Model 10 revision overlap question

[BruceGFL]

Hello All,
I am currently working out a deal with my neighbor for some pistols one of which is a Model 10-5, thin five inch barrel. Nothing fancy just in really nice hardly fired condition.
This led me to researching it's potential year of manufacture in my Standard Catalog of S&W Second edition which led to my question.
I now understand these 10-5s were produced from 1962 thru 1977. During that same time period Smith turned out model 10-6s and 10-7s with variations to design and parts? Why did they concurrently turn out three different models,,,or am I missing something in my reading.

Thanks to All for listening

 

[vytoland]

model 10-5..1962....1/10" half moon front sight to a 1/8" ramp - tapered barrel

model 10-6....1962...trigger guard screw eliminated on heavy barrel

model 10-7..1977...gas ring--from yoke to cylinder
...tapered barrel

 

[Absalom]

Hello All,
I now understand these 10-5s were produced from 1962 thru 1977. During that same time period Smith turned out model 10-6s and 10-7s with variations to design and parts? Why did they concurrently turn out three different models,,,or am I missing something in my reading.

Vytoland gave you the detail answer.

In general, the model sequence makes more sense if you understand the basic principle that (starting in 1962) there was always an odd-numbered model with a standard barrel and an even-numbered model with a heavy barrel produced concurrently. For the 1962 to 1977 period, those were the 10-5 (standard) and 10-6 (heavy). It continued with the 10-7 and 10-8 from 1977 to 1988 and so on.

The "shake-out" period following the introduction of model numbers in 1957 and the heavy barrel in 1959 until 1962 wasn't so clear-cut, but guns from that time frame are less commonly seen.

 

[BruceGFL]

Gentleman, I was reading about the changes but never caught on to the standard/heavy barrel and even/odd bit. Very clear now. My sincere thanks for your patience with this newbie question.

 

[SmithNut]

Here's a chart showing the engineering changes....

Good info above, 'cept that the round front sight was gone long before the -5/-6 engineering changes (gone before model numbering).

One other interesting dynamic, the -4/-5 (standard barrel) and -6 (heavy barrel) came around the same time, there-after the even/odd heavy vrs. tapered (standard) barrel engineering change sequence was true.

Before this change in 1962, the opposite was true, the even (no dash, -2) was the tapered (standard) barrel while the odd (-1 and -3) was for the heavy barrel.

Fun stuff......