Iranian S&W revolver mod 10 or 15

[torke khar]

Iranian/Persian S&W Revolver, Mod 10 or 15. If anyone has any info on availability, please let me know.
Also, if anyone knows what their worth, let me know too.

 

[nipster]

That's a model 10.

Certainly interesting, no idea of worth. Normally a model 10 with the 2" barrel would be around $350 in good shape.

 

[mpi]

i believe that's not just an Iranian, but a Savakh sidearm.

 

[torke khar]

i believe that's not just an Iranian, but a Savakh sidearm.

It is possible. never thought about it.

 

[Texas Star]

Is the crest what's called the Sun Lion?

 

[Darkenfast]

Iranian/Persian S&W Revolver, Mod 10 or 15. Looking for one. If anyone has any info on availability, please let me know.
Also, if anyone knows what their worth, let me know too.

That's an interesting looking S&W. I assume that is the Peacock Throne emblem on the sideplate? Can you tell us anything about who would have used these revolvers? Thanks!

 

[palmetto99]

No idea if it would add any extra value, but the crest is pretty darn neat.

 

[torke khar]

Is the crest what's called the Sun Lion?

yes, it is.

 

[torke khar]

That's an interesting looking S&W. I assume that is the Peacock Throne emblem on the sideplate? Can you tell us anything about who would have used these revolvers? Thanks!

No, it's called the sun & lion crest of Iran before the revolution. I think it was used by the police and saavak which was the secret police (FBI).

 

[torke khar]

That crest had been used on all the Persian/Iranian firearms since the Qajar dynasty over a century ago til the revolution in 1979.

 

[C.S.63]

Very nice find!! Congratulations
A letter from S&W should detail when it was shipped, But all else will probably be very elusive.

 

[Texas Star]

I checked, "Small Arms Today", 2nd edition, by E.C. Ezell.

Because I do not fully understand the way possible copyright violations may be viewed on this board, I will not cite the numbers of guns bought, but the author confirms that thousands of Model 10 and Model 15 revolvers were sold to Iran, as far back or further than 1974 and probably up until the 1979 disaster.

After the revolution, SIG and Beretta 9mm handguns were obtained by the present regime.

For further details, or to check fascinating info on guns used in Iran or all over the world, try to acquire a copy of this book. It is NOT the same volume as , "Small Arms of the World", although the author also contributed to that title.

 

[baccusboy]

Oh, there was a guy on Maryland Shooters who found one on gunbroker and bought it maybe a year and a half ago. Jimbob 2.0. Was that you? He also posted a thread on here:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1961-1980/171183-model-10-s-w-shah-stamped.html

 

[Texas Star]

Oh, there was a guy on Maryland Shooters who found one on gunbroker and bought it maybe a year and a half ago. Jimbob 2.0. Was that you? He also posted a thread on here:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1961-1980/171183-model-10-s-w-shah-stamped.html

If you mean me, I'm certainly not "Jimbob. " I just know a little history.

Nor does his literary style match that of anyone else posting in this thread.

These guns with Australian, Iranian, Peruvian, etc. crests mean a lot to some, almost nothing to others. Hard to price them, although known rarity in the USA might be a good clue.

I surmise from the name of the OP that an Iranian gun might mean something to him.

 

[baccusboy]

If you mean me, I'm certainly not "Jimbob. " I just know a little history.

Nor does his literary style match that of anyone else posting in this thread.

These guns with Australian, Iranian, Peruvian, etc. crests mean a lot to some, almost nothing to others. Hard to price them, although known rarity in the USA might be a good clue.

I surmise from the name of the OP that an Iranian gun might mean something to him.

Well, you were using a photo of his gun, as the exact same is in another thread. That's why. I had not bothered to delve into literary style. You must have gotten it off of Google.

I thought you'd might be interested in contacting him, in any case.

 

[surfcc]

Very nice! I also enjoyed reading the posts that followed. When my dad was a USAF Pilot (Ret Col), he flew through Iran many times, including humanitary missions after a devastating earthquake back in the early 60's. Iran was a good ally, prior to the overthrow by radical Islamo-facists.

 

[Texas Star]

Well, you were using a photo of his gun, as the exact same is in another thread. That's why. I had not bothered to delve into literary style. You must have gotten it off of Google.

I thought you'd might be interested in contacting him, in any case.

I think you're confusing me with the OP, the Iranian (?) gentleman. I didn't post any photos, nor have I been to Google on the gun. I just hit the link provided and saw the gun here. But thanks for your help.

Torke Khar-

Thanks for the data on the Phoenix missle system. Makes more sense. That waiter may have been jiving me, hoping for a better tip! I knew that carrier landings take a lot of practice. But I was Air Force, not Navy, and couldn't be sure of what he said.

 

[Jimbob2.0]

Yes the photo in the OP's post is my gun and was taken off another website.

Its Iranian, S&W sold a fairly large shipment (10,000+) to Iran before the fall of the Shah.

Unfortuantely, beyond the history posted by the others, thats about all I know.

Came out of a dealer in the South of all places. Though my FFL used to do private security before the fall of the Shah and said they were pretty common, though have no idea how many got into the states and through what channels. A few folks I know have said they have seen them but those sightings turned out to be the more common peruvian, or in one case the same gun!

Paid to much for it (not crazy money but a lot more than an 85% S&W Mod 10 should go for) but I have a small collection of Persian Mausers and thought it went well with them.

Its not for sale thats for sure (well unless someone throughs super crazy money at me).

 

[Frank46]

Very nice crest on your revolver, matches the one I have on my persian 98-29 long rifle in 8mm. Smoothest functioning bolt action rifle I have ever had. Frank

 

[peyton]

To take this thread back to the 50's, my Grandfather helped build a lot of the airfields in Iran while he was serving with the USAF.

 

[Jimbob2.0]

Very nice crest on your revolver, matches the one I have on my persian 98-29 long rifle in 8mm. Smoothest functioning bolt action rifle I have ever had. Frank

Yes thats exactly why I got it, to go with my 98/29, 49, and a weird midlength I picked up. It wouldnt have been as valuable to me (and even then as noted I didnt pay crazy money) if it didnt fit a subcollection theme I have.

All in

Now all I need is a Model 30 saddle ring and a persian luger to wrap things up.

 

[handejector]

The crest is merely the coat of arms, or the national seal of Iran. Naturally, it is therefore the seal of the ruling house, i.e., the Shah. It does not signify any particular agency.

I bought one NIB in 1978 in a gun shop, priced as a Mod 10. I don't remember what I paid, but it was whatever a 10 retailed for.
I sold it to Collector Firearms in Houston in 1978 for $375.
Pic of the letter attached.
I really was Javett back then.

 

[Jimbob2.0]

The crest is merely the coat of arms, or the national seal of Iran. Naturally, it is therefore the seal of the ruling house, i.e., the Shah. It does not signify any particular agency.

I bought one NIB in 1978 in a gun shop, priced as a Mod 10. I don't remember what I paid, but it was whatever a 10 retailed for.
I sold it to Collector Firearms in Houston in 1978 for $375.
Pic of the letter attached.
I really was Javett back then.

You are absolutely right about the agency issue, its the same as my Persian Mausers and the only reason I got it is as noted above, it fits a niche in my collection.

Thanks for the scan of the roy jinks letter, I have been debating whether to send in for one but suspect all I am going to get is "shipped to x on x date". I thought we might have had the same gun, but they are different serial numbers. By a few hundred.

I have only a couple theories on the origins of these guns, and without more data they are simply that:

1. (as noted in your missive) A handful were sent to distributors with Model 10s by accident.
2. They were part of a lot never delivered due to the fall of the shah, and were sent out as surplus or sold in a limited release to employees or something like that. But I would have thought that there would be records of something like that.
3. They were brought in by trainees in some sort of exchange program or brought back in suitcases, or with diplomatic staff and pawned.

 

[handejector]

4. Overruns.

Like this-
S&W has an order for 500. They want to fill it ASAP. They don't make 500. They make 510 in case a few are blemished, or get dropped, or simply malfunction. After the orders are completed, they dump them thru normal distributors.

 

[handejector]

This thread is about an Iranian contract revolver.

It is not the stage for political discussion, which is a banned topic on this board.

TS, you inspire thread drift with extraneous data on topics.
We really don't need to know everything you can Google on any given subject.

 

[Jimbob2.0]

4. Overruns.

Like this-
S&W has an order for 500. They want to fill it ASAP. They don't make 500. They make 510 in case a few are blemished, or get dropped, or simply malfunction. After the orders are completed, they dump them thru normal distributors.

Ya I saw that one but very possible. I remember when CZ surpluses out their Turkish contract marked frame

 

[VaRecon]

It makes sense that it could have been a surplus of overproduction.
At any rate it is a good looking gun, and an interesting conversation piece.
I'd say keep it, I don't see how it could do anything but appreciate value.

 

[Jimbob2.0]

It makes sense that it could have been a surplus of overproduction.
At any rate it is a good looking gun, and an interesting conversation piece.
I'd say keep it, I don't see how it could do anything but appreciate value.

I am still going to send away for a letter to see if I get the same response as the other gentlemen. I would like to know I'd this one was sent to distributors or sent overseas and brought back somehow.

It has no import marks for sure.

 

[M3Stuart]

I'll bet the shah wishes ji-had one of those when the coup went down!

 

[al shahin]

Many Iranian police officers, still carry S&W revolver, but the ones I have seen in person, look a lot more like model 36. This is the first time I have seen a model 10.
Anybody got one or knows somebody who has one for sale?