Re-blued 10-8 is Home!

kbm6893

Member
Joined
Apr 26, 2007
Messages
6,817
Reaction score
7,305
Location
Pennsylvania
Bought a 10-8 from Buds about 2 months ago. Gun locked up tight, but it was rough. I thought I could live with it, but it was bugging me. Yeah, I have more into this gun than it is worth, but I am super pleased with the results. Here are a few "before" pics:









And now the "after"









Stocks are Altamont finger-groove rosewood with medallions. Just couldn't put those Hogue rubber grips back on such a nice gun.

Gun was done by East Coast Bluing, in New Hampton, NY. I saw a video on Youtube with a Model 10 that had been done by them and I was shocked to find out they were 5 minutes from my job, so no shipping charges. Job took just over 6 weeks, which is long for them. They usually do it in 2, but they are a small shop and they were busy this time of year. Whole job cost me $270, but that included a $75 charge for disassembly and reassembly. If you detail strip it, you can save that. S&W quoted me $285 and a minimum of 10-12 weeks. And that was before shipping.

So this one will never be sold, because I have too much into it. But that's a good thing, because although it is not MY duty gun, it was a cop duty gun and I want something nice to pass on to my son one day. My Uncle gave me his duty Model 10 years ago because his son had a drug problem and he didn't want a gun in the house. Years later, when his son was clean, I saw my Uncle at a family event and he asked about the Model 10. I told him I rarely shot it and he dropped the topic. The next day, I shipped it to an FFL near him and when it arrived, I called him and told him to pick up his gun. He was so happy. He fired that 10 more than once on the job (NYPD like me), and killed one guy with it.

Now I gotta wax it. Prints and rub marks are drawn to this!
 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
That Model 10 came out really nice.

I don;t personally have a 10, as I only have magnums, but I have held a few, and they always have the sweetest triggers, and feel right in the hand.

I remember hearing that the S&W Model 10 was the most successful handgun ever made, something like 6 million made in one variant or another. Don;t know if that's true, but I heard it on the Internet, so it;s gotta be.

Enjoy shooting yours!
 
kbm - That looks great! A complete and total transformation - it looks like they did a careful job. Great grips too - do you mind if I ask where you got them? Thanks!
 
kbm - That looks great! A complete and total transformation - it looks like they did a careful job. Great grips too - do you mind if I ask where you got them? Thanks!


Altamont. They have a website and an agreement with S&W to use their medallions. They're real wood and not the cheap plastic wood knock-offs. Cost like 70 bucks delivered.
 
Now you have a firearm you can be proud of. I also chose to do a cosmetic restoration on a 10-8. Like you, I probably have more invested in the gun than it will ever be worth. No regrets though, it turned out pretty nice and I really like the gun.

before:
pix403006367.jpg


after:
10eight3.jpg
 
The right side of the barrel toward the muzzle is hard to evaluate: the photo looks more like touch up cold blue (certainly an artifact of the photo) than a good blue job.

I'm certain that's not the case.

Just illistrates how difficult it is to capture these things photographically.
 
Oh well...

If you have too much in it and you saved/upgraded an experienced S&W that will pass to the next generation for less than some spend in a casino in a few minutes...all of us WIN.

Especially you and yours. Great deal in my opinion. She looks really good and tasteful as well...
 
Last edited:
The right side of the barrel toward the muzzle is hard to evaluate: the photo looks more like touch up cold blue (certainly an artifact of the photo) than a good blue job.

I'm certain that's not the case.

Just illistrates how difficult it is to capture these things photographically.

Yeah. I'm no photographer. Just a quick snap with my camera on my kitchen table. Since it's so close to my job, I stopped in a few times and was able to see the steps in the process. Saw the whole gun totally stripped of all bluing and the hot blue tanks. No cold blue Touch up here.
 
You made the right choice....it looks fabulous.
 
That Model 10 came out really nice.

I don;t personally have a 10, as I only have magnums, but I have held a few, and they always have the sweetest triggers, and feel right in the hand.

I remember hearing that the S&W Model 10 was the most successful handgun ever made, something like 6 million made in one variant or another. Don;t know if that's true, but I heard it on the Internet, so it;s gotta be.

Enjoy shooting yours!

I had a mint 13-2 once. Factory bluing was perfect. Pinned and recessed. Sold it for a profit. Same gun as the 10 just in .357. I've let a lot of mint guns get away over the years. Always for a profit but I miss them. Matter of fact, this reblue project was kind of insurance that I won't sell this one since I'll lose money over the deal.
 
Looks superb -- good show. :)

I remember when you were deciding which way to go and I'd say you made the right call, especially with the good luck of finding a quality refinisher nearby.

Some guns, it doesn't matter if we have more into them than so-called reason might dictate; personal satisfaction and pride of ownership have tremendous inherent value, too, especially with a piece we've deemed a keeper.

I also have the strange notion that guns that quicken our pulse make us better shooters. ;)
 
Kbm - Altamont must have changed their rules or something – sorry to bother you again but the grips on their site don't have the medallion option. Could be that I'm just senile or real slow… Or both!!
 
Kbm - Altamont must have changed their rules or something – sorry to bother you again but the grips on their site don't have the medallion option. Could be that I'm just senile or real slow… Or both!!
When you choose the grip and add it to your cart, there will be an option to add medallions for an additional 10 bucks. I just got these less than a month ago. I'm sure it's still an option.
 
They're ordered sir - Thank-you very much! Talk about a hidden feature on the web site - I've ordered GP grips and inserts from them but not for S&W. I got the rosewood versions ($42) then with medallions and shipping it was $58 ... :)
 
Back
Top