Unfired Model 10-5 from '69-'70 with box? Shoot or not? w/pics.

[Fish.38]

I've taken a recent interest in shooting handguns while going to the range with friends and borrowing their guns. My dad has been holding on to his father's guns for some time and I asked to buy one of his revolvers. To my surprise, when I went to give him money for one he refused to take the money and gave me one of my grandfather's guns that were passed down to him.

From what I found on the forums it is a K Frame Model 10-5 and the serial number D92xxx dates it around '69-'70 give or take a few years. I also figure it can only shoot regular .38 special rounds. (Serial number of the gun matches the box and the gun has the 10-5 stamp when you swing open the cylinder.)

A gentleman at my gunshop said because it's unfired condition it's worth around $400 and if I clean it and take care of it after shooting, it won't really loose much value. I don't plan on selling and will keep it the rest of my life and pass it down to my son.

I just wanted to fact check myself and the guy at the gun shop and see what everyone else thinks. I don't ever plan on selling it so should I just fire away? I know they made a ton of these so it's not super rare but it seems to be in decent shape.

 

[Engine49guy]

Thats a beauty,
Model 10's are fairly commonplace but grandpas Model 10 is SUPER RARE !
IMO you honor his memorey by bringing his guns to the range and shooting them then passing them on to your children.
Thanks for sharing the gun and story !

 

[rbmac52]

That is truly one of S&W's all-time classics. Of course you should shoot it. Both you, and the gun, deserve it!

 

[hsmith9491]

Cherish and shoot it in honor of your grand father. They were made to shoot. Enjoy it with dad and your son. One can shoot a piece and also keep it in great condition. You will pass many good memories with son and great grand pop's revolver. A safe queen has no memories.

 

[S&W38]

Fish.38: If I wanted to shoot that pristine Model 10-5, I'd feed it standard pressure lead bullet loads only. So used, particularly if used only on a range, and properly maintained, your own grandchildren will probably be using that revolver long after you've passed from the scene.

 

[RussellD]

I would wax it and preserve it. There are lots of shooter grade model 10's out there to enjoy.

Everyone has an opinion..

I have several model 10-5's and they are excellent shooters.

 

[Fox Creek]

The man at the gun store was correct. If maintained properly, not over cleaned or drug around and scratched, it will keep its good looks and a reasonable value. But this is the kind of gun you should never part with. You will regret it if you do one day. Shoot a variety of ammo, and in my opinion, don't worry about +P loads. They are a perfect match for the gun. Stay with it for a while; make it your only gun and learn to shoot it. You will really enjoy doing so. Dont worry about after-market springs or action tune-ups; the more you shoot it, the better it will shoot. Depending on the size of your hands, the only additiona I can recomend is a Tyler T-grip. I have a similar gun, and eventually I did wear out the hand and sent it back to S & W for repair. They do a good job at a reasonable cost on keeping the plain jane guns ticking and in my opinion I would never hold a factory repair back to stock condition as a negative.

 

[*chris*]

I would wax it and preserve it. There are lots of shooter grade model 10's out there to enjoy.

Agreed, Model 10s shoot grade junk is a dime a dozen. If it is truly unfired, why spoil it? If you want to see what it is like to fire a model 10, waltz over to Buds Gun Shop and buy a police turn-in for $269 shipped.

Chris

 

[gregC.]

It's your gun do what you want . The gun dealer sounds right to me , i bought a 586,pre lock , unfired ,took it to the range loaded it up and shot away . If you have enough money to put away mint guns ,good for you , i can respect that . But to me if you cant shoot 'em way have'em ? Clean it , take care of it , dont trash it , it's what it's made for . Then when it comes time teach your son the same , then tell him his GREATGREAT GRAND FATHER LEFT IT FOR HIM . ps i belive +p will be fine in that revolver , you can ck. that

 

[gregC.]

Stupid me , forgot to tell you, nice mod. 10, i like all three of mine . Good luck , Greg

 

[GyMac]

Congratulations on your gun! It's a great one. In my opinion, since you are not going to sell it (and you shouldn't), shooting it can only make it more valuable to you.

 

[GF]

They're only NIB once.

Shooter Mod 10s are an easy find for a coupla' hundred bucks.

How many NIB guns do you own, or have ever seen?

Do what thou wilt.

GF

 

[lamb]

Shoot it

Shoot it, and it will mean even more to you as you get older. Your grandfather saved it for you to enjoy.

You can't bring stuff to the grave.

 

[GypsmJim]

If you just shoot it, you'll reduce the value, so for someone else it'll be just any old run of the mill gun.

If you keep in NIB, it'll appreciate in value, and who knows, some day your grandkids may sell it and make a few bucks.

If you shoot it with your Dad and your kids, and some day pass it down to your grandkids your Grandpa will be up there looking down with pride upon you all. And THAT makes the gun worth a million bucks!

 

[feralmerril]

Heck yes, shoot it! It was your fathers, your grandfathers and will stay in the family. I have guns of my dads that he shot plenty. Were they unfired I honestly doubt they would mean as much to me as showing the useage of a lot of his personal use. Anyone can buy whatever gun and hide it away in a safe, to never handle again. Lets say wild bill hickock had a brace of revolvers, (he did) lets say he put one unfired in a bank vault. The other he used and it probley saved his life. If you had your choice, which one would you want? Sure, thats a far out anology, but is it really? I think its true on a slideing scale. You arent hanging on that gun to sell and make money, its a piece of your family and more so the more its been used!
EDITED: P.S. I have a used one myself from about 1953. I bought it about 6 years ago. I have many more fine and more exspendsive guns in most calibers. Now days this one gets carried about as much as all the rest put together. Thats because it is light, packable, accurate and will do most things I carry it for. That and it saves the finish on my super exspendsive pythons and colt single actions and such.

 

[lamb]

Value

You will always wonder how it shoots. At some point it just becomes another object in your life's collection of stuff. "Most" guns were made to shoot not to immortalize.

 

[Fish.38]

Fish.38: If I wanted to shoot that pristine Model 10-5, I'd feed it standard pressure lead bullet loads only. So used, particularly if used only on a range, and properly maintained, your own grandchildren will probably be using that revolver long after you've passed from the scene.

So you suggest not firing jackets?

 

[semperfi71]

Jacketed bullets at safe velocites will do little damage to the gun's bore. Lead bullets will do less.

If you want to shoot it lead bullets will do anything you need a .38 Special to do if you choose the correct bullet at the correct velocity.

Lead wadcutter target loads are the best for preserving the handgun while shooting it.

Lead 158 grain semi-wadcutter loads at about 850 feet per second are good too and reliable as self-defense loads.

 

[M2MikeGolf]

If you want it as a collector, you most likely shouldn't shoot it.

However, the category you have it placed in has special circumstances. Were it me, I would never sell it either; I have my grandfather's Colt Government Model also given to me by my father, which he carried in WWII, and I really place no numerical value on it, it's pointless. It will never be sold (by me), and could never be replaced. I shoot it, and think of him when I do it. He would be happy to know how much it means to me, but it would not mean much to anyone else.

If a descendant later decides to sell it, maybe they'll think twice if it's been used and is worth a little less. Imagine if your son's grandson inherits that M10. There's a lot of them out there, and probably will be for decades, but not that one.

I say shoot it, in memory of your grandfather. I'm betting he would have wanted it that way. Besides that, it just looks like it wants to be fired...that is one beautiful Model 10. What an heirloom!

 

[chud333]

Fish, Nice mdl 10. Fire away would be my advice. Since you never plan on getting rid of it, why not? As long as you keep it clean and oiled after shooting you will not hurt it one bit. Grandpas guns are especially special. Congrats.


chuck