Dating my S&W Model 10

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JennyP410

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Just picked up a Model 10 in great shape for $175. The SN is C 349xxx. I'm not sure how relevant it is, but it has the screw in the frame in front of the trigger. I'm thinking it was produced in the late 50's or early 60's. Would that be correct?

I'd also like to find a set of wooden period grips. It currently has Pachmeyer (sp?) grips. I browsed ebay but didn't see what I was looking for. Any suggestions?
 
Just picked up a Model 10 in great shape for $175. The SN is C 349xxx. I'm not sure how relevant it is, but it has the screw in the frame in front of the trigger. I'm thinking it was produced in the late 50's or early 60's. Would that be correct?

Welcome to THR! Great gun & great price!

I don't have access to The Standard Catalogue of Smith & Wesson right now, but somebody will soon give you the year it was made, I'm sure. Off the top of my head, late 50s/early 60s sounds reasonable.

Midway sells the grips you're looking for(link below), but I'm sure others do as well. I checked out CDNN, but didn't see your specific grips. They may have them, though.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=153409&t=11082005
 
The SN is C 349xxx. I'm not sure how relevant it is, but it has the screw in the frame in front of the trigger. I'm thinking it was produced in the late 50's or early 60's. Would that be correct?

No one answered yet? :confused:

The Std Catalogue indicates your gun was made between 1954 - 1956 (C277555 - C402923). You serial # is right about in the middle, so I'll go out on a limb and guess 1955.
 
Welcome to The High Road.

Photos always help in dating an old Smith & Wesson, but here are a few guidelines that will help you date your revolver.

The front sight changed from a half moon shape to a ramp in 1952.
The upper sideplate screw was discontinued in 1955.
The model designation was stamped on the frame inside the yoke in 1957.
The screw in front of the trigger guard was eliminated in 1962.

From what I can tell from the SCS&W, the C prefix began in 1948 with C1 and ran to 1967, ending with C999999. If you own a four screw gun (no upper sideplate screw, but having a screw in front of the trigger guard) we know by your screw count that your gun was produced between 1955 and 1962. If it has MOD 10 stamped inside the yoke, we can narrow that down to 1957 to 1962. Mr.Borland is correct on the serial number time frame, so I have to assume you have a 1954-1956 gun, probably a 1955-1956 by the screw count, that it lacks the MOD 10 stamp in the yoke, and somebody just told you it was a "Model 10." That being said, only Roy Jinks, the S&W historian can tell you for certain when your revolver left the factory. It is entirely possible that you could have an earlier serialed frame that left the factory at a later date, receiving the MOD 10 stamp. It has been known to happen.

If you do not have MOD 10 stamped inside the yoke, you technically own a Model of 1905 4th Change, also known as a Smith & Wesson Military and Police revolver, not a Model 10.

The walnut magna grips with the diamond surrounding the screw were changed to diamondless magnas in 1968. Thus, we can say with certainty the correct grip for your revolver would be diamond magnas. Diamond magnas came in flat bottom styles and later in a rounded bottom "plainsclothes" style. The lower Model 10-5 in the photo below is a C serialed 1964 gun, (C7946XX) with correct "plain clothes" diamond magnas. These are the correct grips you seek, except yours were likely flat bottom grips. FWIW, each of these Model 10s in the photo wear aftermarket period grip adapters, the black item behind the triggerguard. Diamond magna grips for K frame revolvers occasionally show up on ebay. They usually sell for $25-$35, depending on condition. Just search for "K frame grips." Here is a set. Here is another set. Here is another. Here is one more set. Voila! Here is another with a 338XXX serial number. If you purchase a set off ebay, make certain you get the screw. The original ones for your revolver would have had the serial number stamped inside the right grip.

TwinModel10-5s.gif
 
Wow - thanks for all of the information. I need to check it again for the MOD 10 stamp. I don't believe it had it, but not sure. I was only told that it was a Model 10, so it possible could be the M & P.

I've got to tell my husband about this site - he's a collector, so he'll love it. The neighbors think we're nuts because we have about 15 guns in the house (also have about a dozen at a friend's house in a safe). They just don't understand...:)
 
I have to say I'm a bit jealous. I picked up a Mod. 10 last year for quite a bit more than that. I don't feel too bad as I really like the revolver but that was a good deal you found.

With luck we will be hearing more from you and your husband. You sound like our kind of people! :D:D
 
JennyP410 said:
The neighbors think we're nuts because we have about 15 guns in the house (also have about a dozen at a friend's house in a safe). They just don't understand...
We, on the other hand, think that you're off to a good start. :D

I do know how to spell Welcome, by the way (typo at my post #8, above).

Glad that you're here. :)
 
I have 4x model 10's and a pre model 10 from 1952 and many other S&W's chambered for the .38spl cartridge I'm sure you neighbors would love me:)

Take them shooting! One of my neighbors I did, he now owns 5 guns in the household instead of one. Mostly coutesy of me!
 
Welcome to THR and you got a great buy, I really like S&W pre 10s and would love to find a 1956 some day.(birthyear gun)
I hate to send you away when you just found us, but go visit Smith andwesson forums, they have some great info and you might find a pair of grips.
 
JennyP410 I see

sets of SW wooden original grips at gunshows all the time. As common as the M&P/Model 10 is I would think a pair of the grips would be fairly easy to find. Now study up a little bit in the Catalog of Smith and Wesson and find out what design of grips is right for your gun. The grips had a diamond design around the grip screw opening for years and then that changed. The Catalog will tell all. Enjoy that wonderful gun. My favorite handgun is a Model 10 made in 1976.
 
Dating a gun

Advantages:

1. They shut up when you want them to.

2. They may start out cold, but shoot them a bit and they warm up for you.

3. They never ask you for more.

4. They eat what you feed them.

5. They don't care if you are not blued or stainless steel or camo, etc...

Anybody else have more?

The Doc is out now. :cool:
 
JennyP410 welcome to High Road. You might also check gunbroker .com, they have used grips on there sometimes, and reasonable prices although sometimes the a several sets on one post.
 
my lucky day! re: SW Mod-10

here I was this Sun morn reading msgs and saw the pics of the two
Mod-10s and I thought they look just like my pistol which my uncle
gave me 25 years ago and I never knew what it was because it had no
apparent markings on it other than "38 spl CTG" and I never thought
to open the cylinders and look inside. Sure enough it says MOD-10 !
This discussion thread has solved a 25 yr mystery. Now, if it is not
too much trouble for someone to either tell me or refer me where to
go to find out yr of manufacture with this serial number- D345224

Curiously also, just below the MOD-10 stamp inside the frame
is this number D7997 (could that possibly be dec 1979? )

if anyone can more narrowly pin this down please send direct
to my email address by cutting and pasting this email address.
[email protected]
 
The model 10 was one of the finest revolvers ever built IMHO. I have a 4 screw model 10 dated June, 1960 and a M&P post war transitional pre model 10 dated March 1946. Both are still in excellent condition. I bought them both at gun shows.
 
Welcome to THR, preventec47!

Yeah, there's some folks around here who know a lot of stuff. They're tolerant, too; they even answer my questions. ;)
 
Thanks for the info XavierBreath, now I know that I own a Model of 1905 4th Change produced between 1955 and 1962. At least I know it will handle +P.
 
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