I took some time to skim through the entire category last night in curiosity. I discovered very little respecting the lowly model 10 as a concealed carry choice in its most common barrel length (4"). So I'm wondering. Do you choose to carry the ubiquitous 4" model 10, either in standard or heavy barrel? What have been your experiences with this old war horse as a concealed carry tool?

PC

I have a 4" Model 64 (same gun but stainless steel) and have carried it during the winter using an EPS Tom Threepersons under a large jacket. During the summer, it's a bit of a challenge to conceal a 4" K frame the way I dress.

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Centennial Every Day

4" Model 10, heavy barrel, was my initial duty weapon.

Think I carried it CCW a grand total of once; the day it was issued to me and had to get it home somehow.

Replaced it (for off-duty/CCW purposes) with a Model 36 the very next day.

IMHO, the 10 is a great revolver but too big for routine CCW.

Be safe.

I sometimes carry a 12-3, the airweight version of the model 10, with a 4" barrel. My usual carry is a Colt LW Commander 45 ACP. The loaded weight and size is about the same as a 4" model 10.

I routinely carry a Model 10 with a 4" Standard barrel or a Model 19 with a 4" barrel. Days with a jacket I use an El Paso Saddlery #88 "Street Combat" holster. On days without I use a host of IWB hosters I have accumulated over the years. Some namebrand some not. Never had a problem with the weight, or printing. In my opinion the revolvers were a lot more comfortable and easier to carry than my Colt or Kimber full size 1911s.

While it is not often my choice, I would never suggest that a 4" Model 10, in either skinny or heavy barrel guise, is not a good concealed carry piece. With good ammo, in a good concealment holster, one could do far worse. Way back in my former life, my very first centerfire handgun was a skinny barrel Model 10, made in about 1972. My Mom still has it, for as long as she lives, then I'll get it back, but I hope that's many years hence. It is exceedingly accurate, has a wonderful, smooth action, and has digested thousands of rounds of hot ammo. Despite the fact that my usual primary carry pieces these days are 9x23 autoloaders, if I were relegated to carrying a 4" Model 10, I would not feel like I couldn't defend myself effectively.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with a 4" K-Frame as a carry gun. If worn in an OWB holster the covering garment needs to be a little longer, but in IWB carry there is no problem at all. K-Frames are great revolvers, and the M10 is a classic, with the right loads it will get you through the night. My advice is only use a good quality holster. If you do so concealment will not be a problem

If it's all you have that's fine, but as a belt gun I have carried more effective 4" barreled N Frames and a Redhawk concealed, even in very hot weather.

I have a 4" Model 64 with heavy barrel but rarely use it. I prefer my 2" Model 64 which I usually carry in a pocket holster.

Dave Sinko

I sometimes carry a 2" 64 in a IWB Holster.
Most of the time I carry a Glock 19 and a LCP or a PF-9.
When I go to the Border or Dallas/San Antone/Houston I carry a 1911 Government or Commander and a Glock Model 26.
Old habits never die.

Rule 303

I've carried a 4" 10-6 in 357 and a 4" 64-3 in 38 on occasion.

Nothing the matter with either one as a carry gun. Both are far more inherently accurate than some other guns I regularly carry.

If you can hit what you aim at, you would be well served by the 4" model 10 stoked with quality factory ammunition. Regards 18DAI.

I frequently carry a 4" HB 10-8 in an IWB holster. I usually have target stocks on it but sometimes have to switch to magnas and a t-grip adapter in warmer weather.

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It followed me home... Honest!

Thanks, all, for your replies. I occasionally carry either a 10-5 or a 15-3, both with 4" barrels, in a Simply Rugged Sourdough Pancake. Seems like it conceals as well as other tools I carry more frequently. I always enjoy shooting the 4" K frame .38s and, given appropriate ammunition, I don't feel under armed. I appreciate hearing from others on this subject.

PC

I routinely carry a Model 10 4 inch tapered barrel concealed, as well as a Model 15 - mainly on days when I've shot them on the range. That said, the gun I carry concealed most often would be a 9mm Makarov. It seems handier.

I don't anymore, since I'm no longer in law enforcement, but back in the day I was issued a Ruger Service Six .38 that I had to leave at work when I left. My off-duty piece was a 4" Model 65 (same as Model 10, but stainless and .357) that I carried in a pancake-style holster with a pouch for six spare rounds (can't remember who made it, but as I recall it was made for the FBI when they carried the 3" model 13. I had the same holster, but for a 4"). Never had a problem concealing it under an unbuttoned shirt in summer or a jacket in cooler months.

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Gary

Loaded with Ranger +P+, this 10-10 is a regular "friend" on the drive to and from work, and also as a glove box gun.I use a Barami hip grip, so I can take it out of the glove box and stick it in my waistband if I want to wear it into a store or something, and not have to bother with a holster. I'm required to drive around my county for my job, and often deal with unsavory and hostile people......I am not allowed to carry a gun on my person while working, despite being a CCW holder, but can keep a gun in my personal car. It's nice knowing this 10-10 is close by in my car sometimes.....the 10-10 is a "franken-Smith", it has a cylinder from an earlier K-frame, and it's ugly, but it works and I don't have a "nice" gun that I care about getting banged around.



Let me put the bag over my head now, but I also use these as glove box-knockaround carry guns.......I figure if they get stolen out of my car I won't be out anything worth worrying about.



I also carry this .38 Service Six, I carried this today in an IWB holster. The target grip is surprisingly easy to conceal when the gun is tight to the body.



This 10-8 rides in an IWB holster once in a while too. It was born the same year I was, figure it might be a good luck charm and I'll never have to use it.

Heck, I carry both the 5" 1911 and a 22-4 .45acp N-Frame revolver, sometimes, as a CCW. I see no reason, whatsoever, that you cannot carry a 4" K-Frame. As other say, you just have to give thoughts to your wardrobe, based on IWB or OWB carry.

My top choice for EDC is a J frame snub. A close second would be a kahr.

Anything larger, my personal choice would be a Glock 26 or some other poly wonder vs a 4 inch K frame

From time to time my skinny barrel 10-7 does hide in my waist band as I go about working in the yard. I do find the skinny barrel easier to hide than the heavy version. Dale

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"Long live the S&W 3rd. Gen.!"

Cousin Jack did it for years that I know of...
A Buffalo, NY Police Lt. that was a phenominal PPC Shooter carried what he shot in competition daily both on and off duty!
Jackie was also a pretty good gun and holster smith as well, made double action operation smooth as butter!
Great guy/sorely missed...

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Mike...ConquestN98858

I often carry my 10 in a Safariland duty holster. With a jacket or certain untucked shirts, it goes unnoticed.

Havent read all of the responds, but years ago, I bet it was THE MOST popular police arm for quite a few years! That says a lot. I have many guns but my old m&p go`s with me in the boonies regularly.

I have carried a 4-inch Model 10 or in my case an older M & P on many occasions. One of my first carry revolvers was an older Model 10 Heavy Barrel. Now I have a 1950 vintage M & P that sometimes gets worn on the hip in a Desantis holster. With good loads or handloads with something like a Hornady 158 grain XTP I would not feel bad at all carrying that gun. Back when they said the .38 was a lousy manstopper it was in the days of the old 158 grain lead roundnose, which was truly dismal. The .38 Special has come a long way since then. If you ever feel the need to doubt the .38 Special, go look up Lee Harvey Oswald's post operative report on what that .38 slug that Jack Ruby shot him with. It is an eye opener.

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Vaya con Dios

This sounds about right to me. There's absolutely nothing wrong with a Model 10 for concealed carry, but outside of a few old policemen, most any of us who has a Model 10 and a good holster has a 1911 or a 4" N-frame that's just as good or better, and often no harder to carry. Just a matter of what you like best and happen to own a good holster for.

I carried a 4" Model 10 loaded with FBI loads when I worked as an armed guard at a bank several years ago and never felt under-gunned. For concealed carry I wouldn't have a problem with carrying one, presuming I had a good holster for it. I would probably go with the 64, though, for the lower maintenance stainless steel.

However, I should say I prefer the 3" and 2" K-frames. I like their balance better and they're no harder to shoot than the 4" (for me, at least).