Posted here as most are late models, but a couple are "technically" earlier forum guns.....

Hello all, there seems to be a lot of interest in the 3” barrel versions of the M&P/M10 line of late. These guns are special to me, they are unique in that they were never “cataloged” until very late in their life, my catalogs have them showing up in 1996 thru 2000, however no mention in 2002 (which was a magazine style document, no real specs), definately not there in 2005. So, no standard barrel models appear to have been standard production, I'll do more research on this......


Here’s a few rambling observations (specific to the 3” models) from many years of collecting/studying the M10 and predecessors.


- Most 3” M10’s and pre-model numbered guns appear to be Special Order, not cataloged items

- There were two different barrel profiles throughout noted production years

- Standard barrel as well as heavy barrel engineering change frames were made with 3” barrels

- Standard barrel and heavy barrel profiles are not the same profile, see pics for reference

- Examples of pre-modeled 3” have been confirmed (two confirmed, likely more out there)

- Many special orders export runs for Canada, Europe, APAC countries and Australia (many seen recently as trade-ins and sold to US markets)

- I’ve never seen any from Canada, this info from SCS&W V3, I own a Turkish model but not sure if that’s Europe or Middle East

- Both Blue and Nickel finishes made, as well as matte Blue special order guns.

- Standard barrel profiles made in pre-Model numbered production as well as M10-4, M10-5, M10-7 and M10-9 engineering changes, and none
confirmed in the M10-11 engineering change, although of the M10-11 guns I own/owned I’d not consider them “standard” barrel profiles.

- Heavy barrel profiles made in M10-6, M10-8 and M10-10 engineering changes, to date I’ve not seen any in M10-1, M10-3 or M10-12 engineering
changes, but they could exist…. The hunt continues

- No 3” guns have been observed in M10-12 engineering change, Frankly, I’ve never seen any Model 10-12 in any barrel length, so there.

- No “lock” guns (post 2000, give or take) have been observed with 3” barrels.

- No MIM guns have been observed (by me anyway) on 3” guns.

- Standard barrel guns often mistaken as “heavy barrel” due to lack of notable taper, as seen on 4” and longer standard barrel guns.
(Often described as “intermediate” barrel see pics below)

- Standard barrel engineering changes are normally seen with square butt gripframe. Most were export guns, often seen used.

- Heavy barrel engineering changes are normally seen with round butt gripframes.

- Some standard barrel round butt guns observed, as well some heavy barrel square butt guns observed, just not a lot of quantities observed of either.

- Front sights of HB guns are pinned in, front sights of standard barrel guns are forged into barrel

- One HB model made (M10-10) with shrouded ejector rod. (Brazil export, see pic below)


Pics denoting various 3” M10 variations:

Barrel profiles side-by-side – Standard (M10-5) on left, Heavy (M10-8) on right.


Pic below of Pre-Model numbered M10 Standard Barrel, originally from the Gary Garbrecht collection


Model 10-4 Standard Barrel, extremely hard to find engineering change, a well used Police Gun


Others with Standard Barrel profiles:





A few interesting Heavy Barrel models:

A M10-8 non-pinned nickel square butt gun, very scarce configuration:


A M10-8 non-pinned nickel round butt gun:


A M10-8 non-pinned matte blue gun (acquired from the Wayne Betz Estate:


A M10-8 pinned blue round butt gun:


A later M10-8 non-pinned blue round butt gun:


And a very cool M10-10 shrouded barrel blue Brazil Export gun:


S’all I got…..

__________________
.............SmithNut

Thank you for the very nice write up and pictures.

And to think, I just want one to carry and shoot! (smile)

Dave

__________________
RSVN '69-'71
PCSD (Ret)

Love to see 3" variations of the M10

Please post yours....

Especially if you have any variations that I've been skunked on....

__________________
.............SmithNut

Thanks for a great writeup!
Nothing to add but was nice to know that my Aussie 10-5 has a lot of relatives.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

That 10-10 is somthing I wish S&W would make a run of for the U.S!!

Those are some beautiful pieces! Did you ever think about collecting 3" Model 10's??

Geez man, are there any left for the rest of us?

My 3" model 10-5 ex Aussie police gun has become my favorite SW revolver.


Scott Campbell
Remember wheel guns are real guns too
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

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Wheel guns are real guns too.

A great write-up - thanks for taking the time to share that information with the rest of us.

I keep hearing a number of 50 copies of the 10-10 3" Brazilian gun as having been sold into US trade. Is there any confirmation that this is correct, or if not, what the true number is? I ended up with two of them and the odds of that seem astronomical if there are only 50 of them. I sold one to a forum member and still have the other. I also have a blued 3" RB 10-8 (thus, your last two pictured guns.)

beemerphile,
Only rumors, sometimes I hear 35, sometimes I hear a low 60's number, either way it's not many. I've not lettered my Brazil gun, and I'm not sure a letter would have that info in any event.

Scarce guns, I'd love to find a "shooter" quality version, something I could hard chrome and turn into a daily carry gun... would be a cherry gun.

__________________
.............SmithNut

Wow, very nice post, thank you.

Great info and photos.I always look forward to your posts.Thanks.

__________________
SWCA#2288
SWHF#407

Thanks Smith Nut - I enjoyed your work on that.
When I first posted a pic of my 3" SB M&P (1958) several months back, someone opined that it just had to be a rebarrel, which I felt strongly that it is not.

__________________
Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

Great write up! Now you've gave me another S&W to look for...LOL!

Great pictures on a fine set of Smiths. I concur that S&W should make a run of these again for the rest of us.

Plain, old RB Model 10-8

__________________
"Shall not be infringed"

............courtesy of a Gentleman of the Forum.

Nice Tony, very nice......

__________________
.............SmithNut

Have to blame it on you Amigo, you set me on the quest for one many years ago.
But I do appreciate your wisdom and guidance.

Where does this one fit in? It lettered in this configuration.

10-8, 2 1/2"...

It probably fits in like this one, in a very cool place .... This one letters to the Michigan State Police.
Where does yours letter to?

__________________
.............SmithNut

...another plain-Jane three inch 10-8.
This one is unfired, new in the box.
Happy to have her.
-DP

Attached Images

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When my class came out of the New South Wales Police Academy in 1997, we were issued the 3" Model 10 Square Butts. (NSW has the largest population in Australia). I believe these Smiths had been the standard issue for about 20-30 years before I started. It wasn't until 1999 that we transitioned over to Glock 22's.

I believe that the Hierarchy at the time wanted the guns concealed under the officers tunics so hence they ordered 3" instead of 4".

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This is one I acquired a few years ago it’s a 10-5 serial numbered in the D540xxx range,1973 by the book serial number

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Hello!

I´m Brazilian, and I never heard about this shrouded rod version of S&W model 10-10 here.

A import company brought to Brazil S&W and Interarms Walther guns in the 90´s, but advertising at that time offered only the 586-5 and 19 Carry Comp (chambered for .38 Special only, due law restrictions to .357 Magnum at that time) as an "exclusive products for Brazilian market".

Standard models 10, 14, 15, 36, 640 and 442 was avaliable to Brazilian consumer (and Baby Sigma .380 pistol) in the second half of 90´s, but the prices was too high - twice-and-a-half than a Taurus or Rossi. Only wealthy people bought it.

I never had a 19-model .38 Special Carry Comp in my hands, but I saw it in catalogs. I don´t know if was a photography undesired effect, but the 19 Carry Comp shown in catalogs, apparently, had a olive drab finishing.

A friend sent to me a Brazilian catalog from mid-1990´s, where the 3" shrouded Model 10 is shown.

But I neven seen one personally.

Attached Images

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What a great write up! I had to go look in the safe and mine is a 10-7, carry it quite a bit. Good shooter.

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Kevin in Oregon

Thank you for a great tutorial on the 3" Model 10s. If someone could ring someone up at Smith to build a new 10-10 Brazilian shrouded. I'd buy two.

Many thanks for the excellent post, SmithNut!! I didn’t know that 3” model 10s with thin barrel even existed, let alone that very cool shrouded model 10. A 357 Magnum version of your shrouded 10-10 sold recently at GB for a very pretty penny.

It was a 19-3 with shrouded barrel and German proof marks.

Regards,
686PC

I see this thread goes back 8 or so years but is quite informative. I have a question that springs forth from something I read on S&W Forum a few years back(if my memory serves me: I think there was a post that said there were a number of 10-8s made in .357Mag. I think also in the post it said that some 10s were made in .357 but were marked .38 special so as not to offend the public. Is my memory serving me correctly in this ? Could not swear the revolvers spoken of were 3"but think they were.

Can anyone speak to that ?

Thanks, John