Model 10

I picked up mine a number of years ago at “my” local gunshop. It was well used, but in good shootable condition with aftermarket grips. Didn’t have one so I bought it.
Since it wasn’t a safe queen, I began to shoot it regularly. How regularly? Well like every time I go outside in my rural setting. Can’t be to careful these days.
I load 148s over 2.7 BE. I call it my RFD load because I carry it on my mailbox walks of 1/4 mile or so. Needless to say, I shoot a lot of rogue pine cones and the occasional tin can sheriff. It goes without saying I reload a lot of RFD loads!
I hardly ever pick up another of my many side arms anymore.
 
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Back many years ago, when I was under the spell of Jeff Cooper and the 1911 mafia, I laughed at the Model 10. Who wanted one of those goofy things? Those skinny grips, that ugly pencil barrel, fixed hog trough sights? ONLY SIX SHOTS? 38 SPECIAL?! Would that even stop a rabbit?

As I got older, I got less dumb. I started to see the beauty of the classic lines of the 38 Military and Police/Model 10. I found out the 38 Special was maybe the best all around handgun cartridge in the world, at least for a revolver. I mean it had served cops and crooks, the armed services, and John Q. Citizen for 100 years of so. Must be doing something right. I'll just say I've had a bunch of them over the years. Today however, I only have one, and that's really enough for me now.

It's a 38 Military and Police, from 1954, so it's almost as old as I am. There is a number stamped on the backstrap that I've been told is likely a NYPD badge number. The S/N falls in a block that were apparently shipped to NYPD, but the records for that batch have been lost. Doesn't matter really. It just looks like it's "been there, done that, and got the T-shirt." The grips are replacement, by a company called Sile. Never heard of them before, but they made a pretty good grip. At least this one is. Speaking of the grip, there is a SS number scratched into the base. Used to be pretty common back in the day. At least whoever had it, didn't use an electro pencil like some idiot I know, who's name will not be used to protect the guilty. (At least HE had the sense to put it under the stocks.) Opps...sorry. Off topic.

It's got rust. It's got scratches. It's got scrapes and bumps. It's got character.

1954RB.jpg

1954LB.jpg


image_50402305.JPG


It likes 38 wadcutters, but I've never seen a 38/357 that didn't.

I like to take it out of the safe at night, while watching TV, and dry fire it a time or two, then just work the action, and turn it over in my hands a few times, and listen for it to tell it's stories. I'm sure it has some.
 
amd6547 said:
My pre-Model 10…
I found it for a bargain price a few years ago. It dates from just before they started using the “Model 10“ stamp…. It is the same age as me, lol.
It had some modern S&W square butt Magna grips on it… I had the PC Magnas and grip adaptor.View attachment 1220084
Click to expand...
LOVE THAT HOLSTER. were did you get it, wish I can find one that worn
 
Here you go Mark. I've been meaning to snap a picture of this one might as well do it now. Got this one back in the late 70's, early 80's maybe...it was before I decided to become a well known semi-pro bass fisherman anyway. It's a Smith and Wesson 21-36 in leather. I had one like it in "Wessonhide" (Faux leather/plastic) too, but ended up throwing it away. As Smith and Wesson did the whole "Wessonhide" experiment apparently. The leather holster is quite good, it's held up well, as you can tell. It's at least 45 years old I suppose? Maybe older. I got it out of the "Box-O-Holsters" for about $5.00 or so. Now I didn't use it a lot, but it's still here. It's lasted longer than hundreds of guns that have come and gone.

image_50424321.JPG


I don't know who actually made them for S&W. I doubt they did it themselves. Maybe someone else knows.
 
CajunBass said:
Here you go Mark. I've been meaning to snap a picture of this one might as well do it now. Got this one back in the late 70's, early 80's maybe...it was before I decided to become a well known semi-pro bass fisherman anyway. It's a Smith and Wesson 21-36 in leather. I had one like it in "Wessonhide" (Faux leather/plastic) too, but ended up throwing it away. As Smith and Wesson did the whole "Wessonhide" experiment apparently. The leather holster is quite good, it's held up well, as you can tell. It's at least 45 years old I suppose? Maybe older. I got it out of the "Box-O-Holsters" for about $5.00 or so. Now I didn't use it a lot, but it's still here. It's lasted longer than hundreds of guns that have come and gone.

image_50424321.JPG


I don't know who actually made them for S&W. I doubt they did it themselves. Maybe someone else knows.
Click to expand...
nice trigger cut on that one!

well know semi-pro! you got some stories to tell!!
 
Gork10 said:
How do you like the Altamonte grips?
Been thinking about ordering a pair for the model 10 I have coming.
Click to expand...
I love Altamont grips. They are very good quality grips and priced reasonably.
On my other K frames I run their Roper grips.
I like the look of the classic panels on my model 10 and J frames.

EDIT: forgot the “10” after Model
 
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CajunBass said:
Back many years ago, when I was under the spell of Jeff Cooper and the 1911 mafia, I laughed at the Model 10. Who wanted one of those goofy things? Those skinny grips, that ugly pencil barrel, fixed hog trough sights? ONLY SIX SHOTS? 38 SPECIAL?! Would that even stop a rabbit?

As I got older, I got less dumb. I started to see the beauty of the classic lines of the 38 Military and Police/Model 10. I found out the 38 Special was maybe the best all around handgun cartridge in the world, at least for a revolver. I mean it had served cops and crooks, the armed services, and John Q. Citizen for 100 years of so. Must be doing something right. I'll just say I've had a bunch of them over the years. Today however, I only have one, and that's really enough for me now.
Click to expand...
You have just now articulated my evolution vis a vis the Model 10. I spent much of the first half of my military career in physical security (what my branch called the military police) and I carried the 1911 (which, aside from the Colt SAA, was what I considered the coolest handgun, nay, the epitome of the handgun, in existence). I sneered at the civilian DOD police that I worked alongside with as they were mandated to carry the lowly S&W Model 10 (with that pathetic LRN ammo).

At some point, my father-in-law gifted me a 4" Model 10 -- totally pristine, pinned barred, from his Vietnam war era days. I wasn't enthralled at first, but each time I took it to the range and put a few cylinders of good-quality 148 wadcutters through it, I slowly became a believer. Plus, I was actually learning to shoot double action, which up til then wasn't my thing.

Probably around 2004 or so, I finally realized that I was in love with old double-action revolvers (both S&Ws and Colts). Then I started noticing them in old movies and old '60s and '70s TV shows. Ah, I thought -- these guns are actually cool.

Now, to me, the sign of a real -- fully evolved -- "gun guy" (or gal) is his (or her) appreciation for the classic older DA revolvers...
 
Here I worked for the USFS for 40 some years and issue guns where a rope walk. Model 19 or the glock but could take a personal weapon if you left a note on the district rangers desk before they got to work. Issue rifles where the rem 700 in .223 and of all silly things a colt AR in .222. And they wonder why I retired..
 
anybody know how to looses the cylinder release latch?

I received a run of the mill Model 10 about a month ago. Feels like it been sitting for a long time. the release is stiff at 1st, but once you work it a little (the release latch) it becomes less stiff. But the day after, it’s stiff again. Tried spaying oil on it but doesn’t help. Should I take it apart and clean the inside of the cylinder, maybe cutback a bit of that spring off. ?

what you guys think?
 
I'm no gunsmith, but the first thing I do with most any used gun is take the grips off and spray Gunscrubber into every nook, cranny, hole, slot, or crack I can find. Wash rinse and repeat as needed...but it's never been needed. Then I'd put a few drops of oil here and there. No particular place. It seems to know where to go. Any excess will run out on it's own.

I suppose IF that didn't take care of the problem, I'd take it to a professional. I'm not afraid to take a casting reel apart, but draw the line at revolvers.
 
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