I seem to have picked up somewhere S&W ever made Model 10’s ( or pre-10, M&P ?) in .22LR. Is that true, and how many would have been made ? Any chance of finding one ?

If it exists, can some one post pictures ? Thanks – B686

I'm almost sure it IS true. I was recently at the Buffalo Bill firearms museum in Cody, WY (go if you at all can) and remember a 22 S&W that looked exactly like a model 10. I'm not 100% sure if it was LABELED as a model 10. I further seem to remember that is was used for US Postal Service training. Sorry, I didn't take a picture of that one.

The K frame M&P in .22 LR was made in a couple batches during the 1950s and 1960s. When the model designations came out, they were called Model 45. It's rare and desirable collectors piece. Read that as expensive.

The .22 LR Military and Police was made from 1948 to 1978. In 1957 it was named the Model 45. They are highly sought after by collectors.
It was, as previously stated intended as a training gun for the Postal Service.

Didn't Ayoob write about a pair he bought within the last few years that were Coast Guard training guns or some such thing?

Here is some information that may help as well as some pictures of seven of them I used to own, but only have three of them now, and should not have sold the ones I did. I posted them a few years ago and so I’ll post them again in response to your question

The letters from Roy Jinks indicate these guns were designed & manufactured at the request of the United States Post Office Department. They are sometimes referred to as the “Post Office” gun.

The letter also states that although these guns were made for government orders, & when there were overruns, they were sold to distributors for general sale. The approximate total quantity made as stated in the RJ letter is said to be 1500 guns.

Shipping locations and dates are by each of the guns in the pictures.

The earliest of these are two four screw versions, and called a .22 M&P, which can also be referred to as a pre 45. They are not Model marked. The two pre 45’s are exactly 100 numbers apart.

Two of these guns are Model marked 45-2’s and are only 170 numbers apart. The two letters from Roy Jinks indicate they both shipped on April 26, 1963 to H.H. Harris in Chicago.

The last three guns here are particularly interesting, in that they are not Model marked. The Standard Catalog of Smith Wesson book states that 135 of these Model 45 guns made in 1978 were not model marked. The letters from Roy Jinks refer to these guns as a Model 45 (no dash) and the end label on the box indicates that too (45-). Roy’s letter also indicates that this last batch of guns was built from remaining parts in inventory, and since these were not cataloged items, it was not necessary for production to mark them with model numbers.

The very last revolver I have shown is the last Model 45 serial number known in the S&WCA Survivor Files.

Here are All Seven in different poses for the camera!













This .22 M&P (pre Model 45) revolver was shipped to Sutcliffe Hardware Co. in Louisville, KY on July 25th, 1958.


This .22 M&P (pre Model 45) revolver was shipped to H.H. Harris in Chicago, also on July 25th, 1958.


This revolver (marked 45-2) was shipped to H.H. Harris in Chicago on April 26, 1963.


This revolver (marked 45-2) was also shipped to H.H. Harris in Chicago in that same shipment on April 26, 1963.


This next one is one that is not model marked. Notice the lack of any model designation on the frame. It shipped to Gil Hebard in Knoxville, IL on June 12, 1978




This next one is one also not model marked. It shipped to Lathrop Shooters Supply in Tucson, AZ on June 12, 1978


This next one is also not model marked. It is the latest known serial number in the S&WCA survivor files. It shipped to Cake-Davis Co. in Sacramento, CA also on June 12, 1978

Thanks All

230grfmj, those are really amazing. I am jealous. Great info, but my hopes to find one in Europe are now zero. I'll probably come back to this post often to drool over your pictures.

B686

Amazing! And you still have 3 left in your collection? I've never seen one. As a matter of fact, I believe this is the first pictures I've seen of them. Rare and valuable, for sure. Could you, or anyone else, give an estimate as to what one of these are worth today?

__________________
Misty

Wanted one... couldn't swallow the price.

Wish it has been a regular production item.

Along with the 5" M29.

And nickel M17.

__________________
No life story has happy end.

What a neat variation, I wonder what they're worth today? H.H. Harris was quite a character, his shop was located just south of the old CPD HQ on State street in Chicago. The vast majority of S&Ws bought by Chicago *** came from him in the 60s and early 70s. Gil Hebard is a neighbor of mine and though in his 90s still works and has a great shop.

Value is in the low-ish four figures, if you can find one for sale.

__________________
Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

What he said.

Wouldn't a fixed sight 4 inch K frame in 22cal been a perfect packin' pistol?

GF

Buddy of mine just sold his in about 90% condition for $1250. I would expect those as nice as shown in box to easily top the 2 grand mark!

Thats one that should be in the classics line. It would sell like it there was no tomorrow.

I bought mine in about 1978, before Al Gore invented the internet, from an ad in ShotGun News. I had only ever seen one in person, before and since, besides mine. That one was a heartbreaking experience. A prior owner had the gun Armaloyed! (spelled wrong, probably) It looked like stainless steel. The gunshop owner that was selling it is a big S&W fan, too, and we couldn't believe what we were seeing.

Does anyone here know or remember Tom Rholes of Van, Texas? He is the fellow I bought mine from.

I have two and would love to find more. The first one I purchased I shot about 50 rounds. It hot a tad bit high at 20 yards..Th second one was too nice to shoot. Very cool .22s