Curious on 10-5 with "trooper" barrel

[Markpixs]

More a 3rd gen auto guy, but a shop about an hour away has a selection of police trade-ins, based on condition and number of revolvers. Some are listed as "Smith & Wesson Model 10-5 Revolver 38 Special 4 inch Trooper Barrel", is the Trooper barrel a heavy barrel, doesn't look like it in posted photos. Also a number of Model 36's. Thanks

 

[robertrwalsh]

Never heard of a "trooper barrel." My GUESS is that it is in fact the heavy barrel, but that is only a guess. Cop guns are sometimes very good buys, often carried a lot and shot very little.

 

[lkabug]

As a condition of employment, I carried a S&W model 10-5, 4 inch tapered barrel for many years. Although I was a city cop not a "TROOPER" but I don't remember seeing a 10-5 heavy or trooper barrel. Perhaps our were "city" barrels.

 

[JP@AK]

Hi Markpixs

The Model 10-5 came with the standard, tapered, barrel.

I have no idea what a "trooper barrel" might be, unless the revolver has been fitted with a Colt's barrel . . .

If it has anything other than the standard Model 10-5 barrel, somebody performed a switcheroo.

 

[Alk8944]

"Trooper" is probably something someone at that shop dreamed up for some reason. Just like the guy in the reloading sub-forum referred to wad-cutter bullets as "soup cans". Give me a break. S&W never referred to anything as "trooper"!

 

[shawn mccarver]

A picture would be helpful, but my guess is they are selling the heavy barrel version as opposed to the standard barrel version.

S&W did not use the term “trooper barrel” or the term “pencil barrel.”

 

[Hair Trigger]

If the M10 has an odd series number it should have the tapered "pencil" barrel. Even series numbers have the heavy "bull" barrel. Not sure what the GS means when they say "Trooper Barrel" unless they just don't know what they're talking about.

 

[ralph7]

Hi Markpixs

The Model 10-5 came with the standard, tapered, barrel.

I have no idea what a "trooper barrel" might be, unless the revolver has been fitted with a Colt's barrel . . .

If it has anything other than the standard Model 10-5 barrel, somebody performed a switcheroo.

I'd love to see a pic if this is a "Smooper".

Might look more factory than a "Smython", and have the Colt internal dimensions and twist.

 

[JeffD607]

There is a Model 10-6 (Pre Model 13 ?) listed on GB that has a heavy barrel. According to SCS&W, there were 1,200 of these shipped to the New York State Police in 1974. Maybe that is where the “trooper barrel” term was born.

 

[JP@AK]

There is a Model 10-6 (Pre Model 13 ?) listed on GB that has a heavy barrel. According to SCS&W, there were 1,200 of these shipped to the New York State Police in 1974. Maybe that is where the “trooper barrel” term was born.

Well, all 10-6 units had the heavy barrel, but only those chambered for the .357 Magnum were for the NYSP. There were a ton of Model 10-6 revolvers chambered for the .38 Special.

If the M10 has an odd series number it should have the tapered "pencil" barrel. Even series numbers have the heavy "bull" barrel.

That is not entirely true:
10-1 = heavy barrel
10-2 = tapered barrel
10-3 = heavy barrel
10-4 = tapered barrel
10-5 = tapered barrel
10-6 = heavy barrel
10-7 = tapered barrel
10-8 = heavy barrel

 

[Markpixs]

They have about a half dozen listed this way, looks like they came from a humid climate, leather holster and a shortage of oil. Most of the Model 10s, 36s and Colt Cobras, Dick Specials look about the same condition-wise.

 

[oink]

Puerto Rico perhaps?

 

[MajorD]

I bet they tried to write taper in the description and it auto corrected to trooper, just a guess.

 

[jframejoey]

Perhaps auto corrected from tapered? Someone told some one to add that they are tapered and they thought they said Trooper?

 

[cmansguns]

The add shows tapered, not heavy

Just perusing through my Model 10 accumulations and see the following: pics below are left to right

Model 10 no dash, Nickel 5" Tapered shipped April 1959 per Roy

Model 10-5 Blue, 4" Tapered shipped June 1973 per Roy

Model 10-5 Blue, 4" Tapered shipped ??? (never asked)

Model 10-5 Nickel 4" Tapered shipped 1977

Model 10-6 Nickel 4" HEAVY barrel, shipped Dec. 1973 per Roy

The add by the OP clearly shows the taper starting with the step down at the barrel/frame all the way to the muzzle.

Thanks for the post as I had forgotten some of the iconic M10's in the safe....they just don't get out much these days.

 

[Doug M.]

I had not considered the auto-correct possibility, which is kind of funny as I get bitten by that here and elsewhere. The only other choice IMHO is that the seller does not know what they do not know and said something ignorant.

 

[ken158]

"Trooper" is probably something someone at that shop dreamed up for some reason. Just like the guy in the reloading sub-forum referred to wad-cutter bullets as "soup cans". Give me a break. S&W never referred to anything as "trooper"!

Some people just make up stuff and expect everyone else to understand what they would like the meaning to be… (s&w’s have yokes and Colt’s have cranes)

 

[Markpixs]

Appreciate the guidance, will likely make the hour drive, it's a gun shop so worth it regardless.