What we carried in 71, the Model 10-5

[dabney]

The pictured Model 10-5 was "the" local PD-issue in 1971. As a rookie cop of the highest order back then, I was quite proud of my Department-issue Model 10. This was the six-gun I had read about while a student in Junior High, and later High School. The limited amount of resource material I had to read back then had pictures of the Colt Official Police .38 and the Smith & Wesson .38, most likely the Model 10. I remember the pictures reflecting both six-guns in blue steel and four-inch barrels. The standard .38 police load (158-gr. LRN) was what the Department wanted us to use. The .357 six-gun was approved for private purchase and carry, after qualifying at the range with it. Many, if not most, elected to go this route. For a while, my second, and approved-for-duty, double-action revolver was the Colt Official Police. This Colt .38 would remain with me for the next 44+years. I would later opt for the heavy barrel, blue steel Model 10-6 that I recently posted on. The Model 10-5 of this report was an ex-PD issue. Was not carried long before being traded in on new shooting hardware back in the 1970's and I happened to have the 100-bucks needed for its purchase. This classic was always my favorite of the Model 10's, as I just loved that four-inch "standard" barrel with those fantastic fixed sights that allows "quick" target acquisition. The serrated ramped front sight is "super" on post war Model 10's, whether it be in 4, 5, or 6-inch barrel lengths. I fell in with the Model 10-5 from my rookie cop years. Over the passage of many years and many hundreds of rounds launched down range with a Model 10, I became enamored with it. A cop, blast-from-the-past, .38 Service Revolver that never lost its appeal to me for self defense, recreational shooting, and super-strong sentiment for a piece of firearms history that I started out with, very long ago. Thank you my friends. I hope the Model 10 fans approve of this post. It was my duty arm as a young policeman.

David

 

[Iggy]

You had a lot of good company.

 

[kaaskop49]

A truly remarkable gun, given the fact that it is 'plain vanilla' and has no custom features. I've handled 100s of them, mostly security agency turn-ins, and all had a smooth DA, this without custom work and/or spring changing. When the .38 Spl. cartridge and it's bullet shape became dated, it adapted well to the more powerful +P loadings needed for street work.

Ayoob once wrote the 10 by itself brought more cops out of dark alleys over many years than anything else. And with the bull-barrel, I've found it to look larger and more menacing, nothing to sneeze at. In adept hands, it basically shoots itself, and performs well even in it's 2" snub model. It is a gun every handgunner should own. And keep. Let me stop to allow others to continue.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

P.S. These comments also apply to the stainless steel M-64 version.

 

[LEO918]

David: Thanks again for an excellent post. The Pre-Model 10 M&P was my first issued sidearm as well.

 

[max]

The first half of 71, I was carrying a 1911 courtesy of my uncle Sam. Second half I was too broke for anything.

 

[Safetybob]

Amen!
It too was my first duty weapon. And now lifelong friend.
Thanks for the story and walk down memory lane...

 

[dabney]

Undisputed Champion in cop .38's

Without a doubt, hands down, the Model 10 is "the" undisputed Heavyweight Champ in LE .38 Service Revolvers! This coming from old lawman who carried the Colt Official Police for the majority of his 44+year career. The Model 10, in standard or heavy barrel, and in "any" factory barrel length is a timeless, precision built, reliable handgun that I proudly carry today as a lawman. This I do, in the face of some LE Admin-naysayers who prefer the semi-auto pistol for everybody. Thank the good Lord for the "grand-father" clause I fell under in 92. Tight groups still count on qualification day. I give the Model 10 the highest praise and prefer its steadfast reliability and accuracy to current pistol models, now toted.

David

 

[sammyh312]

I started in 1989, and my first duty weapon was an issue S&W 681...Great gun!!! Then it was seven years of a stainless Security-Six by choice, then Glock till I retired in 2015. I still prefer a good revolver.

 

[fyimo]

I never carried a revolver as I didn't have a job that required that. I did get my Dad's 10-5 with 6 inch barrel and it was a excellent shooter. I think the Model 10 is an under rated revolver in a lot of circles. However, if you ever fired one you would end up wanting to buy one.

 

[jimmyj]

Agency at that era issued the Model 64 standard barrel and a little latter the Model 64 heavy barrel. Issue ammo was the 158 grain LRN. Latter the issue ammo was 125 grain JHP. Cop involved shooting after the issue 125 grain JHP involved low abdomen and legs ! At least the older issue of 158 gain LRN hits were POA. The desk bound commandos were at a loss of why ? Jimmy (aka big mouth) advised "Has anyone been to the firing range? If you guys had like me you would know that the lighter bullet traveling faster strikes 2-3 feet lower. Trainers has to teach aim for the upper neck/face to strike the chest !! Jimmy went from a cruiser patrol to a walking beat. (always wondered why ??)

 

[ohioseabee]

Model 19 4" in Don Hume leather circa 77

 

[Old cop]

I just picked up a 4" HB and took it to the range yesterday. I'd forgotten how great is was to shoot this model. Our issue was a Model 15 but I carried a Model 10 in my first police department before changing jobs in the late '60s.

 

[StakeOut]

My Model 10-6 saved my bacon 11 times.

 

[lamarw]

Wonderful thread starter dabney.

I am fortunate to have examples of the three revolvers you mentioned and used during your service. I hope you folks don't mind me sharing pictures of my three.

The one in nickel is a 5" barrel Official Police shipped by Colt on Dec. 22, 1941 (very close to Pearl Harbor). It has a nice Hunter holster. I seriously doubt either were law enforcement issue.

In the picture of the two Model 10's, the 10-5 is the lower revolver in the picture (the standard barrel). Both of these have 4" barrels. I am not sure of the history of the -5, but the -6 was a service revolver with the Mobile, AL police.

My personal favorite of my three is the 10-5.

 

[flagman1776]

When I started as a part time officer, I was told we could sign out an ancient Victory model... there was only one... so worn out it rattled when shaken. There were 6 mis-matched rounds to be had in the Captain's drawer.
We had to provide our own leather, I redyed a Bianchi 5BHL... I liked the high ride for security.
I politely declined to carry the Victory & carried my blue M19. I was told we could get a M66 at a Dept discount but after 6 months of being strung along I bought my M66 at a LGS.

 

[StakeOut]

The Model 10 is/was probably chosen by many Police Departments because it can be shot with better proficiency than any other revolver of it's era by the overwhelming majority of officers in that department and it had a fixed sight.

Old timers are usually resistant to change but the heavy barrel Model 10-6 won the hearts and minds of most that gave it a try.

Naturally there's exceptions to every rule and many of those exceptions showed up to their annual range qualification with a pencil barrel that had not been cleaned or out of the holster since the last range qualification.I saw some that were rusted shut from something spilling into the closed bottom JayPee holsters.

The NYPD,during the years after my joining,would supply every officer with a box of 50 rounds every month and ranges to shoot them.

I heard grumbling from more than a few that they would not use the free monthly ammo unless it was on department time.That's an example of some mentalities when dealing with large departments.Who would monthly practice benefit more,the officer or the department.

Some of the brass even argued against more practice.Their thought was that more practice would make officers use their weapons more as they developed more confidence in their ability.

Ah,police department politics!

 

[dabney]

Just a skip and jump to Qualification Day!

With qualification just around the corner, the past few days have been spent with my partner (Model 10-6) at the range. I had two trial runs shooting the State Course of Fire and didn't fair too badly. The minimum score is "240", out of a possible 300 to pass. I was most fortunate to shoot a "246" on the first try and "276" on the second. Those LE who are still serving or recently retired are aware that the Ga. Course is "supposed" to be revolver friendly and so states at Ga. POST where this thing was concocted up. It is a basic course that has two reloads for me to undertake with my six-gun versus the Glock 21 of my LE associates. Now, I could have threw in the towel in 92 when we transitioned over to the S&W 4586. But, with myself, I just plain out shot "better" with the old Model 10, than the pistol. I made a concerted effort to assimilate in 92 but one nagging and important issue kept manifesting itself; I SHOT BETTER WITH THE REVOLVER! My confidence in my own ability to utilize my Colt Official Police/Model 10 six-guns over-ruled the pistol carry for myself. My friends, I could be of better service to my brother/sister officer backing them up with one of those two mentioned classics in my hand than with a pistol. Thanks to the grand-father clause that allowed me continued revolver carry as long as I qualify. The challenge to qualify each year in this described course of fire, is a very real struggle for me. I frequently go to my Heavenly Father for HIS helping hand in this matter. At 64 now, and 44-years of LE under my ever expanding belt, I need HIS help more than ever. I cannot do the things of youth any longer and pray to make these last few days before retirement. Thank you so much my friends for the informative and kind posts and pics here.

David

 

[pigbike]

The Model 10 is/was probably chosen by many Police Departments because it can be shot with better proficiency than any other revolver of it's era by the overwhelming majority of officers in that department and it had a fixed sight.

Old timers are usually resistant to change but the heavy barrel Model 10-6 won the hearts and minds of most that gave it a try.

Naturally there's exceptions to every rule and many of those exceptions showed up to their annual range qualification with a pencil barrel that had not been cleaned or out of the holster since the last range qualification.I saw some that were rusted shut from something spilling into the closed bottom JayPee holsters.

The NYPD,during the years after my joining,would supply every officer with a box of 50 rounds every month and ranges to shoot them.

I heard grumbling from more than a few that they would not use the free monthly ammo unless it was on department time.That's an example of some mentalities when dealing with large departments.Who would monthly practice benefit more,the officer or the department.

Some of the brass even argued against more practice.Their thought was that more practice would make officers use their weapons more as they developed more confidence in their ability.

Ah,police department politics!

I still have my 10-6 but remember some of the cops with a rusty old revolver in their JayPee. Always amazed me.

 

[Muley Gil]

"The Model 10 is/was probably chosen by many Police Departments because it can be shot with better proficiency than any other revolver of it's era by the overwhelming majority of officers in that department and it had a fixed sight."

More than likely, most departments bought Model 10s because they were cheaper than any other quality revolver.

 

[shouldazagged]

More than likely, most departments bought Model 10s because they were cheaper than any other quality revolver.

Quite possibly, but isn't the key word there "quality"? The 10's may have been less expensive, but cheap is not a term I'd think of. Durable, reliable and accurate, yes.

I've never worked in law enforcement, but those guns surely seemed to save a lot of derrieres for a very long time. And I'm an old guy who loves revolvers, so I'm very biased.