S&W 10-6 3” Barrel

[Hill536]

I picked this up knowing it was a look alike to the Model 13. It was owned by a Federal Agent and its obvious the action has been worked on as it is butter smooth.

I cannot find a lot of information regarding the Model 10, with a 3” barrel and round butt. Some forum posts tie them into the FBI, New York State Police and NYPD etc.. Others say they were exported to assorted countries.

Any comments appreciated!

 

[roninsan]

They were used by agencies who did not authorize magnums and were exported a good bit. I have one that was from some south American country and was actually in decent shape. They're great carry guns.

 

[stansdds]

Very nice! Is that yellow paint on the front sight or did someone go to the trouble of milling the sight and install an insert?

 

[Tntcwg3]

Very nice, looks exactly like a 13-4 3" that I foolishly let go years ago. Enjoy!

 

[Baxter6551]

Great gun and were those the stocks it came with ?

 

[murphydog]

The factory did not catalog a 3" model 10-6, but there are a fair number of 10-8s in this barrel length that spanned the late pinned and early non-pinned barrel era (1981-'84).

Can you post more photos of the muzzle and front sight? Based on the location of the barrel rollmark, I'm guessing it was shortened from the original 4". Cool gun in any case.

 

[Hill536]

Here are a few more pics of the barrel. I do not think the barrel has been cut. The front sight appears to have been milled and the inset painted yellow.

As said the action has been worked on. I am not a S&W guy but buy interesting guns. I am not up on factory markings so one pic is a shot of the crane which has a few more rollmarks than I think are usual. There is an “x” on the frame under the grips.

No the stocks that it came with were Pachy’s which I sent packing. I mimicked them with an after market k frame stock I had.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[murphydog]

It does look like a factory 3” barrel in the newer images. I suspect a barrel swap but a letter would be definitive.

 

[Hill536]

I just shot it today with .38 +P loads and it is a joy to shoot. All in the black at 25 yards, double staging the DA is smooth. The SA breaks under 3#s and shoots like a target pistol.

Happy I got it! Even more happy that I don’t have to do anything to it.

 

[LEO918]

Great catch, Hill. Here's pic of my 10-8 for comparison.

 

[Kansasgunner]

The 3” standard barrel was a special order on M&Ps starting in the mid fifties. The 10-1s were the first 4” heavy barrels. Not sure when the 3” heavy barrels were first available.
Here is my 10 no dash 3” lettered as special order for Rex Firearms in 1959 and my 10-8 nickel 3”.

 

[stansdds]

Yep, front sight was milled for an insert, I don't think S&W offered that on fixed sight revolvers. It could very well be that your 10-6 started life with a 4 inch barrel and someone replaced the barrel. It might have also originally been a square butt frame. Regardless, it's a fine looking carry revolver. How about a range report?

 

[demkofour]

I’ve got a TURKISH Police 3” model 10-(something) square butt that’s a neat gun with an interesting front sight. Pictures later of the sight and the dash number.

As an aside, years ago when I was a young cop, I went to the Factory with my personal 4” Model 64 duty weapon, and while touring the floors, I had the gun fitted with a duty action job as well as a red insert!

 

[glenncal1]

10-12 years ago or so a bunch of 3" model 10's came back from Australia where they were police issue. Mine is a -7 and if I remember correctly there were a few different dash numbers in the lot. I do remember that I paid $249 for the gun and they sold out pretty fast.

 

[Hill536]

I’m almost positive it is as delivered from S&W. I knew the original owner and the agency we worked for had an armorer that would among other things enhance sights. He probably did the trigger. I had a Model 13 that he installed night sights into inserting a capsule in the front site and rear site channel.

Carrying? I carry a LW Bob Tailed Commander in 38S. Florida weather just does not really allow OWB belt holsters.

The range report is above. The revolver shoots very well plus its fairly soft on recoil with +P ammo.

 

[ladder13]

Lots of 10-8’s have been seen here.

 

[murphydog]

10-12 years ago or so a bunch of 3" model 10's came back from Australia where they were police issue. Mine is a -7 and if I remember correctly there were a few different dash numbers in the lot. I do remember that I paid $249 for the gun and they sold out pretty fast.

I have seen these starting with model 10s, then 10-4, 5 and 7. But these have the standard barrel, not the heavy wide rib version of the gun pictured above.

 

[Hill536]

I learned that the 10-6 I now own was shipped to Faber Bros in Chicago in Nov 1969. He must have bought that gun at least 10 years before I knew him. Didn’t think it was that early.

 

[murphydog]

Did it ship with the 3” barrel?

 

[Hill536]

I am assuming it did! As said I knew the owner and he was a LEO who owned quite a few guns but none had any signs of extensive customization or gun smithing. He passed and I was asked to sell his firearms, which I did at a local auction. I need to get a letter on this.

BTW I got gigged by another moderator for not putting this revolver in the CORRECT 1961-1980 category. It was 1969 and learned that thru this thread. Thank you for your interest.