Looking for more vintage info - Model 10

[ABuchholz]

Howdy all!

You all were so helpful with helping me find out about my grandfathers M&P that I bragged on this site. The roused a friend of mine to ask if I might be able to convince you magi's of the magnums, you sages and seers of the SNs to help once again.

The details are:

Fixed sight
Original grips
38 S&W Special Ctg
Yoke number shows D87XX
Bottom of butt shows D236XXX

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

 

[JP@AK]

D236XXX is the serial number (well, four sevenths of it anyway).
It points to manufacture c. 1970. It should be a Model 10-5 or 10-6, depending on the barrel weight. (And assuming it isn't an Airweight.)

 

[JP@AK]

Come to think of it, it could also be an early Model 64. Until 1976, those carried the plain D prefix serial numbers. It this a stainless steel gun?

 

[Targets Guy]

If a magnum it would be a Model 13 from prob 1970. ??

Heavy Barrel

Smooth backstrap and forestrap?

but if .38 cartridge then not a magnum - right?

although the 10-6 was the prototype intro for the Model 13.

 

[JP@AK]

If a magnum it would be a Model 13 from prob 1970. ??

Model 13-1 wasn't introduced until 1974.

 

[ABuchholz]

Guys,

Sorry, I got some additonal information. It looks to me like a standard Model 10 in blue. No magnum, just 38 special. It has a 6" barrel.

 

[JP@AK]

standard Model 10 in blue.
It has a 6" barrel.

I assume by "standard" you mean it is a carbon steel revolver and not stainless. Great.

So we are back to it being either a 10-5 or a 10-6. The difference is that the latter has the heavy barrel and the dash five has the tapered barrel.

 

[H Richard]

He should look at the frame inside the yoke area, it will tell him 10-5 or 10-6.

 

[Targets Guy]

Here is a 10-7 (that will look like yours if a 10-5)



Here is a 10-8 (will look like yours if it is a 10-6)



Note that the examples above are 4" barrels.

 

[ABuchholz]

Thanks for the visuals. Definitely at 10-5. My friend still has the original box it came in. No matter how I beg, he isn't selling. I guess I don't blame him.

 

[Absalom]

......
So we are back to it being either a 10-5 or a 10-6. The difference is that the latter has the heavy barrel and the dash five has the tapered barrel.

I do believe that a 6" barrel precludes the 10-6. Or does it? Was the Heavy Barrel ever offered in any length but 4"? Actually wouldn't have been an unreasonable thing; Colt offered a longer heavy barrel on the OP model.

 

[JP@AK]

I do believe that a 6" barrel precludes the 10-6. Or does it? Was the Heavy Barrel ever offered in any length but 4"?

Good question. I wondered about that myself. I don't believe I've ever seen a 6" Model 10-6. Anyone know?

 

[sandspur6]

All the Heavy Barrel model 10's I ever saw were either 4" or 3".