new here: Century barrel-less Model 10 report and questions

DennisT

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Some years ago when I had my C&R license, another FFL and I bought some Parker-Hale stamped new 4" S&W barrels. They've been sitting until I noticed recentlyJ&G sales had, "barrel-less," Model 10 listed for $149. (Probably still selling them) I called my old friend. He ordered 4. Just got mine from him with one of the P-H barrels installed. Yes, I know it has no collector value. I just could not resist finally using one of those darned barrels and it was an excuse to give life back to another Model 10. So not being an expert in S&W, I'm trying to figure some history to the Model 10 itself. It is Century import marked. s/n on butt is AVN68xx. Model mark on crane is 10-7. (1977 - 1988?) It is a 3-screw. Round butt. Strain screw present. Of the 4 my friend got, all have 70%+ blue; nice lock-up, and tight.
Now the mystery we may not solve: ahead of the trigger guard and underneath the crane is stamped, "JP 649." Slightly crude stamp; not a factory stamp. Were it a military rifle, I'd think it could be rack number, etc. Rumor is that Century got these from an off-shore police source. Why barrels were removed....???? Where did they come from????
Comments welcome. Meanwhile, after hours of on-line searching, I cannot find when my revolver was manufactured. Can you help on that from s/n data files...somewhere that I missed. Thankd, Dennis
 
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Now the mystery we may not solve: ahead of the trigger guard and underneath the crane is stamped, "JP 649." Slightly crude stamp; not a factory stamp. Were it a military rifle, I'd think it could be rack number, etc. Rumor is that Century got these from an off-shore police source. Why barrels were removed....???? Where did they come from????
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If you do a search, you'll find several threads in this and other forums with lots of creative guesses as to the origin of the JP + number, but no definite answer.

From the absurd (Justice of the Peace) to the possible but unlikely (Jakarta Police) to the more likely (Jordanian Police). The latter is IMHO the most credible; not only have several commercial sellers, who should be in a better position to know, claimed this, but Jordan did buy S&W, and uses English. But still nothing ironclad.
 
I have no idea how J&G got so many barrel-less revolvers. US laws on import / export of firearms are often unfathomable and the laws of other countries seem to be even wackier. Who knows why it was done?

If you still have those older spare barrels on hand and want to get rid of them, I am sure they would sell quickly in this forum's classifieds.
 
29aholic: thank you for date comment. Not sure how to use that with my AVN prefix, which is different.
Pine Worker: I'll try to work on photos. Have never posted pictures here before.
Still looking for date of manufacturer.
Good forum here; thank you all........
 
Mod 10-7 photos

I hope this works for photos. First time doing it. Comments appreciated. This is intended to be a well cared for but working revolver. P-H barrel was in the white, and bluing never intended to be perfect.
 

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Ordered one of the barrelless mod 10-7s from J&G to use a $20 barrel (Parker Hale) that I had in my junk box. The guns are from South America from what I've heard. Mechanically the lock up and index good. The original barrels were 2" so the extractor rod will have to be changed out. Mine has bluing loss from holster wear and a big nick on back strap. It's a shooter and does quite well as far as single and double action. I'll have @ $250 or so, which I feel is not bad for what I've got. My ser # is AVT 3136 I think made in late 70s.
 
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The triple-alpha serials are a bit confusing.

Based on observed confirmed guns, the SCSW 4th Ed. assigns the AVN prefix to 1987.
 
A 3" or 4" HB on the round butt frame would have some appeal. My eyes won't care for fixed sights, but the platform is otherwise nice. (I had my M66 4" round butted by BMCM, and it was worth it in many ways.)
 
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