Model 10

[locolobo56]

Local gun store has several model 10 38 specials for sale. Some thin barrel but most are heavy barrel. All are former service revolvers from a local PD. Not interested ( i think) in the light barrel guns but some of the heavy barrel guns are pinned and some are later, unpinned later models. All have medium to severe bluing wear but seem tight enough to be serviceable. The heavy barrel guns are all priced @ $250. The pinned models show heavier wear plus more surface corrosion. My question is are the pinned models more collectible? I mean for the same price are they worth the same amount as the cleaner unpinned models. One of these would make a great companion for my J frame and Pre-victory. Thanks, Locolobo.

 

[bigsteve113]

I have a blued pencil barrel 4" and a stainless heavy barrel (64) 4". I like the pencil barrel better.

 

[FPrice]

Everyone has their own preferences. I prefer the heavy barrels and like the pinned models on the assumption that older "generally" means better built.

I'd buy the best condition pinned model I could find. Maybe two at that price.

 

[Absalom]

.....All are former service revolvers from a local PD. ........The pinned models show heavier wear plus more surface corrosion. My question is are the pinned models more collectible? I mean for the same price are they worth the same amount as the cleaner unpinned models. .......

This is just my subjective opinion:

I don't know how old you are, but I don't think you'll live long enough to see police-surplus, seriously-worn, heavy-barrel Model 10s become "collectibles" in the narrower sense of the word UNLESS they have special markings and might be of interest to a niche collector.
And the words "corrosion" and "collectible" don't really go together very well either.
I'd pick the cleanest, smoothest, tightest from the batch and not worry about pinned or not.

 

[gwpercle]

The obvious answer....Look them all over carefully and get one of each!
You can always sell one later. So many times now I wished I had bought two of a lot of guns because now , plain old shooter grade guns are selling for two or three times what I paid for them just a few years ago.
The police trade in model 64 I have now I got for $150....Should have bought two!
Gary

 

[arjay]

What Absalom said.Buy the gun in the best condition and use it as a shooter.None of these are really collectable.

 

[Hapworth]

Based on condition described, none of the 10s mentioned is collectible and should be purchased only with function in mind; in that regard, the barrel pin is irrelevant.

Buy the 10 that's in the best mechanical condition and enjoy.

 

[Absalom]

It just occurred to me:

You might want to check the serial numbers on the tapered-barrel models just in case there is a pre-Model 10 C-series or even S-series among them. Sometimes pigs do fly .

 

[1TommyBoy]

Local gun store has several model 10 38 specials for sale. Some thin barrel but most are heavy barrel. All are former service revolvers from a local PD. Not interested ( i think) in the light barrel guns but some of the heavy barrel guns are pinned and some are later, unpinned later models. All have medium to severe bluing wear but seem tight enough to be serviceable. The heavy barrel guns are all priced @ $250. The pinned models show heavier wear plus more surface corrosion. My question is are the pinned models more collectible? I mean for the same price are they worth the same amount as the cleaner unpinned models. One of these would make a great companion for my J frame and Pre-victory. Thanks, Locolobo.

Having recently inherited a Model 10-6 with a pinned barrel, I prefer it to the thin, but that is just my opinion. I would get the best condition of the lot and don't look back.

 

[DWalt]

"... if there is a pre-Model 10 C-series."
All C-series will be pre-Model 10s unless Model 10 is stamped on the frame in the yoke area. As will be the last 10,000 or so of the S-series.

There is no "pencil" barrel. Only standard barrels and heavy barrels. I'd probably buy the one in best overall condition (including mechanical) regardless of whether the barrel was pinned or unpinned, standard or heavy. Those are simply matters of cosmetics and personal opinion and preference. Collectibility is in no way a consideration for guns in the condition described.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I don't know how old you are, but I don't think you'll live long enough to see police-surplus, seriously-worn, heavy-barrel Model 10s become "collectibles" in the narrower sense of the word UNLESS they have special markings and might be of interest to a niche collector.
And the words "corrosion" and "collectible" don't really go together very well either.
I'd pick the cleanest, smoothest, tightest from the batch and not worry about pinned or not.

Ditto.

Some very clean Model 10s will appreciate in value nicely, all of them will appreciate in value over time, but collectible is never going to be a term associated with most police turn ins.

What I would do, however, is take an extra look at the heavy barrels and ensure that none of them are .357 Magnums. Those are somewhat scarce and, arguably, could be considered collectible. Being the proud owner of one I can assure you that most folks will just say "Huh?!?!" if you say .357 Magnum and Model 10 in the same breath.

They're all just shooters, bear that in mind, even the .357s. I shoot mine (with .38 Special - no magnum abuse allowed!)- it's excellent!

 

[imakmst]

My two cents is the same as everyone's else: pick the best one, condition wise, buy it, then shoot it.

 

[Hapworth]

...There is no "pencil" barrel. Only standard barrels and heavy barrels...

Brief nomenclature inquiry: understood that "pencil" is a colloquial, non-official term, but how about "tapered"? My understanding is what's called "pencil" is a "tapered" barrel; the barrel profile on, say, a Model 19 is "standard"; and then -- obviously -- a 10-6 or 65 would constitute "heavy"; so three gradations altogether?

 

[Absalom]

Brief nomenclature inquiry: understood that "pencil" is a colloquial, non-official term, but how about "tapered"? My understanding is what's called "pencil" is a "tapered" barrel; the barrel profile on, say, a Model 19 is "standard"; and then -- obviously -- a 10-6 or 65 would constitute "heavy"; so three gradations altogether?

"Standard" is proper nomenclature, while "tapered" is the best descriptive term since it actually references the Model 10 standard barrel's distinguishing characteristic and does not require prior knowledge as to what "standard" is and is therefore much more precise. You ask a NYPD officer of the 1980s what the "standard barrel" of the Model 10 is and he would most likely show you the heavy barrel, because from my conversations with NYPD veterans, that's all the department was giving out by then.

 

[locolobo56]

Thanks guys! I'm almost 60 so they probably won't be collectible before I am. So I'll use my criteria I used on women (before Mrs, Lobo), and go for the tightest and best lookin.

 

[peterdeb]

For $250.00 each, scrape together 500 bucks and get one of each. You'll be glad you did. Then the bug will bite ..........

 

[rog8732]

Thanks guys! I'm almost 60 so they probably won't be collectible before I am. So I'll use my criteria I used on women (before Mrs, Lobo), and go for the tightest and best lookin.

There is NO viable argument to dispute your method of choosing a wife; nor a used revolver !!!

 

[Muley Gil]

Pencil barrel, pencil barrel, pencil barrel!

Since Saxon Pig doesn't post here as much as he used to, I have to bug SOMEBODY!

 

[bronzebow]

where they all 4 inch barrels?

 

[Absalom]

Pencil barrel, pencil barrel, pencil barrel!

Since Saxon Pig doesn't post here as much as he used to, I have to bug SOMEBODY!

Where'd that come from anyways? I've never seen a tapered pencil.