Need Help with Imported Model 10

[Hawg Rider]

My son picked up this Model 10-6 over the weekend and we're trying to figure out what it is. I don't have the revolver in hand, and am working from the attached photos and from talking with my son. I should have more info tomorrow. Anyway, here goes what I know:
-Model 10-6, 4" Heavy barrel, blued
-Serial no. 3D09065 (1978?)
-Imported back into the USA by Century Arms (CAI) in 2019 in CAI box with label
-Some kind of strange black finish on frame, cylinder, and barrel
-Revolver was wearing Hogue rubber stocks
-Front sight is perhaps stuck into the barrel slot upside down?
-Under the barrel on the flat is stamped "CAI Georgia VT Made in USA"
-Trigger guard is stamped "JP 457"
-Grip frame is stamped "A22"
-Yoke area is stamped "Model 10-6", and "A22" stamped over "21530"
-No obvious foreign import or proof stamps

OK, so what do you think? Was this a S&W export revolver for a foreign police force (JP= Japanese Police)? What is the "black" finish? Looks to me like the front sight blade is stuck into the barrel upside down (ramp into the barrel slot)? The 10-6 was introduced in 1962 and continued until the 10-7 & 10-8 in 1977, so a 3D09065 s/n fits. However, there is no "3Dxxxxx" s/n series listed in the SCSW 4th Ed. It jumps from the "2Dxxxxx" (1978) series to the "4Dxxxxx" series (1979). Would exported revolvers have a non-listed series? I'll have to confirm the s/n tomorrow, and get some more info. The revolver is pretty rough, but my son didn't pay much for it. Any ID help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[JP@AK]

Serial no. 3D09065
there is no "3Dxxxxx" s/n series listed in the SCSW 4th Ed. It jumps from the "2Dxxxxx" (1978) series to the "4Dxxxxx" series (1979).

That is correct, the SCSW has a mistake at that point. 1978 should read 2D80001 - 3D99999.

Would exported revolvers have a non-listed series?

No. At least not in this case.

 

[Ameshawki]

If memory serves I think these were Malaysian Police. No idea on the front sight.

 

[wetdog]

Thanks Jack, I just updated my SCSW.

 

[Alk8944]

The A22 is a fitters/inspectors mark. The 21530 is the "assembly number" used to assure the major fitted components of the revolver stay together during manufacture. Those are the frame, yoke, sideplate and that number will be found on the yoke near the hinge and inside the sideplate. The gun has been re-finished so who knows what the finish is! No idea what the JP is. Same with the front sight, that gun should have a sight integral to the barrel so some after-market modifications have been done to the gun.

 

[SmithNut]

....snip..... Same with the front sight, that gun should have a sight integral to the barrel so some after-market modifications have been done to the gun.

I think you will find that all the heavy barrels on M10's have a pinned in front sight (as well with other heavy barrel M&P's, i.e., M13's and M58's). For some reason the original was replaced by whatever that new sight is, as mentioned above, it might be upside down.

...Pic added...

Here's a 3" M10-8, this one shows the pin in the rib below the front sight, most of the HB guns I've seen have been polished extremely well so that seeing the pin isn't easy, but it's there...

Interesting......

 

[Artyldr01]

If memory serves I think these were Malaysian Police. No idea on the front sight.

I was thinking Singapore, but I am not certain. I am certain it is markings from a police agency in this region, perhaps Hong Kong. As I know, the British used that green paint as a protectant in the tropical climates.

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

 

[Hawg Rider]

Thanks for all the help so far, it definitely answered a question or two! I'm pretty sure that this revolver was a Far Eastern export/import...Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, maybe even India. The greenish finish makes sense for these tropical areas that were under British control. I'll keep digging...maybe even try to contact Century Arms customer service to see if they keep import records. I'll try to find out about the front sight installation today, too.

 

[Ameshawki]

I was thinking Singapore, but I am not certain. I am certain it is markings from a police agency in this region, perhaps Hong Kong. As I know, the British used that green paint as a protectant in the tropical climates.

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

Hong Kong guns were marked "Royal Hong Kong Police" or "C&E". Singapore marked there's "SPF". I've got a Hong Kong M10 and a Singapore Webley.

 

[steelslaver]

That looks like a J&G "gunsmith special" frame with another barrel stuck on it. Who evere did the front sight must have been brain dead.
They were exported with 2" barrels and due to restrictions on importing snub nosed guns they were re imported without the barrels. I think they J&G started selling them at about $160 and finally about $190. I bought 7 of them in all and used them in various projects. The all had the JP marking. If you installed a barrel longer than 2" you also had to replace the ejector rod and center pin.

These were all J&G gun with the JP marking which I legally removed after contacting ATF and finding out it was legal to do so, even though they didn't like the idea.

 

[MajorD]

While I have no rock solid confirmation, it was my impression the JP marked guns came from the Jordanian Police ?

 

[Hawg Rider]

Well, so much for Century Arms Customer Service. Their reply to my request for some background history of this revolver was: "Unfortunately we are not able to discuss this information." Wonder what they're hiding? Anyway, I only own a couple of CAI products...a Romanian/Cugir WASR-10 (AK-47) and a PW87 Chinese copy of a Winchester 1887 shotgun. Both needed quite of bit of internal polishing and stock refinishing to make dependable shooters out of them. I'll probably steer clear of CAI in the future.

 

[Jim Watson]

If it is from someplace with British influence, the paint might be Suncorite, the grandfather of modern coated finishes.