S&W Model 10-5 revolver purchase today

[kemper]

I bought a S&W Model 10-5 from my LGS today for $300 out the door. Supposedly owned by a lady who had passed and had worked for the Arkansas State Police as a secretary for years and the troopers gave her this as a retirement gift according to her daughter who sold it to my LGS. Who knows ?

Anyway, it appears to be fired very little, slight turn mark on cylinder. Blue on revolver is 95% +. No muzzle wear really either. Looks like it may have been stored in a nightstand drawer for years.

It has a 4" inch tapered barrel with factory wood grips. There is a screw in the front of the grip and two screws on the right side of the frame.

The serial number on the bottom of the grip is D2165XX
"97254" and the letter "M" are stamped on the crane. 10-5 is stamped inside the frame

Any info as to date of manufacture and approximate value would be greatly appreciated. Was $300 too much to pay for this revolver. I thought it was a decent price. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Black Knight]

The screw on the grip frame is the strain screw. It puts pressure on the mainspring. You always want that screw all the way in tight. If you start having problems with rounds failing to fire check this screw first as they can come loose and back out. I believe the 10-5 was available during the 1960s and into the 1970s. It sounds like you got a good deal on it.

 

[jmace57]

Looks like 1969-1970 for that serial number range.

 

[kemper]

Thanks

Thank you for the useful information

 

[rcmodel]

There is a screw in the front of the grip and two screws on the right side of the frame.

There is a third screw in the side-plate.

But you have to take the grips off to see it.

And as mentioned, the screw in the front of the grip is the strain screw.
It pre-tensions the flat mainspring used in all S&W K, L, & N Frame revolvers.

rc

 

[kemper]

Pics of new to me S&W Model 10-5

 

[303load]

My first hand gun. Bought it over 25 yr ago. My best shooting gun over all and I love it. Just not the capacity of my glock. Enjoy and don't shoot too much +p thru it. Jmo. I've shot every thing. Hand loaded cast lead to jacketed hollow points. Accurate all the way around. Mostly 158 but try the 125s I shoot them more than anything else in it these days. Also try some pachmyr or similar grips.

 

[Zcarp2]

Great revolver at a good price. Still has many long years of service in it. I enjoy mine a lot.

 

[kemper]

My first hand gun. Bought it over 25 yr ago. My best shooting gun over all and I love it. Just not the capacity of my glock. Enjoy and don't shoot too much +p thru it. Jmo. I've shot every thing. Hand loaded cast lead to jacketed hollow points. Accurate all the way around. Mostly 158 but try the 125s I shoot them more than anything else in it these days. Also try some pachmyr or similar grips.

Yes, Pach & Hogue grips can help a great deal. Have them on several of my revolvers, but
I think I'm just going to leave this one bone stock. Plan to shoot and have fun with it, but really bought it more to add to modest collection of quality post war revolvers by Ruger, S&W and Colt. They just don't make them like that anymore. Cool handguns.

 

[Walkalong]

It's worth $300 all day long these days. You did just fine on a great little revolver.

 

[GRIZ22]

Great deal on a "everyone should own at least one" revolver.