3 inch nickle model 10

[s smith]

I have a nickle 3 inch round butt model 10 with a 17d prefix in the serial number which should mean a 1982 year of manufacture. The gun is in excellent condition. The only other one of these I have seen was in what I believe was a picture posted by Smithnut in a 3 inch k frame thread . This made me wonder if anyone would know how many of this variation was made ,and if it would be worthwhile to letter this gun.I know it doesn't count without pictures but I am a little behind the times on this computer stuff and think it is just a passing fad so I haven't learned to post pictures yet. The gun has the letter N on the cylinder and frame butt which convinces me it is factory nickle. I hope I have posted in the right place because I would hate to anger the gorilla. By the way I met Lee Jarret at OGCA a year or so ago and he barley resembles his picture.

 

[Coaltminer]

I had a 3" blue, bought the same year new, which I foolishly sold. Paid $159 for it. To me they are perfect combination of frame size and barrel length and highly sought after, more so in nickel I would think. I have seen on this board that Smith produced approximately 20% of their firearms in nickel, not sure how that translates to Model 10's, but I'd hang onto it. Same gun was made in stainless as the Model 64, also popular. They bring good money on Gunbroker and other sites, check there and places like Gunsamerica and Gunsinternational to get an idea of value, but I've seen few nickel. Also popular it seems are the Model 64 with 2" barrels, lots of 10's out there in 2" tho. An unusual one I wish I'd bought a few years back was a Model 10 with 2.5" heavy barrel, blue, spec'd by one of the government agencies, I believe, IIRC to achieve a certain velocity with a specified ammo they wanted to use. The 3" Model 13's were same as the 10 you have, but blue(also available in nickel and stainless)that the FBI used for many years, as they provided a a longer ejector rod and thus complete ejection of fired rounds. I shot thousands of rounds thru mine, carried it a bunch, legally, back when permits weren't easy to get. I worked as a security chief for 17 years, never felt the need to switch to anything else. Long post, sorry, bottom line, you have a great gun in an not all that common finish. Enjoy it

 

[Coaltminer]

Should have stated above, the Model 13 is 357 Magnum.

 

[s smith]

Coaltminer no need to apologize for long post,I get on this forum to read and learn. I also should have written in my original post that I am not really interested in getting rid of this model 10 because it looks good alongside my 3 inch model 13 and 3 inch model 65. I think I am developing an illness that only a 3 inch model 64 can cure. I also need to learn how to do this picture thing. This computer stuff is tough when you don't have any school kids at home to teach you.