Model 10 Identification Problems

[Journey]

Another revolver reached out of the showcase and grabbed me yesterday. Nothing special, just a nice right priced nickel Mod 10-5 in great shape and finish. When I got it home, I stripped it and polished it and put in a plastic bag, When I pulled out the reference books, things started to become interesting. 5th edition Supica and Hanas lists the 10-5 as 1962 production, but the serial number D483XXX is listed as 1972- 1973, D420001-D510000. Mod 10-6 was listed as the first D series serial numbers starting at D1. Stocks are numbered to frame correctly with no diamond which was listed as a 10-6 change in 1968. When I started to enter the new gun into my inventory, the ser# did not match the ser # on the bill of sale. A road trip to the dealer this morning fixed that mistake. I understand that S&W serial #s can be strange at times and that I may not understand all that I'm seeing, but I hope the chase is finished even though I still don't know what it is.

 

[Retired W4]

10-5 started in 1962 and went on from there in the 1D, 2D, etc.

I don't type fast enough to explain the whole thing.

 

[CTSWnut]

My understanding of it is the 10-5 was the thin barrel version & 10-6 had the heavy bull barrel. Both were produced during the same time frame. the next thin barrell version was the 10-7, and Bull version was the 10-8

 

[Journey]

I'm not quite sure what you are trying to say. My gun is marked MOD. 10-5 a 1962 mfg Mod. If it were a 10-6 early production, It may have had some 10-5 frames, but not a 1972 ser # and 1968 grips. It sounds like someone is saying that a Mod 10*5 could have been manufactured from 1962 until 2002 simultaneously with the other model changes if it was stamped 10-5. I sort of understand the model system, I am merely pointing out inconsistences in this gun and looking for comments on this particular gun that meets all the specs for 10-5 physically except the grip diamonds and ser#.

 

[Retired W4]

The dash numbers are engineering changes. Some engineering changes supersede previous changes, other do not, depending on the model and the particular change.
Here is a 10-5 with SN: 2D87374, from 1978.
Different changes came about at different times for the tapered barrel and the heavy barrel. The -6 was for heavy barrel guns and the -7 was for tapered barrels so the 10-5 tapered barrel order did not come until 1977. Is that clear as mud?

 

[MajorD]

10-5 production STARTED in 1962 and continued to the 1970’s ( 1977 I think) so whatever year between 1962-1977 is when the gun was made, no mystery.
As mentioned the 10-5 ( standard barrel ) and 10-6 ( heavy barrel ) were made CONCURRENTLY during that time period.

 

[Yankeetom]

The dash numbers are engineering changes. Some engineering changes supersede previous changes, other do not, depending on the model and the particular change.
Here is a 10-5 with SN: 2D87374, from 1978.View attachment 867036
Different changes came about at different times for the tapered barrel and the heavy barrel. The -6 was for heavy barrel guns and the -7 was for tapered barrels so the 10-5 tapered barrel order did not come until 1977. Is that clear as mud?

Real nice looking revolver

 

[toddimusnimski]

Stocks are numbered to frame correctly with no diamond which was listed as a 10-6 change in 1968.

I think the way the book words things can be a bit misleading. Deleting the diamond around the screw hole was a change order, separate from a "dash" engineering change. It was mandated at different dates for the different grip frame sizes. 1968 falls under the timeframe of both the -5 and the -6, but they only listed it under the -6. Not having the diamond wouldn't identify it as a -6, just as a gun shipped after 1968-ish.

Others please correct me if I've misspoke.

Todd

 

[oldrookey617]

It looks like your model 10-5 is a 1972-73.. Not a 1962.. I have a late 1966 model 10-5, C 87092X, blue, 4" tapered barrel with the grips just like yours, the right grip is numbered to the gun.. they say those grips came out in late 1967, or 1968, but I beg to differ.. maybe this will help.. Just my 2 cents..

 

[MajorD]

Guns and parts remained in storage, or in various states of completion sometimes for months or years before completion or parts use. This explains oldrookeys seemingly 66 gun with later style but serial stamped grips, or newer guns with older parts. As I understand it there might be parts on hand for a low demand model, which is built then stored until an order came in, often resulting in years between production and shipment.
As has been often said in this forum, S&W didn’t waste anything, so if a mix of older style parts could be used to complete a gun at a date much later than the typical era for some parts configurations, they would build it and ship it.

 

[VaTom]

My understanding of it is the 10-5 was the thin barrel version & 10-6 had the heavy bull barrel. Both were produced during the same time frame. the next thin barrell version was the 10-7, and Bull version was the 10-8

^^^ Correct. 10-7 and 10-8 1977. Gas ring change from yoke to cylinder on both. (SCSW 4th Ed.) 10-5 was made from 1962-1977. My 10-7 from 1979

my 10-7 from 1979.

 

[MelvinWalker]

Another revolver reached out of the showcase and grabbed me yesterday. Nothing special, just a nice right priced nickel Mod 10-5 in great shape and finish. When I got it home, I stripped it and polished it and put in a plastic bag, When I pulled out the reference books, things started to become interesting. 5th edition Supica and Hanas lists the 10-5 as 1962 production, but the serial number D483XXX is listed as 1972- 1973, D420001-D510000. Mod 10-6 was listed as the first D series serial numbers starting at D1. Stocks are numbered to frame correctly with no diamond which was listed as a 10-6 change in 1968. When I started to enter the new gun into my inventory, the ser# did not match the ser # on the bill of sale. A road trip to the dealer this morning fixed that mistake. I understand that S&W serial #s can be strange at times and that I may not understand all that I'm seeing, but I hope the chase is finished even though I still don't know what it is.

View attachment 866997View attachment 866998View attachment 866999

You gun was shipped around December of 1972...You are reading the small design changes as incremental serial numbers and it doesn't work exactly like that.

 

[Martin67]

10-5 was made from 1962-1977. They started with a letter C. As the numbers got higher around 1967-8 the letter went up to a D. Sounds like a 10-5 with a 1972 date. A great piece to own and shoot

 

[Journey]

I like the fact that I can buy old good used revolvers, some of which seem to have never been shot, for half or less than current production of the same model. I feel that most of what I buy were made in a time when quality was still ensured by employees who felt they had a vested interest in the future of their company.