My New/Old model 10

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Jkwas

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Boca Raton Fl. "The Gunshine State"
Just got this from JG sales in Arizona. The finish is a little beat up, but the grips and the overall condition is very serviceable. No endshake, timing is perfect, and the lockup is right there. Any Ideas on how I can restore the finish?

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My daughter fell for one of these at a gun show a while back, in about the same shape. Same grips, as I recall. Tossed them into the grip box, did a general cleanup on the gun, smoothed the trigger, and put in a Mikulek rebound spring. Left the square but as is for now, but it makes one very nice little gun. I keep wondering if I should have gotten my very own.

As to refinish, S&W will no doubt do a nice job. There is an outfit called Ford's Refinishing in FL that seems to do great work. if you go there take a look at the refinished S&W .38-44 HD.

I am eventually going to send them something to see if they can actually get that incredibly good a finish on a gun of mine. Seeing is believing.
 
Looks good to me... Veterans wear their scars with pride.

Put a nice set of wood grips on it, and you'll have a dandy for life.
 
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There is no good way to touch up the finish, so that leaves you with two options.

1. Have it professionally refinished. This will cost anywhere around 1/2 or slightly more, then you paid for the gun. Then it will be so perfect you won't wnat to shoot it. :(

2. Use it as it is, after giving it a good cleaning. Used guns (especially police trade-ins) should be expected to be finish worn. So go enjoy it. ;)
 
refinishing will run as much as you paid for that gun. unless you got ripped when you bought it.


leave it be.
 
That's a very nice Model 10! I was wondering what condition the JG three inch Model 10s were in, and it looks good.

If it were me, I would just ditch the Pachmayrs and install a set of S&W magnas with a Tyler T. Maybe a Hogue Monogrip if you have to have rubber. I would not invest in a reblue. The gun is in to good a condition now, and it would not make sense to spend $100+ refinishing a gun that you can buy for under $200. To make it look it's best, remove the grips and clean it with brake cleaner. Use copper scotchbrite with a little CLP to remove any rust. Then oil the surface with CLP.

Do not try to remove the side plate unless you know what you are doing, or are willing to follow instructions. If you are a brave soul, remove the sideplate screws with a hollow ground screwdriver. Place the forward most screw (yoke screw) separate from the rest. Each screw must go back in it's original hole. Hold the revolver sideplate down in your left hand while you rap the grip frame sharply a couple of times with a brass hammer. The sideplate will fall out in your hand. If you are extremely brave, you can now remove the lockwork. Be aware that there are some small pins and springs that may hop out if you remove the lockwork. It's really not difficult, but you might spend time looking for a spring or two the first time if you do not disassemble the revolver in a box.

If you are not that brave, use a pair of tweezers to pick out any lint that has accumulated. Use the brake cleaner to spray out any rust/grit. Then oil the lockwork properly with CLP or your favorite gun oil. I like Ballistol. Dab a little grease on the sear surface. Remove the cylinder/yoke, and lubricate the surfaces that they pivot and rotate on. Finally, reinstall the cylinder and yoke, and press the sideplate into place. Make sure it is flush before installing the screws. Do NOT use the screws to push it into place. Install grips.

Voila! Your revolver will function better than new. Expect the action to get better and better with use. The Model 10 is a great gun, my favorite. It does not take much to get me to post pics of my Model 10s. Here is the last one I bought.
SmithWessonModel10-5snubbie.gif
 
I'll let you know about those pachmayers. They are in good shape, but seem a little clumsy. I'm going to see how it shoots with them, and then I might go for a set of houges. I really wasn't going for a beauty queen when I bought this, just something I could get a lot of revolver practice in with so I didn't wear out my carry gun (taurus 605). And use as a backup carry piece if I ever had to send mine back for service.
 
The Pachmayrs are a bit to angular for my tastes. I have a pair on my Taurus 66 and they're okay. I prefer Hogues, though. Hogues are more rounded and ergonomic, fell natural in my hand. I've got 'em on my M10 and had on on my old Ruger Security Six. I've got hogue finger groves on my P85 and P90 Rugers, too, like 'em on the autos.

For carry, the Pachmayr Compacs are good stuff, feel good in the hand and are more concealable. I like the rubber grips much better than wood and especially the junk S&W puts on revolvers. I simply cannot get a good purchase on a K frame grip with those awful wood stocks they come with. My middle finger gets slapped by the trigger guard on bigger calibers and that don't feel good, either. I like a good hand filling grip which fills in behind the trigger guard and prefer finger grooves for a consistent draw. So it doesn't look traditional? I could give a flip. I want it to work, don't give a dang what it looks like. A working gun is about killin' the BG before he kills you. On a safe queen or an outdoor gun, fine, looks can be more important. But, on a defensive weapon, what works for me is the ONLY thing that matters.
 
I'd put the Taurus as backup to the Model 10. I love the 3 inch barrel, but never had both time/money when a good 3 inch Model 10 was walking by. Beauty!
Leave that fine gem as is, and enjoy!
 
Boy, looks like I need to call J&G and check on the availability of these before they sell out! That is truely a bargain on a wonderful wheelgun.

JLaw
 
jkwas, there seems to be a lot of gap between those grips and the trigger guard. Do those look like they've been wittled on, or might they be made for a different gun?

I agree that the gun's finish looks fine as/is; plenty of character.
 
Another oldie with just a bit longer barrel. This pic doesn't show the dings but they're there and don't hurt the way it shoots at all.
Picture056.gif
 
I bought a 10-8 that was mechanically sound but very beat up. I did not want to spend a fortune to have it completely redone so I sent it to Fuselier and they bead blasted and hard chromed it in a matte and returned it for $100.

I like the way it looks now. SW101.gif
 
Yes, those grips just don't seem to be right. They make the reach to the trigger a little long. I have to wrap my hand more around the side of the grip to hold it properly. The Hogues are cheap enough, and as soon as I get this puppy down to the range and make sure it functions properly, they will be my first order of business, along with an IWB holster. Already got'em picked out. I've been rubbing it down with gun oil all day in my spare time and it's looking better and better.
By the way, frankt that gun looks greeaat! Might be something to consider. Oh well, one step at a time.
 
So you got one of those 3" M10s they're advertising. I've been thinking about it myself (maybe once the tax return comes). Did you get one of those classified "good to very good" for $189.95 or "very good condition" for $199.95? If I order one I'm leaning towards the "very good" for $199.95, its only $10 for likely a nicer gun. Then maybe pick up some "Secret Service" grips for it and have a DAO a bobbed hammer job done and it will be about the perfect carry revolver.

I'd put the Taurus as backup to the Model 10. I love the 3 inch barrel
Click to expand...
As much as I like Taurus I can't help but second this. There is absolutely nothing like a nice S&W 3" K-frame. They are about the ultimate in revolvers- enough sight radius to be quite accurate, heavy enough to handle the stoutest ammo you can find (even the .357mag versions handle a limited diet of the stout stuff well), short enough and light enough for relatively easy concealed carry, point and handle great, etc. Just get it out on the range and I think you'll be sold too.
 
It's a square butt, produced in 1981, and I paid the extra $10 for a hand pick. Apparently when you order the cheaper one, it's whatever they pull and ship. When you pay the extra they look for the best of what hasn't been sold. So far, so good.
As far as carry goes, I'll have to see how it weighs out compared to the taurus. Carrying the 605 is like nothing. It is a lighter gun. I'll just have to see how much heavier the smith feels on my waist.
 
Range report

Took my model 10 to the range today. Shoots perfect. Very accurate and hardly any recoil. I was going to change out the grips with hogues, but I think I'm keeping the pachmayers it came with . Very satisfied. I also carried it today on a morning walk in an IWB holster I had laying in the drawer. It worked perfectly. So, I'm basically all set! Can't wait to shoot it again!
 
I got one this week too. Haven't gotten a chance to shoot it yet, but it's nice and tight, so I expect it will be fine. Just got done sitting down with Jerry Miculek's DVD, disassembling and cleaning it. I don't know about yours, but mine was just soaked in oil. I had cleaned it externally, but that stuff just kept seeping out. Think I will go for Magnas and a T-grip for now, though I will probably round butt it.
 
Great deal! It's good to hear hear first hand testimony regarding those J&G M10s. Been thinking of snagging one myself.
 
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