Model 10. Finally!

[mrcabinet2122]

Although not actively pursuing one, I have kept my eye out for a 2" mdl. 10 square butt for a couple years now. Evidently they're rarer than hen's teeth around here. The other day I visited one of my favorite gun and pawns that, unfortunately, isn't very local to me anymore. It had actually been a few months since I had darkened their doors.

The owner sees me walk in and, without saying a word, pulls this out and lays it on the counter - a 2" no-dash mdl. 10 square butt! It's no beauty queen, but I just wanted a shooter anyway. A little freckling on the right, but it should clean up decently. Doesn't appear to have been shot much. I think it spent most of its life in a drawer somewhere.

My knowledge of S&W stocks is severely limited, but I can say that they don't number to the gun. Which is good, because if they were, I'd be really ticked at whoever did the scallop on the left side. Are these even the right style for it?

Since it's a no-dash, would that make it a '57-'58 vintage, or am I way off there? Ser. no. is C450xxx.

 

[quinn]

Beautiful condition! I just love M&P snubbies... maybe that is why 3 of them have adoped me... over a number of years. Congrats.

 

[JP@AK]

My knowledge of S&W stocks is severely limited . . . Are these even the right style for it?

They appear to be squared off on the bottom, which means they probably came on a target sight K frame. The Model 10 usually shipped with PC Magnas, rounded on the bottom. Here are a couple pictures:

Since it's a no-dash, would that make it a '57-'58 vintage
Ser. no. is C450xxx.

I see numbers in that range shipping anywhere from March to July, 1959.

 

[DWalt]

Finding a pair of suitable Magnas should be easy. But the originals do have the rounded corners as shown in the above picture. But that is nothing that I would concern myself over.

 

[Alk8944]

By SCSW 3 your gun dates to 1960 by SN. Any time after ca. 1952 a 2" M&P would be expected to have originally had the PC (Plain Clothes) Magna stocks, the ones rounded at the bottom as in Jack's (JP@AK) photo.

Curious, but why did you want a square butt 2" instead of round butt? I have to assume you wanted a range gun more than one for concealed carry? If just intended as a shooter the standard magna stocks your gun now has are a bit fuller, about 3/8" at the butt, than the PC magna and are a more hand filling. Just my personal preference, but a square butt snubby seems a bit anachronistic.

NOTE: I have corrected the manufacture/ship date to 1960, I mis-read the SCSW entry as 1980 the first time. 80 year old eyes don't you know!

 

[Truckman]

Curious, but why did you want a square butt 2" instead of round butt? I have to assume you wanted a range gun more than one for concealed carry? If just intended as a shooter the standard magna stocks your gun now has are a bit fuller, about 3/8" at the butt, than the PC magna and are a more hand filling. Just my personal preference, but a square butt snubby seems a bit anachronistic.

I agree it's personal preference...I own many short barrel revolvers of both round and square butt configuration...The square butt fits my hand better, and since the purpose of concealed carry is the proposed possible need to present for defense, I want what feels best and natural at that instant...I have a 2" SB Model 15-2 and a 3 1/2" SB .38/44 in my current rotation...Both have full size target grips...I have no problem concealing either one in a belt holster...

It's whatever works for the individual......Ben

 

[Baxter6551]

I never thought I wanted a model 10 snub until I saw this 10-6. I still was unsure about the square butt but it is comfy and I knew I had the Eagle Secret Service grips waiting at home for it. The factory Magna grips are rounded at bottom like others have mentioned. Shot a qualification course with it very accurate.

 

[alwslate]

I love the 2" model 10s, have three all RBs. The SB 2" model 10 just doesn't look right to my eyes and just seems like an odd duck.

 

[first-model]

The date estimate of 1958 to 1959 is probably correct (I say "probably" because it's impossible to say for sure without a complete serial number and a lookup in the factory records). The C prefix was used in the 1950s and 1960s.

Mike

 

[chiefdave]

I don't see anything wrong with the OP's revolver, in fact I would consider it a very nice example. Looked in my spares and here are the style stocks that it likely shipped with.

 

[first-model]

One of the grip panels should have the serial number stamped on the inside. A few seconds with a screwdriver would give some indication about whether these are the factory correct stocks or not.

Either way, I think it's a great looking revolver!

Mike

 

[H Richard]

The 2" M&P is hard to pass up. The square bottom Magna's on the 5 screw were numbered to the gun.

 

[Dump1567]

Congrats.

A 2" 10 was on my "must buy" list if I ever saw one. About 2 months ago, I went back to a local pawn to buy a gun I knew they had. Sure enough, a like new Mod. 10 was sitting in the case they had just put out. Since I was already buying one gun, they threw in the model 10 for $375.

 

[JP@AK]

The square bottom Magna's on the 5 screw were numbered to the gun.

Yes. It is a five screw unit. Through 1952, they had the sharp shoulder like yours. Moreover, the squared off butt lasted on the M&P until about 1954, when the PC style was introduced. The non-PC type could show up later, but usually did not.

 

[mrcabinet2122]

Thank you for all the responses and information! Yes, the square butt just fits my hand better, and concealment isn't an issue for me. The grips do not number to the gun, but I'll have to pull them again to be able to share the number on them. Yes, they're serviceable, but that scallop will drive me nuts. Now I know what to look for when roaming the shows.

If it is a 1960, that would make it my first birth year gun, so that's even better! And Dump 1567 - you absolutely stole that one. I paid a little more than I wanted, but nothing stupid, so I don't feel too bad about it at all.

 

[Dump1567]

And Dump 1567 - you absolutely stole that one. I paid a little more than I wanted, but nothing stupid, so I don't feel too bad about it at all.

That particular chain Pawn shop gets guns from other Pawn shops in and out of State to sell there. They've been literally giving guns away at wholesale prices recently. I had to quite going there, as I was just buying guns I didn't necessarily want, but the prices were so low, I couldn't say no.

Now I just call every once in a while and ask if they have any S&W revolvers. It seems the well has run dry over there.

 

[mk70ss]

I had wanted a 2 inch Model 10 for a long time and never found the right one. Then unexpectedly found a Model 15 2 inch square butt and snapped it up. Great find on yours!

 

[Ron In MD]

I'm a fan of M10's , just not snubs, I'm currently looking for 4" HB , 3" would be nice , but I'm sure that's out of my price range.
And then again I need to sell my 1994 Taurus PT92 Compact. Seems to be no love though for Taurus'.
Sorry if this is hijacking a post.

 

[Xfuzz]

Good score...

K frame 2 inch RB's are a favorite and fit my hand better.
However, this 1949 M&P SQ is beginning to grow on me.

 

[rct269]

That scallop which will drive you nuts is CLEARLY there to provide CLEARANCE for what(??), that's right---a "speed loader".

Now, unless speed loaders also drive you nuts, you might want to count your blessings that someone, somewhere along the line, had the presence of mind to render those grips more useful than they were-----all the time being aware of the fact they very likely aren't the style of grips the gun was born with. A very likely alternative would be to get a pair of grips the gun was (also) very likely born with---which might (just might) solve the problem which drives you nuts. Besides that, just think of how nutty you might be if someone had carved their initials in the sideplate with a rusty nail. (Yeah, I know---you wouldn't have that gun in the first place---unless the initials happened to be the same as yours.)

All that said, being a bit nutty sets you apart from at least some of your brethren in this hive---giving you some measure of exclusivity---not a bad thing---especially considering the fact most of us are A LOT nutty!

Viva nutty!

Ralph Tremaine