Help confirm my model 10-7 was a Detroit Police weapon.

[Daveintn]

I have a model 10-7 with a 5 inch barrel chambered in .38 special. Serial number 4D17207. The backstrap is marked Detroit Police 21618. It's also nickel plated. Is there any way to confirm that this gun was ever used by the Detroit Police department? I know the model 10 used to be as common as a Glock is today in police holsters. Local gun store guy said he had not seen a nickel plated duty weapon before. I don't know much about S&W's and any help would be greatly appreciated.

[RGNewell]

Originally Posted by Daveintn

I have a model 10-7 with a 5 inch barrel chambered in .38 special. Serial number 4D17207. The backstrap is marked Detroit Police 21618. It's also nickel plated. Is there any way to confirm that this gun was ever used by the Detroit Police department? I know the model 10 used to be as common as a Glock is today in police holsters. Local gun store guy said he had not seen a nickel plated duty weapon before. I don't know much about S&W's and any help would be greatly appreciated.

Many LE agencies bought nickel Smiths.

[lihpster]

Page 205 of the 4Th Edition of the Standard Catalog has this entry," Detroit Police: Model 10-5, 5" pencil barrel with nickel finish on a square butt 3 screw frame, pinned barrel, Marked "Detroit Police" with 5 digit number on the backstrap. .265" serrated trigger, .265" hammer. Grey, metal corner, Bangor Punta box. S&W on the sideplate. An example reported in the D387988 and 3D011XX s/n range.

Sold! Nickel Detroit Police M10, exc, Morphy Auction 2015- $700"

it says 10-5 in the book, but it's occasionally wrong.

[s&wchad]

Yes, that’s typical for an older DPD gun. Right as rain!

[VaTom]

Originally Posted by RGNewell

Many LE agencies bought nickel Smiths.

We carried nickel Model 10's at my agency. They kept them until switching to Glocks in the 1980's. Prior to stainless steel, nickel was considered a more durable finish than bluing.

Nickel also looked sharper / classier in black leather holsters with the class A uniforms that departments wore back in the day.

[Jason Demond]

It's literally marked Detroit Police on the back strap, just like the rest of them. Just like my model 64.

[Daveintn]

Would anyone happen to know what year it was manufactured?

[mdf9183]

When I joined the PD in 1969 we carried Nickle S&W 38/44 then went to Nickle mod 27s so yeah there were a lot of Nickle police guns.

[lihpster]

Originally Posted by Daveintn

Would you happen to know what year it was manufactured?

According to the 4TH edition, that serial number puts it at 1979.

[pawncop]

FWIW, Detroit PD may have had a long running relationship with nickel plated revolvers.

I have a Colt Police Positive in .38 New Police, nickel plated, with the Detroit PD and an inventory control number ( or possibly a badge number) stamped on the back strap and butt plate. The revolver was manufactured in 1919 according to the serial number.

[LPD256]

Welcome to the Forum. If you want definitive confirmation that it is a Detroit PD gun, you might request a letter from our historian that will say where and when it was shipped. That 10-7 is a great gun. Grab some ammo and shoot it.

[Jason Demond]

Originally Posted by Daveintn

Would you happen to know what year it was manufactured?

D Series K Frames: (Fixed Sight Models)

D1 – D90,000…………….....1968
D90,001 – D330,000……..1969 -70
D330,001 – D420,000………1971 – Early 72
D420,001 – D510,000………Late 1972 – Early 73
D510,001 – D659,901………Late 1973 – Early 1974
D659.902 – D75000………..Late 1974 – Early 1975
D750,001 – D870,000………Late 1975 – Early 1976
D870,001 – D999,999………Late 1976 – Early 1977
2D00001 - 2D80,000……….1977
2D80,001 – 2D99,999………1978
4D00001 – 6D10,000……….1979
6D10,0001 – 7D10,000……1980
7D10,001 – 9D44,500…..1981
9D44,501 – 17D8,900………1982
17D8,901 – 21D0883……….1983


DPD was still issuing revolvers as late as 89. My DPD 64-5 is a 4" HB made in 1989.

[Kansasgunner]

This 10-5 was the last Detroit PD gun that I owned. If I remember correctly Dr. Jinks told me that at one time the Detroit PD was S&Ws largest customer for nickel gun sales.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[B.Thomas]

I’ve got a 1969 made nickel 5” Smith that’s marked (Wayne county 1714)

[murphydog]

Two comments. To the OP, as Chad mentioned above, the appearance and details of the gun are 100% consistent with a DPD issued gun. They are fairly common (at least for now) and the time and effort spent to counterfeit one at this time would be unlikely.

A letter of authenticity would confirm its history:

https://theswca.org/wp-content/uploa...quest-Form.pdf

A batch of Wayne County (presumably sheriff's department) revolvers with similar rollmarks were on the market about a year ago; I suspect they were bought under the same or a related DPD contract, as Detroit is in Wayne County.