M10 Assembly

Federalis

Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2008
Messages
372
Reaction score
148
City & State/Province
Republic of Texas
Need some guidance and direction from some of the "experts" on this forum...toying with putting a little M10 2-inch together from a parts kit I bought (cheap), Everything exept the frame. Its a round butt and would be used for a concealed carry piece. Would the SW factory have the frames, reassemble it for me and refinish it? Is this a goofy idea and/or at all possible? Comments, ideas, suggestions please....
 
I doubt that S&W would supply a frame, but you could ask.
It would probably cost more then you could buy a new gun.
They will not sell you a frame, and used frames are almost unavailable. When you find one it's luck, and they usually have problems which is why they're for sale.

As to actually assembling a double action revolver from a kit, that just doesn't work.
First, you have to have a frame that's compatible with the version of the parts you have.

Second, most critical revolvers parts like the barrel, cylinder, ejector, joke, and some other parts are individually hand fitted at the factory to a frame.
To fit, the parts are cut to fit. Once cut, they usually won't fit another frame, and in many cases, can't be use at all on your frame because once fitted to another frame, the parts will be undersized. You can't stretch or expand these parts to make them fit.

In the factory, a factor fitter pulls a part out of a bin full of parts and checks to see if it can be used. If not, he just pulls another part from the bin.
You won't have a bin full of parts, so if a part won't work, you'd have to buy another and just hope it will fit.

The bottom line is this: Revolvers are very "old school" and are not like automatics. In automatics, almost all parts can be installed with little or no fitting.
In revolvers most parts are individually fitted during assembly by stoning and filing the parts.
It's at least possible to build a revolver from a parts kit and a pick up frame, but you better have the skills and tools of a master pistolsmith and a ready supply of plenty of parts so you can pick through them to find one that can be used.

I've seen a number of assembled revolvers over the years. I've never seen one that was correctly fitted and in proper adjustment.
This is one of those nice ideas that just doesn't pan out in the real world.
 
dfariswheel's answer was a little overkill, but essentially accurate.

The real issue is that the frame, the major serial numbered component, IS the gun legally. That is the one part that cannot be purchased from any manufacturer, period. If you return a complete firearm to the factory with a damaged frame they will replace it, but they will not sell anyone a bare frame.

And before someone mentions after-market Model 1911 frames that are available, that is true, but no one makes after-market frames for S&W revolvers.
 
Thanks for all the info, it doesn't seem like such a good idea now, think I'll just look for a good used one and go from there!
 
Back
Top