My first 10-5 rough out nice in...

[Seabee22]

First, howdy! I have been a lurker here for a long time and just registered.

I picked up this 10-5 today. It is rough. I have only seen a couple guns with this level of serviceable pitting, and one had deer blood all over it and the other had ketchup squirted on it unbeknownst to the owner. (wasn't me, but a good friend. He cried.)

I bought it cause it was cheap. Really cheap. And the barrel rifling is pristine. Also the lockup is great. So this will be a shooter.

Now, can someone do their magic and tell me the year of manufacture for sn#D3697XX?

Also,I am thinking of getting it duracoated since I don't think it will hurt the value any due to the finish being so bad off. Any thoughts on this?

I appreciate the feedback.

 

[armorer951]

Date of birth is 1971-72, according to the Catalog.

 

[Seabee22]

Thank you sir. It's as old as me. Cool.


Any thoughts on refinishing the old girl?

 

[Ashlander]

Well, the grips look good. I think you did well. Model 10s are great guns and they don't have to look pretty to shoot well. Welcome to the forum!!!!

 

[Bosquebass]

My nightstand gun, a 10-6, looks about like yours but is tight and shoots great.
If that gun were mine I'd clean it up and shoot it as is. And grin like a possom thinking about how cheap it was.

 

[pharmer]

The pitting isn't that bad. Call S&W and see if they will slap a factory reblue on it. Of course then it will be too nice to shoot and you'll be looking for another. Joe

 

[billdavidmoore]

Reblue is not costly

I sent my 10-5 into Smith and Wesson for a reblue and it came back pristine. The price they charged was very affordable.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

If you got it that cheap don't throw a pile of money at it.

Enjoy,

Bob

 

[shouldazagged]

I bought a 1967 10-5 that had been coated. It'a been a very satifactory head-of-the-bed gun, and the coating shows little wear.

 

[KEN L]

First, howdy! I have been a lurker here for a long time and just registered.

I picked up this 10-5 today. It is rough. I have only seen a couple guns with this level of serviceable pitting, and one had deer blood all over it and the other had ketchup squirted on it unbeknownst to the owner. (wasn't me, but a good friend. He cried.)

I bought it cause it was cheap. Really cheap. And the barrel rifling is pristine. Also the lockup is great. So this will be a shooter.

Now, can someone do their magic and tell me the year of manufacture for sn#D3697XX?

Also,I am thinking of getting it duracoated since I don't think it will hurt the value any due to the finish being so bad off. Any thoughts on this?

I appreciate the feedback.

Most likely Feb/Mar 1971. I'd clean it up and keep it as is. That gun has character!

 

[retiredbadge8091]

Flitz, Ren Wax and shoot. If you want to refinish something, take a crack at those stocks, but easy on the Tru Oil.

 

[ronnie gore]

model 10

i have got several like that at a great price and i parkerize them, looks better than coating.

 

[OLDSTER]

Pretty darn nice for a 10-5 shooter. Also looks like a good candidate for a S&W refinish if you want. And welcome to the forum

 

[FifthWheel]

It's not rough. It's got character!

 

[viettom]

Smith and Wesson Model 10 revolver

Greetings! I often read the SW forum for review of comments and featured pistols/revolvers.

I was a fresh LT in the Army Paratroopers in 1967, and when orders came for Vietnam, I obtained a SW Model 10, with 4 inch barrel and took it to war with me. I obtained a black leather shoulder holster, and wore it to the field for my first duty as a forward artillery observer.

I developed a rash, then a sore under my left shoulder, and when in the rear on a stand down, placed it with my locked and secured property, than came home with it in 1969.

About 1974 I traded the revolver for some camping gear in a sporting goods store, and of course, have wondered why I did that ever since?

I read this post about the 10-5 and don't recall two screws on the right side of my revolver. I also think the front sight was round, without any fluting on the base? I know it came in a blue box with brown paper wrapper.

I have often wondered what exact model and year of manufacture the revolver I owned may have been?

I have no receipt for the purchase, nor the trade, just idly curiosity about what the old gun may have been?

I know this is no useful post to "help" anyone, but a trip down memory lane with a curiosity that has kept me occupied for a long time!

Tom Coats
Hot Springs Village, ARK

 

[Laketime]

Flitz, Ren Wax and shoot. If you want to refinish something, take a crack at those stocks, but easy on the Tru Oil.

Exactly .............

 

[deanodog]

I like those veterans just shoot it.

 

[Kenny D]

My Model of 1905 4th Change left the factory in 1925. A lots older than yours and hardly any of the original finish on it. I would change a thing on it as it would remove some of the beauty marks it collected over the years. Bought it last year for $245. Took it to a gunsmith and he said he would shoot it and so I did using 148 grain wadcutters. Never had so much fun in my life!

 

[Bobbysixkiller]

It's perfect. I'd let it be.

 

[Dewy12]

Welcome to the forum. Great place to learn as these guys know there stuff. As far as the finish- don't be in a hurry. I'll bet that after you shoot it a few times and get to know the gun, you will be glad if you do nothing to the finish. One of my favorite guns is an old Highway Patrolman that is not pretty (at least not to anyone else). The "character" of the gun will grow on you. Any finish that you put on the gun will make it look just like someone else's gun. Right now, you have a one of a kind and it's yours. Enjoy.

 

[Mark6005]

I questioned what to do with this 10-5 and decided leave as is and not spoil it's character.

 

[hoosier4guns]

I gave $100 for this one from 1975 back in the late 80's. It's always been one of the house and range guns because it will shoot point of aim all day on the combat range. I'll bet if you pull the right grip you will find the serial number matches. The gun has character...if it were mine I would leave it as is..just the usual maintenance. Here's a pic of my old 10-5. Rich

 

[MajorD]

Clean it shoot it I always consider refinishing a waste. On rough guns like this cost of refinish is high and value after such work is usually less than the cost of work, on better condition guns you really tank any collector value so
Lose lose.

 

[Ron M.]

Consider it the Charles Bronson revolver...rough looking but won't let you down. Tough as nails. And won't mind if it gets a bit dirty in the process. Death Wish tough.

 

[spad124]

A couple of years ago I bought an ex-Australian DOC 10-8 from Bud's. Quite a bit of finish wear but the action is still tight and 158 +Ps still go to point of aim. She's a great house and range gun. I left the finish on the 10-8 as it came to me. It's nice to not have to worry about bluing wear.

 

[Seabee22]

well what do you know, the grips sn#matches. Cool. I think she will be left as is. I'll give a range report later today.

 

[Jdavis]

Leaving the model 10 as is and doing a refinish on the stocks is like putting on a fine pair of shoes with soiled work clothes. The stocks match the gun as they are. I'm not a fan of the coated finishes and would rather clean and degrease the metal before applying many coats of Oxpho-Blue to the worn areas (Oxpho-Blue can be applied over existing blue). When done right the results are surprising.

 

[Seabee22]

Range report- Pictures worth a thousand words. That was from the 7 yard line. found a problem though. the ejector would not push the spent rounds out with out a little tapping on the end of the rod.

There was an older gentleman there that saw me having to mess with it and come to find out, he is a retired cop. He said the finish looked like blood etching to him and so did the gunsmith at the range. Well.....

Anyway, turns out there was something in a couple of the cylinders that the bore snake didn't get out. Gunsmith suggested Hoppe's #9 bore cleaner and a good soaking. That did the trick and I will continue to lay waste to the paper targets next week.

Overall, I am pretty pleased. The gunsmith is trying to talk me into a duracoat job. I am torn.

 

[FifthWheel]

Nice shooting Seabee!

 

[MajorD]

From my perspective to clarify what I said earlier refinishes are the best way to waste money that should be used to buy ammo reloading components or other lonely finish challenged guns!
There is another thread here about someone contemplating a refinish on what looks like a 90+ percent gun! Wear on bluing represents use and carry as they were designed- to cover this is something I have never agreed with. If you want a pristine gun then buy new or mint in box then Never shoot and lose the opportunity to fully enjoy the gun.