Help with ID....

[retiredtech]

Saw this at my Gun Club meeting Thur Night..... two inch Mod 10-5 Marked on BBL 38 S&W TT Trigger & Hammer with a 357 Cylinder ? Dave.

 

[murphydog]

The first .357 Military & Police revolvers were built on 10-6 frames with heavy 4" barrels, prior to the model 13 designation. In fact, here is one:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/guns-sale-trade/162926-wts-s-w-10-357mag-nysp.html

A 2" 10-5 would be uncommon with the TH/TT, and someone outside the factory must have installed the .357 cylinder. The K frame .357s have slightly heavier frames, so I don't think a .357 cylinder in a standard .38 K frame would hold up well.

 

[retiredtech]

The first .357 Military & Police revolvers were built on 10-6 frames with heavy 4" barrels, prior to the model 13 designation. In fact, here is one:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/guns-sale-trade/162926-wts-s-w-10-357mag-nysp.html

A 2" 10-5 would be uncommon with the TH/TT, and someone outside the factory must have installed the .357 cylinder. The K frame .357s have slightly heavier frames, so I don't think a .357 cylinder in a standard .38 K frame would hold up well.

Thought it maybe was a lunch box gun?

 

[BUFF]

Fitting a .357 Magnum cylinder to a .38 Special M&P takes some machine work. The Magnum cylinder is longer on both ends, and the chambers should be recessed if the cylinder is correct for the frame's era. One would have to remove the rear end of the .38 Special barrel, or shorten the cylinder, and rework the cylinder stop lug on the frame or replace it.

Lunchbox gun? Unlikely, the builder would have likely had access to the correct parts to do it right. Murphydog's suggestion is probably correct.

There is also a chance that the .38 Special cylinder was just rechambered to .357. The amount of the rear of the barrel that sticks out from the frame into the cylinder window or cut-out space is notably smaller on a gun with a correct Magnum cylinder.