What is it with the pencil barrel model 10's

[Laketime]

Got to Handle my friends model 10 with that nice pencil barrel today.Its been close to 20 yrs since I had one.There is just something so appealing about this model over the heavy barrel version.My friend had the 5 inch barrel too.How popular is the pencil barrel over the heavy barrel.

 

[John R]

Not sure how popular they are, but I have one that belonged to my dad he got when he was young.
It's a 5 screw and I think he bought it the 30's and I learned to shoot a handgun with that thing.

 

[calmex]

I got this nice Model 10-5 for a song and gave it to my son. He's delighted with it, and it's his first gun. The slim barrel 5 inch Model 10 harks back to a different time when the World seemed less complicated. Perhaps there were the same number of Dillweeds per-capita of population back then as there are now but because there was no Internet or Global Connectivity it sure didn't feel like there were. And one really felt that a six-shot .38 was "'probably enough if you used it right."

I guess for those of us stuck down here, it still has to be enough, but I prefer my Heavy Duty loaded up to the gilders all the same.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I love the pencil barrel and despise the fat barrel. I have squirrel hunted with my 4" "pencil" barrel. SWC's don't cause any more damage that hi-speed .22's on squirrels & rabbits...........Fat barrels & underlugs.........Hate "em".

 

[peterdeb]

Nothing more classic in design that the 10-5 IMHO. However the 10-6 is beautiful in its own right. You have to have one of each!

 

[ryan01]

I have one of each. I never used to think the pencil barrels looked good, but I do now.

 

[Pbchucker]

To me, the pencil barrels just balance better. And I really don't need the recoil-absorbing heavy barrel with a .38sp +P load.

 

[Absalom]

The tapered barrels just look so much classier. And when shooting .38 Special out of an all-steel K-frame, the extra steel of the fat barrel is gilding the lilly; I mean, these days I shoot the same ammo (sparingly) out of a 12 oz scandium-titanium featherweight.

 

[shouldazagged]

My 10-5 is a four-inch standard barrel. I too like the balance of the tapered tube better. And to be honest, I just find it old-school cool.

 

[CO_Kid]

My only model 10 is a 10-6 pencil barrel. Love that gun.

 

[Richard Simmons]

I too find them appealing. Carried one in the military and though it wasn't a Model 10 I remember watching Andy Garcia's character in The Untouchables using a 4" pencil barrel in the train station shoot out and thinking I need to get me one of those.

This is my favorite M10.

 

[DWalt]

Note that S&W never used the term "Pencil Barrel." It's a "Standard Barrel."

 

[Muss Muggins]

Note that S&W never used the term "Pencil Barrel." It's a "Standard Barrel."

Doesn't matter to me what they called it. It's just prettier than the heavy barrel . . .

 

[mstem]

I got my first Model 10-5 with a 4" standard barrel in December. It's never been fired except at the S&W factory & looks brand new. I don't know if I'll ever fire it. It's one beautiful piece of art!

 

[TNDave]

There is something about the skinny barrel Model 10s. The big honking front sight is easy to see and the gun is lighter than the heavy barrel. I think the HB came out as a fad in a time when HB guns were trendy in an effort to modernize the Model 10 a little bit.

My grail gun is a skinny barrel Model 64 but I never see one. We need to be careful talking about them publicly though. The 4" skinny barrel 10's are an underdog and the least expensive Smith out there. We don't want to talk them up if we can help it.

 

[Richard Simmons]

There is something about the skinny barrel Model 10s. The big honking front sight is easy to see and the gun is lighter than the heavy barrel. I think the HB came out as a fad in a time when HB guns were trendy in an effort to modernize the Model 10 a little bit.

My grail gun is a skinny barrel Model 64 but I never see one. We need to be careful talking about them publicly though. The 4" skinny barrel 10's are an underdog and the least expensive Smith out there. We don't want to talk them up if we can help it.

Keep looking for that M64, you won't regret it once you find one.

 

[noshow]

I always felt the HB Model 10 was introduced for more recoil control when carried with the then new +P FBI Load and +P+ Treasury Load. I agree with most that the Standard Barrel wins the beauty contest!

 

[ACP230]

I did not like the "standard barrel" M10 until I shot one.
A buddy has one and I finally got to fire it.
No tin can was safe!

Now, I'm on the lookout for a deal on one.
Missed a couple but won't miss forever.

 

[gmborkovic]

"... talk them up..." you just did. Come Monday morn, every Mod-10 will have increased in cost. Mike , a former Mod-10 collector, 2796

 

[ColbyBruce]

I like all fixed sight K frames, but the round butt standard barrel version model 10 is a personal favorite.

A neighbor dropped this one and skinned it up. He now owns it.

Gave this one to a family member.

I had to have the stainless version...just because.

 

[Mickey D]

I like them all.

10-5

 

[GyMac]

I have one of each. I never used to think the pencil barrels looked good, but I do now.

Same for me. I used to think they were lame when "I was cool." Now that I'm lame (just ask my daughter), they seem cool.

 

[CajunBass]

At one time, when I was under the spell of Jeff Cooper and the IPSC crowd, I looked down my nose at the lowly Model 10, ESPECIALLY the poor "pencil barrel" model. Man who in the world wanted one of those "cheap" (back in those days) things with the fixed sights, that skinny goofy grip, the skinny barrel, and chambered for "just" the 38 Special? Were they even good for shooting rabbits?

Well, I like to think I'm a little smarter now, and the Model 10 is one of my favorite handguns. I've owned a half dozen or so, all with the pencil barrel. I know the factory never called it that, but I do, and so apparently does most everybody else.

It's about as close to "everyman's" gun as you're going to come I think.

Today I only have one. Tried to sell it not long ago, and I'm glad it didn't sell. With it's messed up finish it's about the only gun I've ever seen that Pachmayrs look better on.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I own a couple of Model 10s. They are definitely handsome guns. The 4" is classic (the one pictured is unfired, complete with original box, papers, etc.), and the snubby is no slouch either.

John

 

[calmex]

I like all fixed sight K frames, but the round butt standard barrel version model 10 is a personal favorite.

A neighbor dropped this one and skinned it up. He now owns it.

Gave this one to a family member.

I had to have the stainless version...just because.

Wow! I like them all. We are so hoping our new gunrange will be approved within the next couple of months. Instead of driving an hour and a half through Central Mexican roads we'll now drive 15 minutes to a small town between here in San Miguel and our neighbour to the North, Dolore Hidalgo. (When you hear the term "Dolores Tile" they are talking about ceramic tile that comes out of Dolores, because that's where it's made.)

We intend to have a P.P.C. league and one of the classes we'll offer is a "fixed sight service revolver" class which will allow anything up to and including a 6.5 inch Heavy Duty -- mainly because we actually have one in the group. I think it will be hilarious fun and will just use my own 4 inch HD but my son is quite annimated about using his 5 inch Model 10.

With your collection there you could outfit your own team! I especially like that Model 64, it's so Barnaby Jones.

 

[insomniac]

As soon as I got my mitts on this nice Navy Victory, I just had to find a Model 10.

This 10-7 is like new, possibly unfired, and has the original box/papers. Late '70s vintage.

IMO they just have a classic look that appeals to me.

 

[Laketime]

Note that S&W never used the term "Pencil Barrel." It's a "Standard Barrel."

They never used the term Coke bottle either.

 

[Snapping Twig]

Just paid too much for an unfired 10-5 4" pencil in the box.

To further inflate the value, for me anyway, the box is stamped from the S.F. Gun Exchange. They were an institution in S.F. until the libtards started persecuting them with confiscatory taxes and unattainable zoning standards.

I miss that place, but now I have a piece of them in my inventory... well, another piece anyway - and it's stamped as theirs.

 

[peterdeb]

This thread inspired me to purchase another one. Thanks a lot......and I mean that in a good and bad way. It's a sickness I tell ya.......

When it gets out of jail I'll post pictures.

 

[mesinge2]

My favorite 38 is my engraved pencil barrel model 10. Amazing shooter!