? P-38 and 2 S&W's

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Sullyman

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The bride is away, so I thought I'd take some pics and ask a couple of questions.

I have 2 S&W's I got from my father.
1. Model 10-6 . the barrel is marked .38 S&W Special CTG. This takes standard .38 special rounds doesn't it. Is there a Special S&W .38 Special? I thought the 6 might stand for barrel length but it is a 4" so that can't be correct
2. Model 48-4 .22 RFM (magnum)

Any other info on these 2 would be appreciated, year made, value, or general info.

3. A P-38 that my father said he "liberated" from a German soldier during WWII. What does the AC 43 stand for? I heard it was the factory and year made. Also there is a small stamp with the eagle and what looks to be the number 359 under it. Any ideas. Value? Serial numbers all match. Still shoots good by the way.

The others are a 9mm CZ Combat 85 and a 4" Colt Diamondback .22 in nickel.

Thanks, Sullyman
 

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Most folks say 38 Special but the official name is 38 S&W Special and your 10-6 will shoot any ammo marked as such. The M48 is for the 22 Winchester Magnum Rim-Fire (or 22 WMR) and is a deluxe target grade gun on the K frame platform. The 10 is also a K frame but is a service pistol.

The AC-43 means the manufacturing plant code and (I believe) date of build (1943).

BTW- a D'back in nickel will fetch a bunch of money these days.
 
They all look nice, clean and well cared for. Dont know much about what you have, other than that P-38. The number is the factory code, someone here will know what factory by that code, or you can likely find it on the internet. Value for the P-38 should be 800+-, perhaps North of 1000+ if that factory code or year turns out to be unique, rare, different, etc. Dont sell it though, you'll regret it!
 
The AC 43 means that it was made by Walther in the year 1943.

Here's my AC-41.

AC-41.jpg


Your 10-6 is standard pressure .38spl. I would not try to shoot +Ps out of it.

The 48-4 is a KC Masterpiece in .22 mag.

You have quite a treasure trove there!!
 
The WaA (Waffenamt or Weapons Office) inpector 359 was assigned to the Walther plant in Zella-Mehlis, Thuringia, for most of the war. Of course, he didn't personally stamp every gun they turned out, but he was responsible for the quality control at the factory. As with all but a few of those men, his actual identity is not known, at least to me.

Jim
 
This site explains the S&W model changes pretty well:

http://www.handloads.com/misc/Smith.Model.Changes.asp


Your 10-6 is standard pressure .38spl. I would not try to shoot +Ps out of it.
Click to expand...

Are you sure about that? A pre-model 10 perhaps, but given that the K Frame has also been chambered in .357 Magnum (with a different heat treatment, I believe), I am almost 100% sure that +P is okay.

I guess you could always contact S&W.
 
This site explains the S&W model changes pretty well:

http://www.handloads.com/misc/Smith.Model.Changes.asp


Quote:
Your 10-6 is standard pressure .38spl. I would not try to shoot +Ps out of it.
Are you sure about that? A pre-model 10 perhaps, but given that the K Frame has also been chambered in .357 Magnum (with a different heat treatment, I believe), I am almost 100% sure that +P is okay.

I guess you could always contact S&W.
Click to expand...

There are some slight differences between the Magnum K frames and non magnum K frames. I suggest studying the Standard Catalog of S&W for more information.

The M10 will handle +p just fine. It has been reported numerous times by S&W that if it has a model number stamped on it, it's good to go.


OP, the M48 is a somewhat uncommon revolver. The last one I saw for sale had a $600 or so price tag on it.
 
denfoote- Puuullleaze! No +P from a Model 10????? Give me a break!!!!

Shoot 10,000 rounds of +P through a Model 10 and if it breaks I'll buy you a new one.

I do not understand this continuing mysticism over +P!!!!!!!!!!!

A 125 at 925 is HARDLY anything to worry about. I consider this load to a very mild target and plinking load. My carry load is the same 125 JHP loaded to 1,1,50 FPS. Works fine in my K and J frame Smiths and I even shot some though an old small frame Rossi. No problems.

Here's a 1942 M&P with 500 rounds of factory +P and some of the 600 rounds of my loads cited above that I shot through it just to see if anything would happen. Amazingly, nothing did.

standard.jpg

A member on another forum shot something like 5,000 rounds of +P through an alloy frame Model 12 as a test. AMAZINGLY nothing happened!!!!

Factory +P IS NOT A HOT LOAD!!!! It's 3,000 PSI BELOW maximum allowable for the caliber, for crying out loud.

I should just give up. I can't overcome the ridiculous myth of +P.
 
Saxon,
It was my understanding that +Ps out of a M10 depended on when it was made and therefore erred on the side of caution until more information by the OP could be obtained.
I would not want to give faulty data and have his fine revolver ruined as a result!!
 
All Colts are pricey.

Nickel D'backs bring a real premium.

For a very nice nickel 22 D'back W/O box I would think $1,200 or so.
 
My Dad brought back a p38 near the end of WWII. It is from a small plant in Germany. The were 100s of thousands of P38s made over the years but to have a military issue in great shape is a keeper. Mine is listed as "commercial" but I did a lot of digging and toward the end of the war many commercial p38s were put into service by the German military. Dad got it from a German POW as they were surrendering in droves at that point in time. He had 2 of them but never could play poker.

that's an heirloom
 
Saxon,
It was my understanding that +Ps out of a M10 depended on when it was made and therefore erred on the side of caution until more information by the OP could be obtained.
I would not want to give faulty data and have his fine revolver ruined as a result!!
Click to expand...

Your information is correct, and S&W will state that that if it doesn't have a model number stamping they don't recommend using +P in it. Some of the frames on the older guns weren't heat treated as well, and the steel wasn't as good. The use of +P will accelerate wear on them.
 
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