Shear_stress
January 6, 2006, 09:18 PM
After financial constraints forced me to pass on a once-in-a-lifetime Colt 1911A1, I had to bring home one of the guns I've had on long, long, long term layaway. There, I feel a little better.
This gun is an odd one. To the best of my knowledge, it is a S&W 10-9 "vault gun", so-called because it is assembled from a bunch of older parts found in the company vault. Where else are you going to find a Model 10 with a "pencil barrel", pre-lock round-butt frame with grooved backstrap, forged hammer/trigger, MIM thumbpiece, and 1997-vintage serial number (CCKxxxx) that left the factory in 2003? According to Smith and Wesson, my 10-9 was one of several put together by three guys at the Performance Center as part of a "make work" project. S&W wastes neither parts nor time, apparently.
http://www.hunt101.com/img/362486.JPG http://www.hunt101.com/img/362487.JPG
The guns were never cataloged and were more or less dumped on the market . They were sold through Lew Horton as product code 100108, special order number 7335. Production numbers vary depending on who you talk to. I've heard twelve to fifty, but I don't think anyone really knows. Well, maybe Roy Jinks.
Whatever the story, the gun is pretty. I love the combination of the round butt and tapered barrel, as it heightens that classic Model 10 balance. The blueing is flawless too, though an iota lighter in shade than S&Ws of old. Altogether, this gun was probably my only chance to buy an "old school" Smith and Wesson new in the box.
Or, maybe not. I spoke recently with Gene, one of the PC gunsmiths who built the batch of 10-9s, about what else the company has in the vault. Apparently, there are a lot of goodies still waiting to see the light of day. Food for thought.
By the way, if you happen to own one of these guns, as I know at least two people on the S&W Forum do, please drop me a line. I'd love to learn more about them.
This gun is an odd one. To the best of my knowledge, it is a S&W 10-9 "vault gun", so-called because it is assembled from a bunch of older parts found in the company vault. Where else are you going to find a Model 10 with a "pencil barrel", pre-lock round-butt frame with grooved backstrap, forged hammer/trigger, MIM thumbpiece, and 1997-vintage serial number (CCKxxxx) that left the factory in 2003? According to Smith and Wesson, my 10-9 was one of several put together by three guys at the Performance Center as part of a "make work" project. S&W wastes neither parts nor time, apparently.
http://www.hunt101.com/img/362486.JPG http://www.hunt101.com/img/362487.JPG
The guns were never cataloged and were more or less dumped on the market . They were sold through Lew Horton as product code 100108, special order number 7335. Production numbers vary depending on who you talk to. I've heard twelve to fifty, but I don't think anyone really knows. Well, maybe Roy Jinks.
Whatever the story, the gun is pretty. I love the combination of the round butt and tapered barrel, as it heightens that classic Model 10 balance. The blueing is flawless too, though an iota lighter in shade than S&Ws of old. Altogether, this gun was probably my only chance to buy an "old school" Smith and Wesson new in the box.
Or, maybe not. I spoke recently with Gene, one of the PC gunsmiths who built the batch of 10-9s, about what else the company has in the vault. Apparently, there are a lot of goodies still waiting to see the light of day. Food for thought.
By the way, if you happen to own one of these guns, as I know at least two people on the S&W Forum do, please drop me a line. I'd love to learn more about them.