Model 10 serial numbers

[StingrayG4]

Looks like this is the place to go with questions about S&W serial numbers. Great resource, I'm glad I wandered in here! I have a couple of Model 10s and I'd like to know the year they were made.

Model 10-6 serial number D5792xx
I've owned this gun for a while and it's the best shooting handgun I've ever owned. Don't think I'd ever part with it.

I'm going to look at a model 10-5 snubnose today at noon. Unless it's been misrepresented by the seller, I'm about 99% sure I'll be coming home with it. Assuming I get it, I'll be back in here with the serial number later today.

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

-S

 

[Barn Boy]

Serial number

Welcome to the forum. You will enjoy it, but it will cost you a lot of money when you get the S&W fever.
Your serial number range is 1973- 1974.

The 2 inch model 10 was made in a square grip and a round grip. The round grip is best for carry, but the square grip fits my hand better for shooting.

Good luck with your purchase and post a picture if you buy it.
Randy

 

[StingrayG4]

Welcome to the forum. You will enjoy it, but it will cost you a lot of money when you get the S&W fever.

I've had it for years. Sadly most of my collection was stolen about 15 years back and I kind of got out of the hobby for a while. Looks like the fever is back full strength now! Most likely I'll be on the prowl for a model 66 before long.

Your serial number range is 1973- 1974.

Thanks a heap! Exactly the info I was looking for and I got it in a matter of minutes. This forum is awesome.

The 2 inch model 10 was made in a square grip and a round grip. The round grip is best for carry, but the square grip fits my hand better for shooting.

I like the square grips better too. I'm pretty sure the one I'm looking at is a square grip.

Good luck with your purchase and post a picture if you buy it.

Actually looking to do a trade, rather than a purchase. The other party seems really interested in what I've got to offer, so like I said, unless he's misrepresented the gun I'll be coming home with it. Pictures will definitely be forthcoming.

-S

 

[StingrayG4]

Just got back from making the trade. Serial number is 58004xx if one of you guys could date it for me, I'd appreciate it.

The bluing is worn, but I think it looks mean. It came with a combat grip with a State of Oklahoma badge on it. He told me he got it from a retired highway patrolman. It also came with the factory grip, which I'll most likely put back on the gun. Everything in the pic for a gun I didn't like and had very little money in.

Edit: I like it better with the factory grips on it. I may try the combat grips on the other one.

-S

 

[SWMod10]

What number speedloaders are those...I need some.

Thanks!

 

[StingrayG4]

What number speedloaders are those.

There's a 10 on the knob if that's what you mean. I didn't know they had numbers. My others don't have a number on them at all. What does the number mean?

-S

 

[s3dcor]

Your second serial number does not match anything I can find. There should be either an S, C, or D in front of a 6 digit or less serial number. The only number you can rely on is the one on the butt as the numbers under the crane are most often assembly number.

 

[true fire]

welcome to the forum very nice pair 10s

 

[StingrayG4]

It's possible that first number is an S and not a 5. I can't find my glasses.

-S

 

[SmithNut]

It's possible that first number is an S and not a 5. I can't find my glasses.

-S

Not going to be an S, the gun is too late for that. It's not a 5 screw, nor 4 screw if the grips are original. The gun is too late for S, probably a D prefix. One other possibility is it could be 5D004xx.
You may need to take the grips off and look at the butt to see.

 

[StingrayG4]

Lets try this again with a picture. I still think my original number ( 58004xx ) was what I'm seeing here. Last two numbers are blanked out.

-S

 

[s&wchad]

Make certain you get the serial off the butt of the gun (I can't tell from your photo, but it doesn't look right). The letter prefix is sometimes a good ways away from the numeric charecters.

 

[StingrayG4]

The photo in my last post is of the butt of the gun. Did I get an oddball?

-S

 

[s&wchad]

That doesn't look like a factory stamped serial number. If you blanked out the last two digits, the number is clearly 5,800,4XX. That's about 5 million numbers too high for a 10-5 and it's missing the prefix ("C" or "D"). I've never seen an overstamp on a serial number either and yours clearly shows one. I think it's been remarked.

 

[StingrayG4]

Is there another serial number elsewhere?

-S

 

[bwsmith2850]

Earlier ones sometimes repeat the SN on the bottom of the barrel, newer ones often repeat it (on the larger frames) on the frame near the model number behind the crane which would be visible when the cylinder is opened. The SN on the grip frame is engraved on the bottom, there may be other numbers along the sides which were for use in the factory.

SN on bottom of grip frame.


SN repeated behind crane

 

[SmithNut]

I agree with s&wchad, those numbers appear to be restamped for whatever reason.
The s/n will appear on the gun in other places, but the prefix may not be on those other places.
You can look at the inside of the right grip panel to see what is stamped there (assuming the grips are original). Also, push the extractor star all the way out, as if you are ejecting spent shells, and look at the underside surface of the star, there should be a number there.
The problem with these later guns is that they may have the prefix imbedded within the s/n (example 5D12345), is that in the places - other than the butt - you may see these number show us as 512345, especially the grips, they normally didn't stamp the alpha letter, either as a prefix or imbedded number.
The older the gun, the possiblity exists for the s/n to appear in more places, for instance on the underside of the barrel (the flat area that is covered from view if the cylinder is closed, swing out the cylinder and look there, I doubt this gun has it there, it appears too late), also check the crane, on the surface that faces the cylinder, you may need to look through the cylinder with a flashlight to see it, or dissassembly may be required.
Good luck

 

[StingrayG4]

I found 61102 on the grip frame and on the crane (on the crane itself, not on the frame under the crane. Also 9101 on the inside of the right grip. I suspect these numbers are meaningless since the one inside the grip is only four digits and the numbers on the grip frame and crane on my other model 10 don't match the serial number on that gun either. Thought I'd mention them anyway.

Should I be alarmed that the serial numbers on this gun have been altered or obscured? Was it possibly just put together from parts?

-S

 

[StingrayG4]

Also, what years were the 10-5s made? I'm guessing that's as close as I'm going to get to narrowing down it's age.

-S

 

[s&wchad]

Should I be alarmed that the serial numbers on this gun have been altered or obscured?

Yes. It's a federal offense to possess a gun with an altered serial number. Have you looked on the underside of the extractor star as SmithNut suggested (use a flashlight)? You may need to clean it with a brush and there may be nothing there, but you should look. It’s interesting to try to figure it out, but it wouldn’t alter my opinion of the gun.
I wouldn’t touch that with a 10‘ pole (figuratively). It’s not worth the risk and besides… it’s too rough and the 10-5 is a very common variation. Return it and get your money back. If the seller won’t take it back, tell him you’re contacting the police and the ATF.

The 10-5 was made from 1962-1977 and only had C or D prefixes.