Model 10 inherited

[Burb-29]

I looked and no serial on box anywhere just a date stamped inside the top Sept.21 1970. The magnas have a 8 written on top cut in a wax pen it looks like very hard to see in the picture.
I would like to thank everyone for your help and suggestions, all will be taken in with the knowledge of your years of experience.

 

[Jim Watson]

Sounds like Washington's Axe.

I don't know about extreme rebuilds like that but I would not attach too much importance to the mismatched box. I have an Outdoorsman that was said to have been sent in for upgrades - red and white sights, TH, TS - and came back in a M27 box.

 

[oink]

A very nice family gun.

In the early 80s I sent a gun in to S&W in the original box. It came back in a different box with stickers stripped off and others stuck on. I learned to never ship to Smith in the original box.

 

[Wiregrassguy]

The Service Department worked on the gun in November 1970 (1170) where it received a standard blue [R - S] refinish. There may be other marks like O or <> on the barrel and cylinder to indicate work/replacement.



The serial number falls in the range of K series serials around 1970 but the frame is much older from the 1948 to 1956 time period. So, IMO, this did not start as a K target frame. I now believe the serial was applied, or modified, when it was refinished and the K was an error. Again, this is just my SWAG. There are some mighty smart experts on this site who might have a better explanation. I hope they weigh in.