Model 10 delemma

[vsorrentino]

Ok here is my delimma. Just bought a Model 10. Understand that it was circa 1964. Has a lot of holster wear (well carried), dirty, worn grips and a special grip extender also worn but unique. It shoots great. I paid $149.00 for her. So the delemma is:
1) Have the gun re-blued local gun shop $150.00 or by S&W $250.00. Is it worth it?
2) Find new, like original, grips and replace them?
3) Or, scub the hell out of it, and leave it as is showing the character of the gun?

Any thoughts on what you would do will be helpful. Thanks

This is what it looked like day 1 when I got it.

 

[canoeguy]

Any money you spend re-finishing it you will never recover if you ever sell it. If it shoots good, leave it as is, wipe it down with an oily rag each time you handle it, and it should rust no further.

Some folks can't stand the looks of a worn finish, for them the cost of a re-blue is worth it.

 

[semperfi71]

I have a well blue-worn 4 inch M10 that when I see pics and handle actual pristine M10s I think I should find a better one as well.

BUT, I shoot not collect, I got it cheap a long time ago and it shoots to point of aim at 25 yards and into 2 1/2 inches.

I agree with the first poster.

You might consider this. A fine, pristine example of a M10 can still be found. It will be much more, unless you get lucky. However, if you take good care of it, even while shooting it. You will recoup your money and maybe more in the future...if we are allowed to keep them in the future.

It is a nice, warm, fuzzy feeling to pull out a pristine handgun and admire it and even go shoot it. But a comfortable, honestly-worn companion is worth as much or more to me.

 

[SWID]

With a bit of patience you could find a “pretty” model ten for less than you will have in this one if you reblue it.

Having said that, if you send it to Smith they will also make it 100% mechanically, something your local gunsmith may or may not be able to do. If it is OK now I would shoot the hell out of it and worry about how it looks later.

And when did Smith start charging $250.00 for a refinish? I know I’m very special but I don’t think that is why they charge me $100.00 less.

 

[P&R Fan]

Don't re-blue

I wouldn't re-blue it. A well worn M10 is never going to be worth a great deal in our lifetime, but the re-blue would make it less attractive to a collector. You got a great deal on this revolver. Keep the old stocks and get some you like and shoot the heck out of it. But I'd leave the finish as is.

 

[ENGINE18]

IMHO, Option #3. I like it! I really wish I had one like that, and at that price!

 

[Andy W]

3) Or, scub the hell out of it, and leave it as is showing the character of the gun?
Yes.

 

[snakeman32]

I got 2 well worn police trade ins a while back for the same price. I was thinking about having one of them re blued as well. I decided to leave them as is. I like the character that is added to the gun. I use both of them for woods guns. I don't have to baby them and worry about hurting the finish on either one of them. If I were you i would just leave it the way it is and enjoy shooting the snot out of it.


snakeman

 

[Bear Claw Chris Lappe]

Door #3 and enjoy!!!

 

[kpm]

There were several thousand model 10s made in '64. There is nothing particulary special or collectable about that vintage. Yours should be nice to own and shoot as it is.
Agreeing with all that has been said, you do live in one of "those" states. Unlike most of us, it is more difficult for you to just go buy another, better one.
You have to make the choice, I would just maintain it and shoot it. But your circumstances are different from mine.

 

[Beans]

Run it like it is. Enjoy each cylinder full you put down range. My first issue gun was a HB model 10. I still like them.

 

[Art Doc]

You paid $150. Refinish costs $150-$250. Value afterwards will be $200.

Do the math.

Leave it as is and shoot it or sell it and buy a really nice one for $300.

 

[tripledipper]

A son gave me his 1985 10-8 which was only range shot once a year but looks like all LE guns as it was just a tool to him. I just replaced the grips and cleaned and oiled it up. A very accurate shooter. Spend your money on something else.

 

[DWFAN]

Look's like a nice truck gun to me. Everybody needs one. '61 vintage.DW

 

[Texas1941]

If it has any mechanical issues, I might send it back to Smith and have it brought up to snuff. They may not work on the older guns, or have parts, forever.

I wouldn't touch the finish. It is what it is: an honest gun that has seen some miles.

Charles

 

[clang444]

You bought a shooter, so I think you should shoot it.

If it really bugs you, scrub it with a bronze brush then try some cold blue. It's not the most durable finish in the world, but it may surprise you.

 

[donaldw870]

I'm with the others on option 3. Shoot the snot out of it and appreciate it for what it is. If you really want a pretty one, sell it and find one, and it will cost you less than what you have in this gun plus the reblue. In many cases, I prefer guns with wear, and I wish my 1969 10-5 had a little more wear, actually. Enjoy!

 

[luis]

Shoot it, you can always find a 95% or better M10 for $300-$400.

 

[shrew]

I agree w/clang444. I am no expert but, I have restored & refinished lots of non-gun parts by using the "home re-blueing" method. Follow the directions, be patient & be prepared to do several applications & it will look fine & be durable enough for a gun you plan to shoot regularly in my oppinion.

 

[S&W-Keeper]

Shoot the model 10,you can find one in better shape, they made a train load of them.

 

[DGNY]

Model 10 Dilemma

Sometimes it does the heart good to bring back a well-used mechanism to its original appearance and 100% function.

I'll stick my nose out here and suggest you do what you please and amortize Saxon Pig's [correct] math over the years of your pleasure at looking at it as renewed....

And then go get another one to play with as well!

Regards,

Dyson

 

[rkjent]

If you bought it just as a investment, to turn over later for a profit, or to at least not go too far into the hole, I would not invest in the bluing. I would shoot it for awile and sell/trade it. It should make a great shooter until then.

If you think it is a long term keeper, and you would like the gun better if it was better looking, do it. Sometimes just having what you want is worth the price, even if it does not make complete sense.

Besides, if you restore it to a like new condition, you get some pretty cool bragging rights! Tell me the truth, which sounds better. "I shelled out the money and bought this really pretty gun" or "I bought this ugly old gun, spend a few bucks, put some work into it, and now look at it!"?

 

[akguy1985]

here's my beater 10-8 i had

 

[Line Rider]

That's a beautiful gun. It got a lot of character. Leave it as is, oil and clean it and carry it with pride. If not please send to me and I'll find it a good home.

BTW the T grip is great.

 

[mitchshrader]

if you're going to shoot it, leave it alone. if it's going to be a safe queen, have smith put a combat package & reblue on it, and park it till someone with too much money buys it. In spite of the low collectors value, shooter+ grade smiths are getting more expensive every month. I think that collectors havn't quite appreciated that fact. Darn few smiths are bringing under 500$ these days in restored condition. The idea it'd be worth 200$ after restoring is about 3 years old. THIS year, it just ain't so.

 

[vsorrentino]

Hey guys and gals,
Thanks for your input. After reading all you guys had to say, and taking another good look at the gun, I think I am going to leave it as is. It has character, and unqueness the way it is. I took it apart and scrubed the stuff out of it. I took it to the range yesterday and just enjoyed the hell out of it.

You can see it in the video I made. By the way, I did hit that jack of spades from 50' away with it.

YouTube - ADayAtTheRange1.29.2010.wmv

 

[rkjent]

Sounds like you are happy it. That is the only thing that matters.