WHATS MY 1899-1901 M&P MODEL 10 NICKEL FINISH WORTH?

reece0511 · Apr 28, 2012

Basically the title tells it all, just looking to see what this old model 10 may be worth. I had to call smith and wesson to let them look up the serial #'s to tell me exactly what i have. The revolver is solid mechanically. Hammer and trigger are nice and crisp, cylinder has no play or drag what so ever. As you can see the finish is starting to flake off. Doesn't have any rust. the left side handle does have the piece broken off the bottom. It does have a 4in barrel with cylinder and frame have matching serial #'s.

This is my first time on the forum so if i have posted this in a wrong category or incorrectly or anyone has another way of getting a estimate on what my revolvers worth please tell me. thank you

DCWilson · Apr 28, 2012

Welcome to the forum.

Nice introduction gun! Even with a somewhat blotchy nickel finish, I'd think that would be at least a $400 item, possibly higher to a M&P collector who needed a Model of 1899 specimen to fill in a type collection.

I wondered a little as I looked at those photos if the gun had been renickeled at some point, but I mostly don't think so. Based on what I see here I think that is probably the original finish. Frame edges are sharp, sideplate edges show no re-polishing gully. The stud ends on the left side and the logo on the sideplate look a little flat to me, which is what made me wonder in the first place, but sometimes they come that way from the factory.

Nice example of its kind. We should all look so good at a century plus.

ADDENDUM: Based on observations below I too now think this is a refinished gun. In that case I would value it around $300, but that's just me. Others might pay more, and others yet wouldn't put any money into it at all.

JP@AK · Apr 28, 2012

Hello and welcome to the forum.
Dave's response is, of course, correct at all points.
I thought I would provide a little bit of additional information, in case you are interested.
A key identifier of your revolver is the absence of a locking lug in front of the ejector rod. This identifies it as a .38 Military & Police 1st Model, also known as the Model of 1899.
I believe this was the first production revolver to be chambered for the then-new .38 S&W Special.
On the matter of nomenclature, it is not correct to refer to this revolver as a Model 10. The Military & Police line went through many changes over a period of 58 years before S&W finally began calling the resultant revolver a "Model 10."
Enjoy your handgun, it is a nice example of a very early hand ejector.
Regards,
JP

W.E.G. · Apr 28, 2012

Looks like its in about 80% condition?

$200 to $400 depending on the buyer I'd guess.

mikepriwer · Apr 28, 2012

Not that it makes any difference to the value of the gun, but I think there is nickel
in the pitting, meaning that is was probably replated, right over the pits, etc. There is
also a lot of corrosion under the nickel, maybe as a result of plating right over it.

NIckel 1899's are scarce, but the surface condition of this one makes it about a
$200 to $250 gun.

Mike Priwer

H Richard · Apr 29, 2012

I think there is a possibility of it being refinished, although an old, pretty good quality one. The hammer and trigger look to me to have been plated, which S&W would never do. In my estimation it makes no difference in value in it's present condition, and a really nice old shooter. I just had my 4 digit 1899 to the range last Tues. It is a lot of fun shooting a gun that's 111 yrs. old.

Colhogan · Apr 29, 2012

Yep.
That hammer & trigger should definitely be case-colored,not nickled over. Maybe a couple hundred bucks. (About $350.00,if it were not redone .)
It makes a nice starting-point revolver in a collection of 1899's,with an eye towards better condition ones in the future..

reece0511 · Apr 29, 2012

hello H RICHARDS, yes i am also interested in shooting mine as well. but smith and wesson pointed out that this is a black powder gun. where can i find some black powder rounds for mine?

Also have you shot yours for along time? just making sure there are no problems shooting several rounds thru it

Muley Gil · Apr 29, 2012

Welocme to the Forum, reece.

I believe that revolver is wearing its original finish. Note that the ejector star is still blue. I also think the hammer & trigger are worn color cased, not nickel. The sideplate fit is still good and I don't see any dishing around the screw holes.

I would shoot it with wadcutter ammo. It is pretty mild. If you want black powder loaded rounds, look on some of the cowboy action sites.

mikepriwer · Apr 29, 2012

As indicated above, black powder is not necessary. Wadcutter is not heavily loaded,
and is a good load for 1899's . Black powder is very corrosive, and is the reason for
most of the pitted barrels in the 1899's -1902's .

Mike Priwer

Oyeboteb · Apr 30, 2012

Even though the Ejector Star is still Blue...this looks like a re-Nicle-over-Nickel to me, and or may even have been a Blue Revolver to begin with.

Granted, whoever did the Nickeling did not over buff or flatten otherwise 'proud' ends of Pins and so on, though the one image particular shows what looks like Nickel over older Nickel, and, being as I have a couple old Nickle-over-Nickle Guns myself, that 'look' is familiar. Kinda like how a light sunburn sort of comer off on one's arm or other.

I am confident you would be fine shooting Mid Range Wadcutters with this, if you wanted to be shooting it.

Otherwise, Black Powder .38 Special was being supplanted with Smokeless by sometime in 1899, and, no one cared then about the change effecting these.

But, just to be nice to the old thing, I'd think it best to go no heavier power-wise than Mid Range Wadcutters, far as off-the-shelf Cartridges of to-day.

It is easy and fun to re-Load .38 Special in Black Powder, for that matter, but lots easier if one is already accustomed to re-loading in general.

glowe · Apr 30, 2012

I might as well add another 2 cents worth. I agree that there is pitting on the gun, especially on the barrel and behind the trigger that have no rust visible in bottom of the pits, so refinish is likely. I do not think that in the condition you show in the photos, whether it is refinished or not, changes the value, and I would add some dollars to the estimates given. I have been looking for a 1899 and have not even found several shooter grades selling for less than $350-$500 at auctions today. I am sure that if you have access to private collections or several large gun shops you might find one cheaper, but I have not found a bargain to date. Also, the trigger and hammer have just lost almost all their case hardening, so look like plain steel. I have a couple of M&Ps that have similar looking hammers and under a strong light, you can see a little mottling left.

Lastly, think about the life of this pistol through the 20th century and it is almost a foregone conclusion that it has been shot with hundreds, if not thousands of standard smokeless 38 Special loads. There are a few companies that make Cowboy Action loads for 38 Special that are very mild and should be safe to shoot in your revolver.

WHATS MY 1899-1901 M&P MODEL 10 NICKEL FINISH WORTH?

reece0511

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