I've done a lot of reading about the model 10 and decided that one of these classic revolvers would be nice to have. I've decided a blued 4" with a pencil barrel is what I want. With so many of these guns made I didn't think it would be any problem finding one. Was I ever wrong. I've checked all the gun and pawn shops within a hundred miles and no one has one. Gunbroker is always an option, but I really like to handle my guns before I buy them. Maybe I'll have better luck when a local gun show rolls around next. Any ideas on other places to look would be appreciated. Also, what can I expect to pay for one in good condition with little wear?

That is a contradictory condition description. Guessing you want more emphasis on "little wear" meaning very good to excellent condition you are probably looking at $400 to $500. Age also affects value. Since you want to handle it before buying about the only other source would be classified ads run by local sellers.

Good to excellent condition would have been a better description.

Sent you a PM with some places to look.

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This is a 6 inch bbl. It belonged to my dad. I have the box of shells he purchased with it, all still there, best I can tell it has never been fired...purchased sometime around 67'

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kwwms - you might want to put the brush & rod in a plasitic bag to keep them from scratching that very nice revolver.

GF

GF.....thanks I will probably do that...just sitting in the gun safe, no plans to shoot it.

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Be patient, keep your eyes and ears open, and visit your local pawn shops, gun stores and gun shows regularly.
I have four model 10s and will probably keep them all forever. They have classic good looks and are all good shooters (even the really finish challenged one). I paid between $200.00 and $450.00 for each and the price was dependent on the condition. But I didn't buy them all at once and I didn't buy them all at the same place. That's why I say you have to keep looking around.
I'd say to adjust the price range I quoted up to account for inflation but I can't imagine a model 10 selling for more than $450.00 and I can't imagine anyone selling a model 10 as new in box.
George

How can anyone help you when you want to hide where you live ? These guys know all the good places but help narrow it down for them.

I picked one up at a gun show for $425 got a pistol case with it.I looked for close to a year at gun shows and pawn shops.In texas there running 400 to 600 Mine a little rough but thats what i wanted.

TXCP

Good luck finding a Model 10 with a pencil barrel. S&W never made any with pencil barrels. They made them with tapered barrels, and standard barrels, but there's no such thing as a pencil barrel. Sloppy terminology somebody unfortunately coined one time and even more unfortunately caught on.

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No life story has happy end.

Good luck finding a Model 10 with a pencil barrel. S&W never made any with a pencil barrel. They made them with tapered barrels and standard barrels but no pencil barrels. Sloppy terminology that unfortunately was coined and unfortunately caught on.

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No life story has happy end.

OK a tapered barrel, but just repeating what I've read. I'm located in central Kentucky about an hour from Louisville.

A tapered barrel like the one on kwwms' lovely 6" Model 10 was the standard or pencil barrel. From the 1950s through the 1990s the only other Model 10 barrel made in significant quantities was the 4" heavy barrel.

"Pencil barrel" won't sting your ears so bad if accept that for some it is a term of endearment. At least it is better than calling the heavy barrel a sap.

Tapered barrel,standard barrel.
What difference does it make?
Just like some say sight adjustment tool, it's a screw driver!

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Only difference Fool/Mule-ears

For what it is worth, to date I have been very happy with my G.B. purchases. READ CAREFULLY, and ask the seller questions. Sure, I'd like to hold them 1st myself. You don't see too many good Smith revolvers around here. Good luck with your quest! Bob

1. Keep looking
2. Check out Gunsinternational
3. I got this one at my LGS for $500.00

A 1983 Model 10-7

"Pencil barrel" qualifies in my mind as a very good name. "Tapered barrel" is probably just as good, although perhaps less commonly used, which irritates one of our members for some reason. Both names have the critical quality of being unequivocal, or close to it. I say "close" because many barrels with ribs are also tapered, unlike what most folks would call a bull barrel or a heavy barrel. "Heavy barrel" is also a little weak; I have a C*** Official Police with a 6" Heavy Barrel, capitalized because it is the actual name stamped on the barrel by the factory. However, although it is heavy, and is a barrel, it is also tapered. It is a tapered heavy barrel. Granted that it is not an S&W, and at the moment I can't think of any S&W tapered heavy barrels, it seems to me that maybe "pencil barrel" is still the best name for the heavily tapered unribbed barrel found on the Model 10.

I don't think so. I think that they made them with standard barrels and heavy barrels. I no longer have their early advertising literature, but my 1967 Gil Hebard Catalog (#18) seems to confirm this. Also, Roy Jinks, in his article on model numbers and dash numbers, refers to the two barrels, specifically on the Model 10, as "standard" and "heavy."

BTW, this is further evidence that "pencil barrel" is a really good name, since even one of our experienced members can err in understanding the factory name, which seems to be "standard barrel."

deerjw, I sent you a PM with a link to a south GA dealer with a couple of standard barrel 10's for sale. He is a honest man to deal with.

Love the barrel name debate.
Next, queue the discussion about '.38 +P' not being stamped there.

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

While we're on the pencil barrel, shall we throw in the grips vs. stocks discussion? Since there is no correct answer, always good for a round and round and round....

To address the actual issue at hand, since you know what you want, a lot of good deals and guns with potentially interesting service history open up to you if you're willing to relent on the handling thing and a bit on condition. You can find a lot of good Model 10's or (even better) earlier S and C prefix M&P's on Gunbroker (externally and functionally identical to the Model 10, just classier). Holster wear on a former police revolver just adds something that a boring nightstand gun will never have, and it shoots just as well.

"While we're on the pencil barrel, shall we throw in the grips vs. stocks discussion? Since there is no correct answer, always good for a round and round and round...."

Absalom, you beat me to posting the same. Congratulations!!

My personal choice is for the heavy/bull barrels vs. the pencil/tapered/standard barrels. hardcase60

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You want me to do what?

Perhaps S&W should have considered stamping a small novel along the barrel ala Ruger, to the effect:
"The use of .38 +P in this pre-model will cause nuclear reaction and possible polar shift. Consult your manual, available from...."


Sorry, had too much coffee this morning.

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

Please take a look at the 10-7 in post #18. I won't describe the barrel, since the -7 already tells you what kind of barrel it is. I won't even get into the gas that the gas ring is supposed to stop - it has hardly abated it in this thread. I know that the factory made those handle thingies for the 10-7, but should I call them stock grips, or stocks that one grips?

TIA.

Now we've moved on to more serious matters. Captain Silverback runs a tight ship. No other gun forum will see our sails flogging like a whaler's. The warning for first time offenders calling S&W wood stocks "grips" is fifty lashes tied to the mast. Apprehended a second time they get keel hauled under the forum's barnacled bottom. The runny nosed kid who typed "grips" into S&W's web page is #1 on the FBI's most wanted list.

With the feedback from on here and spending more time on Gunbroker I'm feeling better about buying a gun on this auction site. It looks like to me if you find the right auction (no reserve, low starting price, good pictures and positive seller feedback) there shouldn't be any problem. I'm on my way to Florida and have been contacting gun shops along the way. I have found one shop that says he has a "pristine" model 10 no dash for $495. If it is the way he is describing it that price doesn't sound too bad. What do you guys think? I'll be checking it out tomorrow.

There's your problem - we all tend to keep them!

Standard barrels or heavy barrels!

It is already at the top of my price range and you would have to add his shipping charge, your FFL's transfer fee and in some states sales tax or use tax. I think he's a bit high. However, I am buying a gun that the majority of the responders to my thread wrote was a bit too high. Some times I pay a premium for the action on an individual revolver. Skip eating out on your trip and the cost will come out the same.

The price isn't bad if it is the model 10 you want. If it is pristine and you pass on it, you may never see another like it. Perhaps it has original box and paper with it if you are lucky. BTW, if you intend to buy it, be sure you have a dealer in your home state that will accept the transfer for you.

For reference, there is a S&W 10-5 SB snubbie in a north GA pawn shop for $425.00; no box or paperwork, battered stocks and milky finish.

The floggings will continue until morale improves?

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de minimus non curat lex

You are within an hour of some large gun shows. Look up your state rifle association website which should list all the gun shows in KY. That's about the only way you are going to be able to see and handle one before buying one, unless your local gun shops get one in.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

OK, so it's stocks.

But the frame on which they are attached, can we call that
the handle?

Thus, I have a grip on the handle's stocks.

Well the model 10 no dash that I located in FL turned out to be as nice as the shop owner said and it's coming back to KY. Checkout my new tread for a couple of pictures.

That is a beautiful Pistol

...I've been keel hauled under the forum's barnacled bottom so many times...I carved my name last time I was down there...

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A Country Boy Can Survive

Found this 10-5 with what you see here for $300 locally last summer. They are out there. I keep a ad on our local sites something to the effect of wanted antique and older Smith and Wessons with pictures of examples it has worked pretty well for me.

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