SW Model 10 Deep Clean

[Kris Whiteleather]

A buddy dropped off a SW M10 with 5 screws. He was complaining of a 'clicky' or 'catchy' trigger.

Photo shows level of crud inside. The LH sides were just as nasty as the RH sides.

Poor video of it all taken apart:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCyu0RfvwkU"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCyu0RfvwkU[/ame]

Nothing in there was wet. What looks like oil or grease is really dried tar made up of burnt powder, cleaning solvents and old oil. A good soaking in kerosene, then acetone scrubbing and its good as new.

Thing has not been deep cleaned for about 45 years. It is well designed and well made. I was happy to take it apart.

Anyhow, got it all apart down to impossibly small plungers and springs. All polished up and dry lubed with graphite.

Also cleaned up the frame pins and any holes for screws or pins or plunger assemblies.

A nice, all original Smith. Even the grips are serialized to the frame.

Note: The front screw in the trigger guard secures a plunger and spring assembly, not just a spring as in later models. These come out the screw hole easily enough using a fine piano wire with a hooked tip. Don't try to push it out...its a spring and will bind up on the screw threads...then get away from you when the coil slips off the thread. You will never find it unless you work inside a bag (I work inside a bag with a magnetic surface under it).

 

[sigp220.45]

Nice job!

I bet a majority of gun malfunctions can be fixed with a thorough cleaning.

 

[Kris Whiteleather]

Nice job!

I bet a majority of gun malfunctions can be fixed with a thorough cleaning.

True enough!

However...I would never suggest that every gun owner take off his revolver side plate for a deep clean. It just leads to heartbreak.

I do this for free for members of my club just so I don't have them at my workshop with dis-assembled guns in boxes with buggered screws and missing springs that I have to buy for $10 each on the internet.

 

[Kris Whiteleather]

I should mention that I have an older friend who comes to me periodically. He is 86 years old and has approximately 250 handguns from the good days of SW and Colt

He uses WD-40 and LubriPlate exclusively for lube.....WD-40!

He brought me a half dozen Colt and SW revolvers he wanted me to sell for him on-line. I did dry fire testing in the shop.

I drew the hammer back on several and pulled the trigger...oye. The hammer oozed forward, taking several seconds to close into the frame.

I spent weeks on disassembly and deep cleaning of parts. Everything was in excellent condition. It was only the tar made from WD-40, Lubriplate, dust, damp and woodsmoke that kept them from working.

These could have been cleaned with the side plate on, the stocks off and soaked in kerosene (gasoline works, but it is not as safe). Naturally I took them all down to the springs and plungers and screws cuz I like to see the whole design.

 

[yugolovr]

I once took apart a 1917 that I swore still had dirt in it from WW1.

 

[stansdds]

Dried oil, dirt, powder residue... an' Dubya Dee For-tee! We here at Bubba's Skool of Kitchun Table Gunsmithin use Dubya Dee For-tee for cleanin and lubricatin. If a little squirt is good, a big hose-down is better! If it moves and shouldn't, use duck tape, if it don't move and should, ya soak with Dubya Dee For-tee.

 

[bulletslap]

I took apart a nice old 1920s M&P of mine that I swear was packed full of bearing grease. I bought it at a discount because it was “froze up”.

 

[Pef]

It's not just the old guns. This was in my 60 - 14. It was 18 months old, and only had 250 rounds through it. Bought it brand new in 2011. Found this when I was replacing some springs (I call it "Factory New Gunk"):