2" RB Model 10 with Factory Flaw?

Peter J. · #1 02-17-2009, 03:12 PM

Hi Guys, I am a new member, and this is my first posting. But I am not a stranger to S&W's. Owned them for more than 30 years and have probably close to 20 N's, K's, and J's with a really soft spot for round butt 2 inch model 10 and 12's. About six months ago I was the winning bidder on one of the online gun auctions for a very nice 2" Model 10 put up for sale by a pawn shop in Florida. Got it for $300 (nice). Serial # D6424XX, 99% original finish. After I went to my local FFL to pick it up I immediately noticed something was "wrong" when I tried to aim the gun; there is no rear sight notch! Both my self and my FFL dealer had a good laugh. Is this a factory flaw for sure, or might have there have been an order for such a variation? Has anybody seen this before? Super rare? What is the approx. year of Manuf? Any helpful/useful comments will be welcomed. regards, Pete

Peter J. · #2 02-17-2009, 03:12 PM

Hi Guys, I am a new member, and this is my first posting. But I am not a stranger to S&W's. Owned them for more than 30 years and have probably close to 20 N's, K's, and J's with a really soft spot for round butt 2 inch model 10 and 12's. About six months ago I was the winning bidder on one of the online gun auctions for a very nice 2" Model 10 put up for sale by a pawn shop in Florida. Got it for $300 (nice). Serial # D6424XX, 99% original finish. After I went to my local FFL to pick it up I immediately noticed something was "wrong" when I tried to aim the gun; there is no rear sight notch! Both my self and my FFL dealer had a good laugh. Is this a factory flaw for sure, or might have there have been an order for such a variation? Has anybody seen this before? Super rare? What is the approx. year of Manuf? Any helpful/useful comments will be welcomed. regards, Pete

Peter J. · #3 02-17-2009, 03:14 PM

The missing "notch".

pred · #4 02-17-2009, 04:39 PM

OOPS ! Looks like an oversight.
Just use a dremmel and fix it yourself!
JUST KIDDING<<< DO NOT USE DREMMEL ! !
It's neat!
Peter.

SmithNut · #5 02-17-2009, 04:44 PM

Bet it shoots high.....

Neat - yet unusable gun...

Xfuzz · #6 02-17-2009, 04:48 PM

1973-74 vintage.
A monday or friday gun ...

Kinda neat.

Lionhound · #7 02-17-2009, 06:01 PM

Perfect for point shooting.

153 · #8 02-17-2009, 06:34 PM

Never seen that before....

Probably rare, it would fustrate the heck out of me, because I'd want to shoot that baby!

mikelain · #9 02-17-2009, 06:37 PM

I guess that is why it was 99%.

s&wchad · #10 02-17-2009, 06:51 PM

Welcome to the forum.

That's awesome! I remember the mid-1970's and I'm not surprised!

Peter J. · #11 02-17-2009, 07:19 PM

Hey 9303, you are right, this lack of sight does frustrate me,

and I was planning to shoot it a little bit. But its too weird/interesting to fix or get rid of.

S. Kelly · #12 02-17-2009, 08:25 PM

I bought a LNIB Model 38 from the son of a long deceased police officer. It was a beautiful piece, except there was no rear groove at all on the rear of the frame-nothing had been milled there at all. I sent it back to S&W and they decided to give me a new gun. It was a 1999 vintage frame with all of the parts from the 1977 vintage gun. It was a great deal for me. Have S&W finish off the sight groove.

gaucho1 · #13 02-17-2009, 08:34 PM

This is your chance to perfect and
show off your point shooting abilitys.

No debate on did you use your sights issue.

Hondo44 · #14 02-18-2009, 12:43 AM

Definitely a factory oversight, but an interesting one. I'd keep it just like it is too. When you aim it, just lower the front sight until it's level with the top of where the notch should be and use "Kentucky Windage" (smile). The seller obviously didn't declare it in the auction, right? I'd have asked for a $50 refund!!

I once saw a new Colt Single Action 45 in a dealer's showcase with no patent dates stamped on the left side of frame. The dealer hadn't noticed it.
A buddy of mine bought a brand new .357 mag Ruger Blackhawk single action. His 1st gun. It was the old 3 screw without the safety transfer bar that are never supposed to be carried with a round under the hammer. In those days the rear face of Ruger cylinders were stamped with an 'S' which was a factory inspecter mark. Well, it was stamped so hard and so close to the chamber opening that you couldn't load a round into that chamber! Not knowing any better, my friend thought the S signified safety and never loaded that chamber or thought anything was wrong until I noticed it.

Jim