The Ultimate Model 10 Thread!

[jt1stcav]

My first Smith & Wesson purchase

Just traded in a 6 month old Glock G17 Gen4 9mm semiautomatic for this mint condition 5 inch blued Model 10-5 with numbered grip...an even swap! My local gun shop (Shoot Straight in Lakeland, FL) was selling the Smith & Wesson for $549, and the salesman was only gonna give me $250 for the Glock when the store's general manager walked up to the counter and inquired about the trade. He personally sold all the handguns my retired father has purchased in his store over the years, to include a mint 6 inch S&W Model 29 .44 Magnum revolver, a new Model 637 Airweight, a Colt Combat Elite 1911, even a Desert Eagle .44 Magnum! Since my dad's been a loyal customer and has purchased all his 9 handguns there, Steve decided to cut me a break on the trade in...gave me $300 for the Glock, and knocked the price down on the Model 10-5 to $300! I've always personally enjoyed shooting revolvers over pistols (call me weird), and this '60s(?) vintage 10-5 was just too sweet to pass up in my opinion. I thought I'd have buyer's remorse, but I'm not missing my Glock one bit (and it was an excellent gun)!

 

[jt1stcav]

Sorry for the lousy cellphone picture quality. Since I'm new to S&W ownership, how do I go about finding the date of manufacturer for this 10-5, thru its serial number? Is there a database somewhere for such information? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

 

[M2MikeGolf]

Here are my two:

Model 10-7

Model 10-8

Hey Big Ox, who makes those grips on your 10-7? I gotta' have a set of those!!!

 

[beemerrider]

Thanks for the thread and to all who contributed. I've had a few Mod. 10's over the years. Currently, I have a 90-95% 2" M&P that I bought/traded for on the Forum about 3 years ago. It was made in 1945, SNSN9628xx, and came with a very interesting and high quality spring-clip holster made by HH Heiser in Denver and has floral carving. I also have a 5" 10-5, which is a very nice and accurate shooter. I used to have a 2" mod. 10, however on a trip with a stopover in NY, the Port Authority Police picked it up on x-ray and needless to say, I no longer own that pistol, but that's another long story. In my experience the mod 10's are a lot of gun for the money; accurate, reliable and available in an assortment of barrel lengths. Everybody should have at least one.

 

[C&R Bill]

Thanks for all the great photos in this thread!!!
There is just something that is "old school classy" about a long barrel (5 or 6 in) model 10, especially if it wears the slimmer "police" style grips instead of the larger target grips (I don't know the technical term for the slim grips)

 

[jt1stcav]

Thanks for all the great photos in this thread!!!
There is just something that is "old school classy" about a long barrel (5 or 6 in) model 10, especially if it wears the slimmer "police" style grips instead of the larger target grips (I don't know the technical term for the slim grips)

Indeed! My 5 inch 10-5 has its original K-frame squared walnut Dymondwood checkered service grips (numbered to match the revolver). Since my 10-5 is new to me, my big hands have a difficult time finding that perfect hold since it's so small, but for me, I would never change it out for bigger target grips as I like keeping my piece all original...but that's just me. I do wear GripSwell padded shooting gloves, so that helps me out a lot getting that firm grip.

 

[stantheman86]

The latest Model 10, my 10-14.

My birth year 10, a 10-8 made in 1980.

The very last of the M&P designated revolvers, this one was made in 1956. This one is marked "E. Cleveland PD" . I love 5" and 6" Model 10's and the RB is my favorite grip, so I couldn't pass this one up. The next year the Model 10 numbering system started.

I have several more 10's and M&P's not pictured, a 6" M&P, a 6" 10-5 and a 4" 10-6 I recently acquired. I love the Model 10 along with it's stainless counterpart the 64. I will always have a weakness for what many call the "plain jane" duty guns. If I had to pick a configuration that's my favorite, I would have to go with the 4" Heavy Barrel Round Butt with the 6" models being a close second.

 

[Mickey D]

10-5

Four 10s

 

[M2MikeGolf]

The latest Model 10, my 10-14.

My birth year 10, a 10-8 made in 1980.

The very last of the M&P designated revolvers, this one was made in 1956. This one is marked "E. Cleveland PD" . I love 5" and 6" Model 10's and the RB is my favorite grip, so I couldn't pass this one up. The next year the Model 10 numbering system started.

I have several more 10's and M&P's not pictured, a 6" M&P, a 6" 10-5 and a 4" 10-6 I recently acquired. I love the Model 10 along with it's stainless counterpart the 64. I will always have a weakness for what many call the "plain jane" duty guns. If I had to pick a configuration that's my favorite, I would have to go with the 4" Heavy Barrel Round Butt with the 6" models being a close second.

Hey Stan, awhile back I made a thread asking about the new Model 10s. It got very little interest; I see you have one there and would be interested in hearing your "review" of it as I am seriously considering buying one. The only negative to me (I'm not one of those "IL/MIM" whiners) is the round butt; just seems to me that a 4" HB should be square, but in the end, that's so easy to fix with all the grip choices these days (already have a set of Ahrend's in mind for it). What's your view on it? I want an old one too, but really interested in the new one.

 

[C&R Bill]

Your RB M&P was EXACTLY the "classy" old school police look (sounds a lot better than "the gun that Barney carried"!!!!).
Serously, though, very nice gun.

The very last of the M&P designated revolvers, this one was made in 1956. This one is marked "E. Cleveland PD" . I love 5" and 6" Model 10's and the RB is my favorite grip, so I couldn't pass this one up. The next year the Model 10 numbering system started.

I have several more 10's and M&P's not pictured, a 6" M&P, a 6" 10-5 and a 4" 10-6 I recently acquired. I love the Model 10 along with it's stainless counterpart the 64. I will always have a weakness for what many call the "plain jane" duty guns. If I had to pick a configuration that's my favorite, I would have to go with the 4" Heavy Barrel Round Butt with the 6" models being a close second.

 

[Mike1957]

Nickel model 10-5 with 5" barrel

 

[GJH77]

Well I finally landed a nice little model 10-7. I had been looking for a model 10 for a while, but never could find one that was not beat up, too expensive, or something else was more important to buy. Then saw this yesterday on GB, and could not believe it was still under $200. So now it will join the group as my first model 10. Grips are a little worn but they number to the gun according to seller, and no rings on the cylinder at all. Hopefully it will get here in a week, and I will post a better picture.

 

[pennlineman]

Yep, I like them.

 

[1madss]

I picked up this 1971 10-6 a couple of days ago.

 

[stantheman86]

M2MikeGolf- I actually have 2 of the 10-14's, one that I modified and one that I left stock (in the pic) The one I modified is an absolute tack driver, I added all drop in parts and did the work myself. All I may have done is get Mark at Pinnacle to add a red insert to the front sight. This gun shows that you don't need adjustable sights to have an extremely accurate revolver.

There was a dealer on GunBroker this past winter selling security trade in 10-11's and 10-14's for about $300 each, so I went for a 10-14. He also had 64's so I got a 64-8 from him too. Both are in the pic, you can just see the 64-8 on the bottom. He says he is getting more, so keep looking.

FYI, K-frame square Pachmayr Presentations do fit perfectly on Round Butt K-frames, and there are a ton of round to square conversion grips out there, as you already know with the Ahrends.

I love my 10-14, it shoots just as well and in some cases better than any of my older S&W's. The mainsprings are a bit heavier but the DA pull is slicker, if that makes any sense. There is nothing wrong with the new IL and MIM Model 10's and I would recommend getting one. I'll never part with my two 10-14's and I shoot them often. I use my stock 10-14 for carry once in a while. If the IL is an issue, get the "plug" from Bullseye Smith here on the forums. I have one in my "worked" 10-14.

See if you can pick one up used, since new ones run about $500 or so from places like Bud's. I would also recommend looking at the 64-8's. My 64-8 is scary accurate.


C&R Bill- Thanks! Nothing says "old school cop gun" like a 5" or 6" taper barrel M&P!

 

[M2MikeGolf]

M2MikeGolf- I actually have 2 of the 10-14's, one that I modified and one that I left stock (in the pic) The one I modified is an absolute tack driver, I added all drop in parts and did the work myself. All I may have done is get Mark at Pinnacle to add a red insert to the front sight. This gun shows that you don't need adjustable sights to have an extremely accurate revolver.

There was a dealer on GunBroker this past winter selling security trade in 10-11's and 10-14's for about $300 each, so I went for a 10-14. He also had 64's so I got a 64-8 from him too. Both are in the pic, you can just see the 64-8 on the bottom. He says he is getting more, so keep looking.

FYI, K-frame square Pachmayr Presentations do fit perfectly on Round Butt K-frames, and there are a ton of round to square conversion grips out there, as you already know with the Ahrends.

I love my 10-14, it shoots just as well and in some cases better than any of my older S&W's. The mainsprings are a bit heavier but the DA pull is slicker, if that makes any sense. There is nothing wrong with the new IL and MIM Model 10's and I would recommend getting one. I'll never part with my two 10-14's and I shoot them often. I use my stock 10-14 for carry once in a while. If the IL is an issue, get the "plug" from Bullseye Smith here on the forums. I have one in my "worked" 10-14.

See if you can pick one up used, since new ones run about $500 or so from places like Bud's. I would also recommend looking at the 64-8's. My 64-8 is scary accurate.


C&R Bill- Thanks! Nothing says "old school cop gun" like a 5" or 6" taper barrel M&P!

Thanks for the notes; just what I was thinking and hoping for actually. I'm also interested in the 64s, and have an idea about converting one to 9x19. I have a 619 and the DA trigger pull is so good, I shoot it more often in DA than any other DA revolver I've ever owned; if the 10-14 is like that, I'd be happy. The SA pull on my 619 is almost like a German set trigger, don't know if that's normal, but I really like it. Haven't measured the trigger pulls on it, but it's light and smooth. Again, if these 10s are anything like it, I'm gettin' one, only it's going to be awhile, unfortunately. Will have to satisfy my Model 10 urge with my 547 'till then!

 

[LOBO]

M&P 5" shipped in 1946,

 

[Wiredog]

Don, I have one just like yours! Really nice!

 

[coiler666]

Mr. Saxon, that 10-5 wiff da scratching on it is a true work of art sir

 

[KLNC]

10-9 with 5" barrel, custom LH Herrett's stocks.