A 65 year old righteous find at LGS

[cmansguns]

Seldom do I run across anything that sparks my interest at LGS in this area. They don't do consignments and usually price things like they were all owned by McGivern, Kieth or Jerry M.

However, in there on Friday to look over ammo and in the used gun counter laying in the back was a shiny S&W with a 5" barrel.

Checked it over at the counter, they don't allow grip removal, so I noted some things and came home checked with this Forum and because of the answers from JP@AK (all by the way were spot on), I went back and negotiated till it came home with me.

Now the fun: Model 10 no dash, 5" pinned bbl, 5 screw, smooth backstrap, serrated 1/8" ramp front and square notch rear, right grip panel numbered to the gun, factory nickel finish good overall with some freckles on left side at muzzle. PC Service Magnas in decent shape. Original nickel "N" on left side frame.

Serial number C 451725, Jopak said 1959, and today Roy confirmed April 1959.

I have owned a lot of Model 10's usually dash 5's in 3" but mostly 4" and while these are very nice holster guns, I didn't know what I was missing until this 5" came along. What excellent balance in my medium hands. Feels like a natural pointer for me.

Can't wait to get to the range with this gun. I can see now why so many LEO's like 5" and larger as duty guns. The only other 5" revolver I own is my 32-20 and I still haven't had the weather cooperate enough to get it out for punching some paper.

Enjoy the pics, I think it was good, righteous buy and as we always say............they don't make them like this anymore!

 

[erikpolcrack]

I have a couple of older 5-inch M&Ps and couldn't agree with you more about the natural pointability and balance.

 

[bigmoose]

Very nice. I bet that will be fine shooter. Kinda rare in 5".

 

[M_conrad_0311]

What a great find. It is wonderful shape.

 

[K Harris]

5" Model 10. My absolute favorite sidearm.

 

[JP@AK]

Glad you got it, Charlie. And thanks for the pat on the back.

One note: it doesn't have a five screw frame. Your pictures clearly show there is no fourth screw in the sideplate. The top screw was eliminated clear back in 1956. You have a four screw revolver, which is what would be expected in 1959.

Best regards,

 

[4K2022]

Seldom do I run across anything that sparks my interest at LGS in this area.

I didn't know what I was missing until this 5" came along. What excellent balance in my medium hands. Feels like a natural pointer for me.

Can't wait to get to the range with this gun. I can see now why so many LEO's like 5" and larger as duty guns. The only other 5" revolver I own is my 32-20

I’m somewhat jealous of the ones You do find! You have a good eye for quality and condition. The British thought the same about the 5” barrel. As an enabler I might suggest putting a BSR chambered in .38 S&W on your radar ,,,

 

[CajunBass]

Congratulations. That's a nice one. One of my first S&W's was a 5" Model 10-5, but in blue. They are nice shooters.

 

[cmansguns]

JP@AK correction noted and other "temptations"

So.........yes........my bad! I used to be an engineer until I retired some years ago and then I obviously forgot how to count! My new find Model 10 no dash 5" Nickel is....yep....4 (as in four) screw, not 5 screw as my 1921 32-20 WCF. No excuse sir!

Another says I should look for a 5" 38-200 BSR....yep....way ahead on this one too.......but almost zero possibility of coming my way. Back story...a few years ago a friend of my oldest son, asked me to look over "some guns", that he got when his dad passed away years earlier. These had been stored in the attic, uncased, and uncared for. I checked them all and appraised them for him and told him if he were to want to sell to call me first.

Among the guns was a BSR Lend Lease, and a Colt 1911 from WWI. Both had holsters with them and the Colt had a magazine with B stamped on the lip!

Alas.....maybe I'll get a call, maybe my Son will, but you bet...a decent BSR is indeed "on my radar".

 

[Retired W4]

The B on the lip of your magazine is for WW I contractor Barnes & Kobert, Mfg. I don't see many of those around.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Good deal. The only K frame I have owned in years is a 5" in Nickle I bought from a buddy who owned a pawn shop for $25.00 because the cylinder latch is a bit snaggy. It's from the '20's and is a great shooter but you have to bump the cylinder lightly to open it. Needs to get fixed but I've had it over 20 years and haven't had it done yet. Does work a lot better now than it did when I got it but it's still tight.

 

[mikepriwer]

Here is an early C-series 5" pre-Model 10, serial number C55891, shipped 10/11/1949. It's a rare (seldom seen) M&P, because it is chambered in 32 long, but still is known as a Model 10, aka a 32 M&P.

The first picture is the butt serial number.

The next picture is the caliber roll marking on the right side of the barrel.

The next picture is the right side of the revolver.

The final picture is the left side of the gun.

Regards, Mike Priwer

 

[4K2022]

Another says I should look for a 5" 38-200 BSR....yep....way ahead on this one too.......but almost zero possibility of coming my way.

Alas.....maybe I'll get a call, maybe my Son will, but you bet...a decent BSR is indeed "on my radar".

Zero possibility? OK, here’s a story about a 5” that I thought would never cross my path (but I’ll save the story.) I wanted to add a 5” with a Hilary Hole,

 

[raljr1]

Another says I should look for a 5" 38-200 BSR....yep....way ahead on this one too.......but almost zero possibility of coming my way. ...
Alas.....maybe I'll get a call, maybe my Son will, but you bet...a decent BSR is indeed "on my radar".

Like this one?