New Life for an Imported Model 10-5, and Questions

[NCBeagle]

Found this at Carolina Sporting Arms in Charlotte. It looked sad, resting between new blued and stainless Smiths with its $200.00 price tag. It is a 90% gun. 90% surface rust, that is. There is one stripe of bright blue left on the barrel's right side. The rest is rough but not pitted. Most would say that it looks terrible.

It bears a C.A.I. Imports stamp and what looks like a foreign agency's rack number (JP 959) in in front of the trigger guard. Serial No. is D51013, which dates the gun to about 1968. There is a little "P" stamped in front of the serial number. See the photo. I do not think that the "P" is part of the serial number. It feels rock solid mechanically. Great trigger. This is a good gun.

I like revolvers with history and character. It can be ordinary history. Does not have to be from the Elvis or JFK collection. Just some dude's revolver is fine with me, so long as he used it. Got me thinking. I bought a nearly pristine Model 10-7 from the same shop a few months ago. That gun probably spent decades in a sock drawer. This Model 10-5 traveled and shows lots of scars. Interesting contrast. So, I bought it.

Questions -

* Anyone recognize the "JP 959" stamp? CAI did not have quick access to the serial number. Where has it been?

* The little "P" in front of the serial number. Any info?

*I like the patina but am tempted to soak in Kroil and clean it up. Should I just leave it "as is"? This surface rust may offer some protection. Undecided.

Here are some photos of the Model 10-5 by itself, the markings, and a couple with the very high condition Model 10-7.

 

[serger]

Pretty sure it's a Jordanian National Police re import.
The ones with 2" barrels were sold by J&G sales in AZ
without barrels to conform with the 68GCA.

 

[NCBeagle]

Pretty sure it's a Jordanian National Police re import.
The ones with 2" barrels were sold by J&G sales in AZ
without barrels to conform with the 68GCA.

Thanks for your post. I am curious, why do you think that it is Jordanian National Police? The "JP 959"? Interesting.

Hope to have my photos up soon.

 

[rwsmith]

I wanna...

Thanks for your post. I am curious, why do you think that it is Jordanian National Police? The "JP 959"? Interesting.

Hope to have my photos up soon.

I wanna SEE!!!

 

[serger]

One of the peddlers on GunBroker had a bunch of them and
as I recall they said they were Jordanian trade in's. I also read
here(I think) they came out of there when we were rebarreling
them a couple years ago. Made a pseudo model 13 out of one
of them.

 

[NCBeagle]

One of the peddlers on GunBroker had a bunch of them and
as I recall they said they were Jordanian trade in's. I also read
here(I think) they came out of there when we were rebarreling
them a couple years ago. Made a pseudo model 13 out of one
of them.

Interesting. I'll look into it. This barrel looks like its been on there for a long time

 

[serger]

A bunch of them were 4" guns but the ones with 2"
barrels had to have the barrels pulled because with
a 2" barrel they were ineligible for import due to the
68GCA. So the importer pulled the barrels and Uncle
Sugar let them in.

 

[Igiveup]

Gosh! I was told that the 2" barreled revolvers were from Canada and they were shipped without the barrel because of our laws and Canada outlawed the 2" barrels in their country, even for their law enforcement. So, which is right?

 

[MajorD]

All I know is that I would be happy to own either one, and would actually lean toward the heavily used one. I haven't seen a $200 model 10 in a very long time!

 

[murphydog]

Agree on the Jordanian Police connection.

I see it as being a good candidate for a rust loosening soak (Ed's Red or Kroil), some copper wool and then decide. It may clean up surprisingly nice.

 

[AJ]

Keep us posted. please.

 

[Skyhunter]

History, scars and all - I'd agree that she's a keeper and deserves a careful clean-up. IMO, you did well.
"After" clean-up photos and range report will be most appreciated!

WYT-P
Skyhunter

 

[T44spl]

A work gun that shows it use as a tool of the trade. I buy used tools at garage sales & for $1.00 sometimes $2.00 I now have over 50 hammers.
So $200 for a functional model 10 is a no brainer. It'll probably clean up alright, won't match the other gun. But makes for a possible project base.

 

[NCBeagle]

Okay. Here it is after complete disassembly, overnight soak in Kroil, scrubbing with bronze wool, reassembly and lubrication. It does not look "better" in the traditional sense. The surface rust removal reveals a substantial bluing loss. On the other hand, now it is all character and no corrosion. The bore is shiny and internals are 100% mechanically. Trigger feels great. I like this gun a lot. Look forward to shooting it and maybe carrying in hikes where .38 Special is sufficient.

 

[ladder13]

You cleaned it up nicely.

Shoot it without worry, I like it.

 

[damienph]

I think that $200 was a smoking deal considering what just about any S&W sells for today.

 

[BC38]

For $200 I'll take as many as I can get.
Not a safe queen, but a good, honest, shooter.
Just the way I like 'em.
Nice score at that price.

 

[stansdds]

For a $200 S&W revolver, it cleaned up rather well. Refinish? I dunno, that would easily run another $200+ for a professional reblue.

 

[murphydog]

Nicely done. A good coat of wax to protect the exposed metal and fire away!

 

[Bald1]

I think the Jordanian connection is correct. I too like the history and story of any gun. I have an aesthetically challenged model 10 that served the NYS Corrections Department. Apparently this one was for the lefty's.