This past weekend I had the opportunity to examine a well worn 10-6 (4" heavy barrel, square butt), serial #D470433 (c.1973). It had been fitted with a set of oversized rubber grips, and it was underneath these that a curiosity lurked. The serial number was offset to the left (not especially remarkable in and of itself), but to its right (near the upper end of the butt if the gun was holstered) had been milled out a circular hole that can only be for the mounting of a lanyard ring, which had evidently been removed at some point to accomodate the aftermarket grips. My examination would strongly suggest that this inletting was done at the factory.

There are no property or other markings on the gun to suggest who might have wanted this configuration. Has anyone seen a similar piece or can otherwise shed some light on this revolver's history or significance?

Goony - how about some detailed pictures?........sounds interesting

Hmm, does sound interesting. The 10-6's were very much the standard service revolver of the 1970's. Could have been a special run for some LEO.

Sorry, it's not in my possession, I just got a good look at it at the time so I can describe it accurately, but's that's the best I can do.

That's my guess, also. The question is who might've been still ordering up a lanyard ring option at that late date. I'm hoping someone here will know the answer to that.

Another possibility is foreign issue since lanyard use is still common in many other countries, but then, if that's so, why no importation markings? Or maybe it's just as prosaic as a private security firm's preference for weapon security.

No RHKP or C&E markings on the back strap? Here are some photos of a 10-7.

could it be over run for hong kong p.d. ?

[QUOTE=Mack;135996378]No RHKP or C&E markings on the back strap? Here are some photos of a 10-7.

No property markings whatsoever. And it is a heavy barrel, the overwhelming choice for American LE agencies. But the lanyard would've been just where it is on your 10-7 (which is a very cool gun, incidentally, thanks for sharing)

I would think most likely armored car or security guard.

As I said, I've entertained that possibility. Such company owned guns in that era were more often marked than not, though.

By the way, are those plain Victory-style stocks on your 10-7 numbered to the gun?

No, grips are broad arrow marked replacements with no SN, I suspect they were installed after it got to Hong Kong.

if you need the laynard...S&W still has them..i recently acquired a RHKP m10 that was missing the laynard...S&W sent me a replacement...for free!

__________________
SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

Last year I bought (through Gunbroker) a Model 681 no-dash with police markings on the left side under the cylinder. When I took off the grips it, I found it was drilled for a lanyard ring also, and also looked like a professional / factory job.
KennyB: thanks for the heads up regarding the availability of the lanyards.

There were some motor units which still used the lanyard into the mid 1980's; possibly it was meant for that.

Does anyone know anything about model 64's outfitted this way (serial number offset & lanyard ring)?

For what it's worth one of my favorite GB sellers has a big lot of Taurus 82's from the 1990's that have lanyard rings in the butts.

It's possible the 10-6 could have been a foreign contract.

The only way to really know is for your friend to have the gun lettered by S&W, I forget the exact cost but it's more than a couple bucks for this service.

Possibly Royal Canadian Mounted Police pre 1990