Can't resist those Model 10s

[jwh32]

In July 1978, I was in MONICO and the police were carrying 4" model 10 Smiths. white belts and holsters.

john

 

[scotts500]

When Herman Geryian, Hitler's #2 man ,was captured he had a Smith & Wesson Model 10 in his German holster!
Also guys that grip adapter sure does bring back alot of memories. My dad was a Lawman for 44 years and I know that for the first 18 he carried a Model 27 with standard grips and a grip adapter! Never had a problem!
I am 3rd generation Law Enforcement and my son is the 4th generation. Even though we have gone to automatics in Police work there is still something about having a good old blue steel revolver hanging on your hip! It may not carry 20 rounds but it sure will deliver its 6 accurately!

 

[STCM(SW)]

Have had this one for many years.

Just like the look & balance.
The one I use to teach new shooters what a real good revolver handels like.

 

[lebomm]

Congratulations, lowercase !
+1 on the "Great Target!"
All of the above is why the Smith & Wesson .38 Military & Police has been the standard of comparison, the world over, for a century.
I have several as well.

Larry

 

[OIF2]

Wow! I love the stocks on the 3" gun. Are those Kuracs?

Yes, those are John's work. His magnas are every bit as nice as his target coke-style stocks.
Bob

 

[riverrat38]

Anyone read, "Dr. No."? Not in the movie, but Ian Fleming armed Dr. No's guards with US .30 carbines and Smith & Wesson .38 revolvers, "the usual model."

I had no trouble understanding that "the usual model" meant the M-10.

Or the pre M10. But it is close. Dr. No was first written as a screenplay in 1956, but was never produced. It was first published as a novel in 1958, one year after the S&W Model name to number changeover. This info is from Wikipedia. Now, I think I will need to reread the novel. Its been many years.

Rick

 

[Hannibal Barca]

Even I am a fan of the Smith and Wesson revolvers I had always underestimated the model 10 pencil barrels revolvers. I had always preferred the models 14s, 15s, 27s, 19s or others more fancy S&W revolvers, but once I bought my first model 10-5 pencil barrel revolver I changed my mind. I was surprised how accurate could be this humble fixed sight revolver was. Since then I am a big fan of the models 10, they give me a very pleasant surprise

Hannibal

 

[M3Stuart]

Yes, everybody should have several!

Shown: 10-4 3", 10-5 4" tapered, 10-8 with the smooth trigger. All have very nice double actions.

 

[OIF2]

Since we're doing M10s...5" 10-7 nickle (1979) NIB.

A 10-5 5" and a 10-8 3" HB...both with Tylers. I'll always have a couple of 10s around.

 

[Texas Star]

Or the pre M10. But it is close. Dr. No was first written as a screenplay in 1956, but was never produced. It was first published as a novel in 1958, one year after the S&W Model name to number changeover. This info is from Wikipedia. Now, I think I will need to reread the novel. Its been many years.

Rick

Dr. No and Thunderball are my favorite Bond books. Watch for the S&W Centennial that Bond got with the PPK to replace the .25 Beretta. Fleming made an error: Geoffrey Boothroyd meant for Bond to have the .38 Airweight as his main gun and a Model 27 as a car gun to replace the "long-barrelled Colt .45." Fleming read a story in ,"American Rifleman" on small autos, which he personally preferred and subbed the PPK for the Centennial, but had Bond take both to Dr. No's island. He should have had the .357 and either the Walther or the Centennial. The real Boothroyd later explained this to me in a letter and in articles for gun magazines and in, "Sports Ill.".

Yes, the Model 10 designation was applied just a year before the book appeared, but I basically meant the M&P, whether those used on the island had the Model marked or not.

BTW, I wrote to Ian Fleming, suggesting the Model 36 with three-inch barrel as the basic Bond gun. Suggested Gaylord holsters. He was away when my letter arrived, but his secretary sent a very nice reply. (Yes, I was into guns at a very young age.)

In, "The Handgun", perhaps the very best basic handgun book ever published, Boothroyd noted the then-new S&W M-60 and said that its stainless construction should make it the real Bond gun, but Fleming died the previous year, making it a moot point.

In any event, the "usual model" of S&W .38 surely meant the M&P/M-10, whichever is correct for the time acquired. Fleming may have even meant the .38-200, which he was surely familiar with as a British service revolver. Again, the same basic gun, but I think Dr. No was more likely to have sourced his guns from the US.

Note that Fleming called the .30 carbines Remingtons. They were actually Winchester-derived. Sometimes, he just goofed on guns. But he was usually better at that than most thriller writers.

 

[GaryS]

A friend of mine wants a revolver for home defense. He *thinks* he wants a .357 Magnum, even though he's never fired one. I'm planning to get him to the range to fire one or both of my Model 10s so he knows that a .38 Spl can be effective for home defense.

I've loved the Model 10 ever since I first fired one in the early 1970s. First gun I ever shot.

I have been recommending M10 police trade-ins as the most cost effective home defense guns for 15 years. I don't think anyone has ever taken my advice. They watch too much TV. I recently made this recommendation to my 31 year old daughter, with the same result. She has been told by her friends that she needs a Glock! 14 years ago, she loved to shoot my M60-10 with reloaded WC's. Where did I go wrong?

Rick

 

[Hannibal Barca]

A friend of mine wants a revolver for home defense. He *thinks* he wants a .357 Magnum, even though he's never fired one. I'm planning to get him to the range to fire one or both of my Model 10s so he knows that a .38 Spl can be effective for home defense.

I've loved the Model 10 ever since I first fired one in the early 1970s. First gun I ever shot.

And if he insists in buying a .357 Mag. You can advise him to buy a model 13 or a 65 so he would be able to fire .357 Mag in it then he wants and could use .38 Specials +P for home defense.

 

[GaryS]

And if he insists in buying a .357 Mag. You can advise him to buy a model 13 or a 65 so he would be able to fire .357 Mag in it then he wants and could use .38 Specials +P for home defense.

If he insists on a .357, I'll probably steer him to something newer like an L frame. It will be hard enough trying to convince him to buy a used gun of any type.

 

[oldafsp]

If he insists on a .357, I'll probably steer him to something newer like an L frame. It will be hard enough trying to convince him to buy a used gun of any type.

And of course we all know that used Smith and Wessons are a really bad investment..

 

[W.E.G.]

Brace yourself!

 

[GaryS]

And of course we all know that used Smith and Wessons are a really bad investment..

We know that older Smith and Wessons are good investments, but we're "gun guys". Many of you more than me, but still I have an interest and appreciation in fine firearms. My friend is late to gun ownership and his interest is limited. As is his knowledge. Whether he'll listen to me or not, I don't know.

Although I will say that when we went to a LGS that he knows the owner of, the owner gave him the exact same advice I had been giving him for a first gun.

In any case, I'll get him to try some of my various Smiths and see what he likes. Maybe I'll even get him to try a 3rd generation semi!

 

[GJHIII]

Have had this one for many years.

Just like the look & balance.
The one I use to teach new shooters what a real good revolver handels like.

Can you please identify this revolver for me. I've located this exact revolver at a gun show with the box and tools minus the new trigger, of course. It has CHPD engraved on the back strap and the gentleman claims that it has never been fired. Not that this matters to me, because it sure will be shortly after I purchase it. He's also asking $700 for this beautiful specimen. Any and all thoughts from you old salts would be appreciated. Thanks.