New to me model 610

[Nframe_is_no1]

Added a new member to the N-frame stable yesterday. It is a model 610 in 10mm auto! I had been interested in adding a 10 mm to the collection for some time and found this one. This is one model that I've encountered only once before in person, when I passed on a 4" at $899, and I know they're not seen often. Price was $699 OTD, which I thought was a good deal, so I jumped on it. Interestingly, this one is a 610-3 and was labeled as a "factory vault gun". It came with the box and papers. It was tagged as a 4" barrel, but the box end label says 3 7/8". My SCSW 2nd ed. only goes as far as 610-2 and says they are out of production. I think I remember seeing on the S&W website that they were bringing back the 610 in 4" and 6 1/2", but when I checked my library of S&W catalogs from 2010 to as far back as 2007 the 610 is not listed in any. I checked the website today and other than an old 2008 PDF file, it's gone from the product listings? What gives? Did they return it briefly and drop it again? I would love to know if this is some type of special run. Here's some pics:

 

[w1mnk]

Women, newborn babies, Corvettes and N Frames. These are a few of my favorite things. That's a nice piece!! I have a 6 1/2" 610, and it is just awesome. Congratulations on the new addition.

 

[scooter123]

S&W re-issued the 610 for just on year, 2009, as the 610-3. I have the 6 1/2 inch version and was really hoping it would be continued for 2010 so I could get a 4 inch companion for it. Now all I can do is surf internet dealers hoping that one will pop up for sale.

Really is a shame it didn't catch on more, with 40 caliber ammo it's the least expensive centerfire revolver you can find to shoot. Currently 38 spl. is 22 bucks a box in my area and 40 S&W from Walmart is only 14.97 per box.

 

[JB4570]

NFrame is no1,
If you ever get bored with this 610, Please drop me a PM

Nice find

Joe

 

[scott625b]

The N-Frame 610 is my favorite gun for competition.

 

[Vfeldman]

Not to be a thread stealer.....I was just in my favorate gun store here in Huntsville. They are holding a 6 1/2 610 for me. No box, pacmayer grips instead of the S&W marked Houges. It is a 610 no dash SN BFA70XX. I can get it for $600 out the door.

Can anyone tell me its value, and approximate year of birth?

Thanks

Vic

 

[Greenbeanie67]

You got a great gun. THe 610 in one fine weapon. I usually carry a Glock 20, or 29-both are 10mm. I have been looking for a 610 2 1/2 or 3 inch wheel gun for some time to go with my semi auto's.
Hard to fine and harder still to find one in a great shape as yours. You are lucky

 

[bishopm14]

S&W re-issued the 610 for just on year, 2009, as the 610-3. .

I bought my 610-3 new in May of '08, and I recall I had been jonesing for one for about six months after reading about the re-issue here.

 

[MWark]

Very nice! The gun is a tank. I have one just like yours (sans lock). I was going to compete with it, now I'm not so sure; I really like the "single- stack". Its one sweet shooter with the 40 S&W. Mine has the original wood grips as well as the S&W Hogue. If I decide to part with it I'll definitely post it here for you guys first.

 

[k22fan]

No Dash

.... my favorate gun store .... [is] ... holding a 6 1/2 610 for me. ... It is a 610 no dash SN BFA70XX. I can get it for $600 out the door.

Can anyone tell me its value, and approximate year of birth?

Thanks

Vic

Get your tail back in there and put money down before they figure out they can sell it for a grand! Out run the radar cops if you have to. I'm sure they'll understand.
There were approx. 5,000 No Dash 610s made in '89-'90. SCSW has the exact number.

Best Regards,
Gil

 

[k22fan]

... Price was $699 OTD, ... It was tagged as a 4" barrel, but the box end label says 3 7/8". ... when I checked my library of S&W catalogs from 2010 to as far back as 2007 the 610 is not listed in any. I checked the website today ... it's gone ... What gives? ... I would love to know if this is some type of special run.

$699 is a very good price, especially for the shorter barrel as short revolver barrels are in vogue. My 610-2's box is also labeled 3 7/8". I've speculated that either someone set the barrel making machinery wrong or it's intended to get an N frame moon clip loader into concealment gun matches that define small guns only as guns with barrels under 4". Your 610-3 may not have been cataloged but it is from a production run sold through all the regular distribution channels, not a special run ordered by a distributor. I remember 610-3s on S&W's website for a few years before they dissappeared last month. My impression is that 610s are such slow sellers that it takes a few years to sell off a production run and then they let demand build up before making another run. Remember, this is a collector's forum where a disporportionate amount of postings are about unusual S&Ws which may give the false impression that the slow sellers sell better than they do.

There have been postings writing that dash 3s have more squared headspacing shoulders than all previous 610 dashes and that dash 3s are prone to shaving bullet material off bullets fired out of .40 S&W cases fouling charge holes faster. Let us know how yours shoots.

Incidently, I'm off to a match with my 610-2 this evening. I enjoy mine.

Best Regards,
Gil

 

[Vfeldman]

Get your tail back in there and put money down before they figure out they can sell it for a grand! Out run the radar cops if you have to. I'm sure they'll understand.
There were approx. 5,000 No Dash 610s made in '89-'90. SCSW has the exact number.

Best Regards,
Gil

It is mine!! Went today at lunch and put it on lay a way.

 

[k22fan]

It is mine!! Went to day at lunch and put it on lay a way.

You'll be glad you got it. These are very accurate guns, don't kick much and are great fun to shoot.

Gil

 

[tdan]

<S&W re-issued the 610 for just on year, 2009, as the 610-3.>

Actually, S&W introduced the 610-3 in late 2003. The spec ord number on my box indicates that this gun was manufactured in late August of '03. Mine looks just like the OP's, except that mine came with the unfluted cylinder. While I have only shot 10mm cases in mine, mild target handloads are very soft shooting. I'm sure this gun could handle pretty warm 10mm loads that would beat up an autoloader. Smith always suprises us every now and then with a small run of the 610's. I'd kinda like to see a PC version with the barrel contour of the 625 PC in 5".

 

[K&Nframe]

You're gonna love it. Mine is one of the most accurate revolvers I own.

Kevin

 

[k22fan]

1st Unfluted Dash 3 I've Heard Of

... Actually, S&W introduced the 610-3 in late 2003. The spec ord number on my box indicates that this gun was manufactured in late August of '03. Mine looks just like the OP's, except that mine came with the unfluted cylinder. ... I'd kinda like to see a PC version with the barrel contour of the 625 PC in 5".

My guess is S&W used up left over dash 2 unfluted cylinders when they made your dash 3 so it may not have the same headspace shoulder angle as most of the dash 3s. I've mosty used the plentiful .40 brass in my dash 2 with which it works great but I have not accuracy tested it at long range yet.

I'd kinda like to see a fluted 610 with a 5" 1950 target barrel profile, i.e. a lengthened mountail gun barrel. Fact is I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

Gil

 

[Shooting4life]

Here is the pride of my s&w collection; my 610 no dash converted to 10mm magnum.

 

[Old Navy]

In my book never say S&W only made such and such or X number, because S&W sure like's to change things w/o letting the world know what they have done. They often do 100 of one model for some retailer or agency.

I would love a 3" or 3 7/8" or 4" as it's often called, to go with my pristine 5" and 6.5" 610's for sure. The 5" hasn't even had 50 rounds fired down the pipe, the -3 has about 200 rounds fired. Hope to get around to shooting them some before winter sets in, but with 4 Dan Wesson's and 2 Colts and there are my rim-fire's 3 S&W auto's and one Colt to work in, then there is my two grandsons that live with us.

Never enough time, or enough energy.

 

[RGPM1A]

I have one of the no dash 610s with a 6 1/2" barrel that I bought about 20 years ago. I bought it to shoot pins and put a Wichita slab comp on it. I was at a pin shoot in Mass one day right after I got it and met up with some S&W gun smiths that were shooting that day. I mentioned that I wished the gun had a lighter double action pull and that the moon clips were easier to load fast to one of them and he said give the gun to me. He disappeared into a van and gave it back to me a half hour later with with a chamfered cylinder and an unbelievable DA and SA trigger job. Its still my favorite revolver to shoot pins, plates and silhouette matches with.

 

[Old Navy]

I have one of the no dash 610s with a 6 1/2" barrel that I bought about 20 years ago. I bought it to shoot pins and put a Wichita slab comp on it. I was at a pin shoot in Mass one day right after I got it and met up with some S&W gun smiths that were shooting that day. I mentioned that I wished the gun had a lighter double action pull and that the moon clips were easier to load fast to one of them and he said give the gun to me. He disappeared into a van and gave it back to me a half hour later with with a chamfered cylinder and an unbelievable DA and SA trigger job. Its still my favorite revolver to shoot pins, plates and silhouette matches with.

When I first got the 610-3 after ordering it through a dealer, I took it home even though it had a bad toolmark spot on the frame and called S&W they sent a UPS ticket. I had also complained that the finish was not satin, but a scratch swirl look that I didn't think much of and would like it an actual satin finish. It came back 10 days later with tool mark gone and beautiful satin finish with almost as nice a trigger on my 5" no dash which is set up as a pin gun.