Model 10-8 with AUS serial prefix

[Oldengineer]

Hello All,
I just purchased a model 10-8 Heavy Barrel with a AUS xxxx serial number. The LGS had two, I bought the best one. The revolver appears to be from some municipality/government. My SCSW book does not recognize this number. I paid about $300 for it. Pictures to follow. Any ideas where this revolver came from?

Thanks, Tom H.

 

[MajorD]

Which shop ? (I live in the area and might want to check the “ lesser condition “ one out!

 

[Hawg Rider]

I picked up this Model 10-8 (ca. 1982, s/n 14D99xx) in a trade with a buddy a few years ago...it was ANIB with the box and goodies. He had purchased it for his daughter, but she refused to carry or shoot it. It wasn't a piece that I intended to keep in my modest collection, so I ended up selling it at a local gun show 2 years ago. I took $425 for it, which may have been a little low, but the buyer and I were happy. Yours was probably an agency trade-in from a security guard company or small PD that was changing over to semi-autos. $300 was a fair price if the finish is nice and it's in decent condition mechanically.

 

[Shibadog]

AUS—-Army of the United States?

 

[murphydog]

Well, it’s a serial number prefix, not a property or arsenal stamping, so a random unrelated finding.

Very rarely S & W would make the SN prefix mean something, such as the CEN prefix of the early model 640 Centennial revolvers. But if you have one with a CAT or DOG prefix, don’t expect it to meow or bark.

 

[22hipower]

Wouldn't AUS be the likely prefix for a 10-8 from 1986? I have a three inch 10-8, AND9790, which I believe is 1986. AUS doesn't specifically show up in the Standard Catalog, that I noticed anyway, but it would be in the same general alphabet soup category timeframe.

Jeff
SWCA #1457

 

[Ameshawki]

The triple letter prefixes are consistently inconsistent. The catalog will usually get you close but there's no guarantee short of a letter.

 

[Oldengineer]

Thank you all for weighing in on this. The revolver clearly saw some sort of law enforcement duty. It cleaned up just okay. I think it is a good shooter.

Tom H.

 

[Alk8944]

Hello All,
I just purchased a model 10-8 Heavy Barrel with a AUS xxxx serial number. The LGS had two, I bought the best one. The revolver appears to be from some municipality/government. My SCSW book does not recognize this number. I paid about $300 for it. Pictures to follow. Any ideas where this revolver came from?

Thanks, Tom H.

If you are really curious simply CALL S&W Customer Service and ask. On guns with the alpha-numeric SNs they can tell you to the day when the gun was "put-up". I haven't asked them if their records available on the computer can show where the gun was shipped or not, but they may be able to tell if it was exported or not. The phone number is 800-331-0852. You will have to respond to several prompts. The worst thing that can happen is you will be out a few minutes of your time.