Any of you Ladies or Gents ever own, or come across a 3" tapered barrel K frame?

[ABPOS]

Preferably round butt but I'd be interested in seeing or hearing about square butts too.

It's been in the back of my head for a while now and I don't believe I've ever seen one. Or if I did, I don't remember it.

 

[boatbum101]

Nope never have . Owned 3 all were RB & had heavy profile barrels . 2 were 65-3 & 1 was 65 LS .

 

[Muley Gil]

I have had a few 4' and 5" pencil barreled K frames with round butts, but can't remember ever seeing a 3".

 

[murphydog]

There were a bunch of ex-Australian (Victoria Police?) model 10s sold a few years ago, -4 through -7, all with 3" heavy barrels. Think mid-way between a standard and bull barrel.

 

[Hondo44]

The only ones ever issued were:

1. The alloy frame/cyl Aircrewman Revolver .38 M&P (Later the M13 but not with 3" barrel); 609 made in early 1950s.

2. The Pre Model 10, from 1946 thru the 1st stamped with Model 10 in late 1957 could be had with a 3" slender barrel although not cataloged until 30 years later. But by 1959, the M10-1 introduced the heavy barrel. Therefore there's an early window within which the 3" slender barrel model you want may be found.

If you look diligently you'll eventually find one but it may take years; may be expensive too. Adv in this forum's classified section.

If I were you, I'd have a cheap, worn 4" cut down to 3" and enjoy it until your holy grail shows up.

 

[Kansasgunner]

Model 10-5 with 3" standard barrel square butt with Farrant's.

D474161 shipped June 1974, this one is square butt and shown with Farrants. Like the Model 36 3" standard barrel the front sight is noticeably longer than on the heavy barrel versions.

 

[Hondo44]

Oh boy, when I saw Tim's 10-5 tapered (slender) barrel I had to go to the book.

Sure enough, slender barrel discontinued on the M10-10, but not til 1995-96, same time as the square butt.

 

[ABPOS]

Model 10-5 with 3" standard barrel square butt with Farrant's.

D474161 shipped June 1974, this one is square butt and shown with Farrants. Like the Model 36 3" standard barrel the front sight is noticeably longer than on the heavy barrel versions.

Yeah that's an interesting one. I'm not sure it's the same as a "tapered" barrel that I'm thinking, but maybe it is and just looks different because of the shorter length and I was picturing one of those front sights that is.... not a half moon but more similar to that.

That is a really cool gun though.

 

[ABPOS]

The only ones ever issued were:

1. The alloy frame/cyl Aircrewman Revolver .38 M&P (Later the M13 but not with 3" barrel); 609 made in early 1950s.

2. The Pre Model 10, from 1946 thru the 1st stamped with Model 10 in late 1957 could be had with a 3" slender barrel although not cataloged until 30 years later. But by 1959, the M10-1 introduced the heavy barrel. Therefore there's an early window within which the 3" slender barrel model you want may be found.

If you look diligently you'll eventually find one but it may take years; may be expensive too. Adv in this forum's classified section.

If I were you, I'd have a cheap, worn 4" cut down to 3" and enjoy it until your holy grail shows up.

I'm not sure I'd poo poo a heavy barrel 3"er either. I just was curious if this is something that was made. But I don't mind the idea of having one cut down. Especially if you could find one that is kind of messed up. Maybe with a damaged muzzle. Find one for cheap... That would be cool.

 

[Kansasgunner]

I agree an early style front sight on a round butt frame would be cool looking!

 

[murphydog]

These have more of a straight taper than the standard barrel, much like a 3" model 36 as mentioned above.

 

[Hondo44]

I'm not sure I'd poo poo a heavy barrel 3"er either. I just was curious if this is something that was made. But I don't mind the idea of having one cut down. Especially if you could find one that is kind of messed up. Maybe with a damaged muzzle. Find one for cheap... That would be cool.

Yes, you're correct. The barrel I believed you are looking for is of the pre war/thru the 1950's "contoured style" of the period in my first post.

This I frame shows the 3" contoured slender barrel from the 1950's M&P:

Photo credit: GMGUY

 

[robertrwalsh]

I never saw one that wasn't an obvious cut-down.

 

[ABPOS]

Yes, you're correct. The barrel I believed you are looking for is of the pre war/thru the 1950's "contoured style" of the period in my first post.

This I frame shows the 3" contoured slender barrel from the 1950's M&P:

Photo credit: GMGUY

Yeah, but I do believe they used that barrel well into model 10's. Or 64's for that matter. I've seen 64's with that tapered barrel. Which I guess is the "Standard" barrel. Eh?

From Stephen Camp's website, this is a 12-3. Not sure when that was made but obviously after 1957..... Not sure how much after... But since it's a -3, I'm thinking well after.

according to the owner of this gun, it is a model 64 (which according to wiki was introduced in 70):

I think we had another thread around here about this but I'm pretty sure 10's came with a standard tapered barrel through out much of their life. I don't know when the standard tapered barrel was discontinued though. Maybe someone can confirm that.....

It would be interesting to see just a round butt 10 with a standard 4" tapered barrel. Like that 12 above. I'm not sure I've ever seen one of those either. But I'm pretty sure I've seen square butt tapered barrel 10's. 4"ers...

 

[ABPOS]

I agree an early style front sight on a round butt frame would be cool looking!

In 3" especially. LOL. Or some odd length. But 4" would be really cool too. I'm not sure if they made that.

 

[ABPOS]

The tag on this pic is it's a 10-5.

 

[Kframerbluvr]

Yeah, but I do believe they used that barrel well into model 10's. Or 64's for that matter. I've seen 64's with that tapered barrel. Which I guess is the "Standard" barrel. Eh?

From Stephen Camp's website, this is a 12-3. Not sure when that was made but obviously after 1957..... Not sure how much after... But since it's a -3, I'm thinking well after.

according to the owner of this gun, it is a model 64 (which according to wiki was introduced in 70):

I think we had another thread around here about this but I'm pretty sure 10's came with a standard tapered barrel through out much of their life. I don't know when the standard tapered barrel was discontinued though. Maybe someone can confirm that.....

It would be interesting to see just a round butt 10 with a standard 4" tapered barrel. Like that 12 above. I'm not sure I've ever seen one of those either. But I'm pretty sure I've seen square butt tapered barrel 10's. 4"ers...

This is my RB 4" standard barreled M10 which served me as a duty and off duty gun in the '80s. It now does HD duty.

 

[Hondo44]

Yeah, but I do believe they used that barrel well into model 10's. Or 64's for that matter. I've seen 64's with that tapered barrel. Which I guess is the "Standard" barrel. Eh?

From Stephen Camp's website, this is a 12-3. Not sure when that was made but obviously after 1957..... Not sure how much after... But since it's a -3, I'm thinking well after.

according to the owner of this gun, it is a model 64 (which according to wiki was introduced in 70):

I think we had another thread around here about this but I'm pretty sure 10's came with a standard tapered barrel through out much of their life. I don't know when the standard tapered barrel was discontinued though. Maybe someone can confirm that.....

Well I went back to the "books" and find no reference for the change from slender contoured standard barrel to the slender straight taper standard barrel. But I believe you're right, the contoured standard barrel was used much later than the Model 10 pre dash models.

The 13-3 above for example didn't come about until 1977!

 

[Hondo44]

The tag on this pic is it's a 10-5.

Well a 10-5 is from 1962. Doesn't help us extend the period for contoured standard barrels but keep the examples coming and we'll eventually pin down the year of last use for the contoured barrel.

 

[Hondo44]

This is my RB 4" standard barreled M10 which served me as a duty and off duty gun in the '80s. It now does HD duty.

Is it a Mod 10 pre dash? Or what's its partial s/n?

 

[linde]

Don't know whether to call it a standard, tapered, contoured, slender or all-of-the-above barrel but here is a 3" on a 10-5 square butt that shipped in 1973 . . . note where it shipped in Roy's letter.

Russ

 

[gordonrick]

My 10-5 from c. 1975 (D836171) has the 4" tapered barrel.

 

[ABPOS]

This is my RB 4" standard barreled M10 which served me as a duty and off duty gun in the '80s. It now does HD duty.

That thing is gorgeous! And yeah, would you be willing to show us it's marking on the inside of the yoke?

I am envious. Looks like it has nice character. I bet it's like an old friend. Your 442 has seen some use too looks like.

 

[ABPOS]

Don't know whether to call it a standard, tapered, contoured, slender or all-of-the-above barrel but here is a 3" on a 10-5 square butt that shipped in 1973 . . . note where it shipped in Roy's letter.

Russ

Beautiful beautiful gun!!! But yeah, it's hard to figure out what to call what. Because your gun is... well would you call that a taper? Yeah, I think so. It's just a straight taper. And then it has the non tapered part that extends to the sight. I'm not sure what you call that. Whereas some of these other ones I'm posting are a different kind of taper. Not straight but a curved taper. With the curve being more drastic right in front of the frame and then transitioning to more of a straight taper. Which I find the nicest looking of them all. And it doesn't have the non tapered rib on top.

I know I'm just stating the obvious but it would be nice if we knew what each type of barrel was called. LOL. Someone probably does. I just don't. Old style taper. Newer style taper with rib?

 

[linde]

. . . yeah, it's hard to figure out what to call what. Because your gun is... well would you call that a taper? Yeah, I think so. It's just a straight taper. And then it has the non tapered part that extends to the sight. I'm not sure what you call that. Whereas some of these other ones I'm posting are a different kind of taper. Not straight but a curved taper. With the curve being more drastic right in front of the frame and then transitioning to more of a straight taper. Which I find the nicest looking of them all. And it doesn't have the non tapered rib on top.

I know I'm just stating the obvious but it would be nice if we knew what each type of barrel was called. LOL. Someone probably does. I just don't. Old style taper. Newer style taper with rib?

Here is a link to a very learned discussion of the 3" K-frame barrels and what to call them . . . especially post #18.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-re...aquired-10-5-3-barrel.html?highlight=3*barrel

In addition Smithnut has provided the link to his outstanding pictorial essay that I believe you will also find most informative.
Informal Pictorial Essay - 3 inch K frames - Part 1 - 38 Special Models

Enjoy those 3" K-frames . . . one of my favorites,

Russ

 

[ABPOS]

Thank you sooooo much. I copy and pasted that post #18 by SmithNut into Word so I can keep it. I think I may have seen it one other time. It is an excellent post to show the differences. And he also confirms that the 3" Standard barrel as he is calling it, is different than the "standard" profile on the 4" and longer versions. Which tapers more aggressively right in front of the frame. You know?

 

[Hondo44]

I still haven't seen a round sight 5 screw 3" slender profile tapering more aggressively right in front of the frame. Must be truly rare.

 

[ABPOS]

I still haven't seen a round sight 5 screw 3" slender profile tapering more aggressively right in front of the frame. Must be truly rare.

Wouldn't that be a super cool gun though? But yeah, I've yet to see one even customized that way.....

 

[Hondo44]

Here's another way to go:

Buy an early non-ribbed 4" slender contour tapered barrel, have it cut and relocate front sight, have it blued and installed in a 3" OR 4" gun replacing the straight taper slender barrel.

You can cut a 4" to 3" and leave all of the roll marks:

If you get a 4" with half moon front sight: See where the 3" barrel would be cut to:

The ramped front sight can be tig welded to make a 1/2 moon sight:

Found all these barrels and more today on eBay by searching for: "smith gun parts kit"

 

[mikepriwer]

This is three 1899 .38 target revolvers, with barrel lengths of 2.5", 3.0", and 3.5". The 1899's all have straight tapered barrels, measuring 0.650 at the frame face, and 0.560 at the muzzle. Ie, they have a 0.090 change in diameter from one end to the other.

Mike Priwer