Three-inch M10 skinny barrel - - -
Dienekes describes a revolver I obtained in about 1989, except mine has a round butt.
A friend ordered three or four of these - - I believe from the John Jovino outfit. He chose his - -nearly "As New" but it had been fired- - and gave me next pick. Mine was about a 95% piece, with excellent factory wooden stocks. The standard profile barrel (
not the HB? had an interesting front sight - - Looked like that on a Chiefs Special, with the ramped sight beginning at the frame and running forward.
We were told by someone that these were from a small run made for Postal Inspectors. He pulled the barrel and installed it in a round butt model 12 frame - - Now, THAT was nifty little carry resolver. My friend died in '93, and I just couldn't afford to buy everything I wanted in the estate sale . . . . Sure wish I'd gotten that particular piece, though.
I still "kinda" own my copy, but - - - I'd had an S&W trained armorer go through it. He had a spare hammer and trigger. He de-spurred the hammer, fitted it and the smooth trigger to my revolver, and put an unbelievably smooth action job on it. He then returned the original parts, in case I ever wanted to retrofit the whole thing.
I kept it and shot it for several years, but almost never carried it. My ex-wife - - still a good friend - - is afflicted with terribly debilitating arthritis, and cannot comfortably operate her Chief Special, nor any auto pistol. The super slick M10 3" is on more-or-less permanent loan to her. It is compact enough to ride in her purse and heavy enough so that she can shoot standard velocity LSWC loads. The revolver soldiers on, and gives that gentle social worker a defense option she wouldn't have with a different handgun. Works for me.
Johnny
