A Very Good Day and a Model 10 Snub

[Frailer]

I have been frustrated for several years in my search for a clean, round butt 2” Model 10. They are not uncommon, yet they elude me for some reason. Or rather they did.

Last Saturday I stumbled across a local gun show I didn’t know about (which has never happened). Then the guy in front of me saw my retired military ID in my wallet as I was pulling out cash, and he paid my admission fee (ditto). As I start browsing I noticed many of the exhibitors have priced their goods at a level intended to prevent anyone from doing much buying, but that’s OK.

Then I see it: a very nice Model 10-5. I ask the seller if I can pick it up, and when I do so he immediately knocks 10% off the already reasonable price. I paid the man, went home, grabbed some ammo, and spent some quality time with my plate rack out back.

It was a good day.

[otis24]

Congratulations on such a nice find. Would love to have one. My holy grail gun would be a 2 1/2 inch model 10.

[two-bit cowboy]

Great find, and a great story. Thanks for sharing both.

That's a mighty handsome M&P. Happy your frustration has come to its end.

[DGNY]

That is a truly beautiful 10-5. Never have seen one in person to equal!

Congratulations and please share a range report if and when possible!

[Muley Gil]

I saw one at the Hillsville flea market yesterday. I didn't look at the price though.

[Iggy]

My wife carried nickel one as a duty gun while a deputy decades ago. It is still still in her night stand.
I wouldn’t want to get between her and an intruder on a dark night.

[Narragansett]

That is a beauty OP, congratulations.

Here is mine. Original owner said he fired 15 shots out of it and put it away. It is a 10-5 but the serial number in D138. Very low in the beginning of the D series in 1968

[CQB27]

What a Beaut! Good things really do come to those who are willing to wait I guess.

[Muss Muggins]

The 10-5, of any barrel length or butt configuration, is the best of the 10’s, in my not so humble opinion. Very nice pistol . . .

[rjm6120]

Very nice condition 10-5 snub.....you did very well!

[.38SuperMan]

Very timely thread. I looked at a friends model 10 2” on Friday and was offered what I thought was a fair price. It’s in excellent shape and shows very little to no wear. I failed to look at the model but it’s prior to 82 as the barrel is pinned. Grips are original and excellent too.

I’m going to meet my friend again tomorrow and look at a couple of his other guns, K38 and 38/44HD, but will most likely buy the model 10.

Can I ask what you had to give or what a fair price would be for one in the condition you bought?

[raljr1]

Originally Posted by .38SuperMan

Can I ask what you had to give or what a fair price would be for one in the condition you bought?

I sold an older on in not as nice a shape recently for $475. Mine had a square butt and was and M&P not model marked. I would think the round butt would bring a premium, and a fair price might be $650-$700...Friend discount not included. My humble.

[.38SuperMan]

Originally Posted by raljr1

I sold an older on in not as nice a shape recently for $475. Mine had a square butt and was and M&P not model marked. I would think the round butt would bring a premium, and a fair price might be $650-$700...Friend discount not included. My humble.

Thanks for the reply. He’s asking $700 and it is a round butt.

[Old cop]

My Model 10 snub is a square butt & is my favorite gun. It was my service revolver and is the only gun I shot a perfect qual score with.

[max503]

I'm glad to hear you are shooting it.

[Jessie]

That’s the only nickel gun I have, a 2” model 10.
Love it

[.38SuperMan]

I wound up at my friends house with no intention of getting another toy then when he started waving toys in front of me and offering to sell some it was more than I could handle. I already have two snubnose, a 640 no dash I bought new and my dads 66-2 that’s pristine. What do I need another snub nose for? Well we know how that goes.

The 66-2 2.5” is the only K frame snub nose I’ve owned and feel it’s just about perfect but there’s just something about a classic model 10 snub nose. I have to admit I’ve had a Colt Detective Special or Model 10 in the back of my mind for some time. Actually I think it goes back to the old detective movies of my childhood. The model 10 round butt snub nose was the revolver my hero Joe Friday carried in the Dragnet TV show. Now if it was made in 1948, my birth year, it would be perfect.

[jdlii]

Often over looked because of "fixed sights" and a perceived "plain Jane" model. When you are able to get you hands on one, the advantages of this model become apparent.

Understated but, potent. Great find!

[LPD256]

This is what Detectives carried under their London Fog trench coat and wearing a fedora when I became a Police Officer. I installed a Tyler T from a friend and snapped this photo. I shot it the next day and was amazed how it felt different than my 2.5 inch K frames. Very pleasant. This one shipped 02/1965 according to Mr. Jinks.

[ISCS Yoda]

GOOD FOR YOU!

As part of my collection I was specifically collecting snub nosed K frames. If you browse in my "Guns that are gone" album you'll see most of them. Almost all of them were water and foam stained after my 2018 fire, still very shootable, so I sold most of them because I couldn't look at them anymore. Sad.....

Anyway, the good news is my very first Model 10 snub (10-7) did just fine so I restored it to S&W stocks instead of the bonded ivory and it's still one of my favorite go-to guns, it locks up like a bank vault and shoots to perfection.

[Frailer]

Originally Posted by .38SuperMan

Can I ask what you had to give or what a fair price would be for one in the condition you bought?

Certainly. The tagged price was $550, but told me he’d sell it for $500. I didn’t haggle.

Gun prices have changed so much in the last couple of years that I have no idea what the market price for these is now, but I felt like I got a good deal.

—
Mark

[jcs266]

a 2" Model 10 is high on my Wish List. Congrats on a great find!

[fish hunter]

I to would like a 2" to go with my 4" M10-5, gives me something to hunt for in my travels. Great find and price.

[bananaman]

I bought a 10-5 around 5 years ago. Online purchase. Not a beauty, but functions well. It shipped 1974. Was $329 shipped. For me, it is so much better than a J frame. Bob

[xfarfuldog]

$ 700 seems a little high in my area. I passed on a nice 2" model 10 a few weeks ago at $ 425.