady lead and 3gr of Bullseye it was a winner, even out to 50yds.
Enjoy and dont worry where it`s been but be glad its yours and back in the USA where it was born.
Jim

Yes, I'm familiar with Century Arms. I have a beat-to-hell Israeli K.98 (1937 S/243) and a stunning 1931 Izhevsk ex-Dragoon Mosin-Nagant that they imported as well.

As an attorney for the federal government, rest assured, I am fully law-abiding in my firearm ownership.

Again, my question is if there's any public information about that S/N block that could show where it went originally (I read these were popular with Central/South American military/LE). I have no problem paying S&W for the letter, and likely will at some point, I just thought I'd check here first given the vast expertise on this board.

It's very unlikely you'll run into public info that would lead you to the info you're looking for. You're best option would be to send off for a letter from Roy.