S&W Model 10's - State of the Market; end of 2019

[BluesDancer]

Hi Folks,
I've been tossing around the idea in my head about purchasing a surplus pre-lock S&W Model 10, 4" heavy barreled revolver if the right gun came along. To me, functionality and lockup comes first and foremost, and outer condition outside of rust (AKA "looks") is secondary. I've been pondering things like heavy vs tapered barrel, square vs round butt, etc. but I'm just sort of seeing what's out there first.

How's the market for S&W Model 10's in general these days? I get that feeling that the boats have already sailed on most of the surplus opportunities with these. Am I right?

Also - is the possible risk of getting a used "problem" gun online an uncommon enough possibility to warrant taking the chance of buying one of these online sight-unseen or should I try to wait for in-store specimens to inspect in person? Any recommendations?

Any advice or comments are greatly appreciated!

Thanks - BluesDancer

 

[stonebuster]

Gunbroker has quite a few M10 4" heavy barreled trade ins between $308-330 right now. The ones with the silver round tag next to the cylinder release are NY corrections guns I believe. My LGS had a few of which I bought two. Both round butts with square butt conversion Uncle Mikes grips They've been shot a lot but function perfectly with a few scratches and holster wear. I wouldn't be afraid of buying one online unless you're worried about cosmetics. I've heard a couple of people complain about the cosmetics but never about the function of the trade ins. They're a couple of my favorite shooters. Picked up a model 64 police trade in w/lock this year for $300 OTD which would be an option if you want stainless. The M64 is newer and tighter than my M10s

 

[ontarget]

I have one of the NY Dept of Corrections trade ins. A lot of holster wear but mechanically it's great. I think I paid 350ish with holster and 2 speed loaders with pouches. All stamped with the facility where they were issued.
The revolver has the wood Magna type grips.
It's a pretty neat package and if I saw another I may be tempted to grab it.

 

[Jonesy814]

Law enforcement \correction dept. Model 10s aren't near as common as 5 years ago and the prices are climbing when they do but they can be found for around $325 and are well worth that. A friend got a model 64 turn in a little over a year ago for just over $300 including shipping and FOR transfer on his end. It's a really nice shooting gun.

 

[Riomouse911]

I got a 4" M-64 from AIM surplus in July and I am happy with it.

It's a bit chewed up at the edge of the frame from whoever abused it before trading it in, but the lock-up is tight, the trigger pull is great and it's a point-of-aim shooter at 15 yds with just about everything I have fired in it so far.

Stay safe.

 

[Tallball]

My friend got one a year or so ago for around $300 plus whatever. She's been very happy with it and it's given her no problems.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I would expect them to at least be functional. I have a couple of dozen surplus/turn-in firearms. One has the beginnings of a problem, but still goes bang every time. The rest have been trouble-free. Most of the police turn-ins weren't ever shot much.

 

[CajunBass]

I bought one from a local dealer a few months ago for $285.00. It was "finish challenged" shall we say, but functioned perfectly.

 

[Jonesy814]

Looked online. There are a few available right now for $249.99 at Classicfirearms.com.

 

[Speedo66]

The correction guns, at least in NYC, were carried by the transportation officers. Every time they went into a courthouse cell, jail, correction facility, etc., the guns were removed from the holsters and later replaced in the holsters, many times a day.

They were shot once a year for re-qualification, so lots of holster wear, little shooting wear.

OP, if you're concerned about exterior condition, why not consider the stainless version? Model 64's are also available many places at this time. I bought one at AIM Surplus not long ago, very happy with it.

 

[BSA1]

LEO trade-ins are a crap shoot.

I brought a used Model 10-6 4” barrel several years ago for $200.00. The right grip was beat almost to splinters from banging into car door frames. However it passed my function testing. All was well until I shot it on the range. It would fire first three round fine then bind the cylinder up making it impossible to shoot the remaining three. Long story short I ended up sending to S&W for repair. Gun came back in perfect condition. It appears like they replaced all of the internal parts with new ones. It set me back a little over $100.00 so I have a bit over $300.00 invested in it.

Last October I brought a Pre-lock Model 64 4” barrel for $340.00. It is in very good to excellent condition and the grips do not show any wear. It was dirty and dry of oil. As I expected when I took the grips off there was some light rust under the grips. That was a easy fix with a little oil and steel wool. I suspect this gun was kept for self defense and was rarely shot.

4” S&W Model 10-6 and 64’s are on my always buy list. As States like California, Washington and maybe Virginia ban semi-auto handguns the demand for the good old K-Frame 4” barrel revolver is going to increase and with it their price. In the next panic I could probably sell them for $1,000 each bit mine are not for sale at any price.

 

[Sistema1927]

In the past year I purchased two Model 64-8 LEO/Corrections revolvers, in 4" and 3".

The 4" 64 was LNIB, I couldn't find a mark on it, and it doesn't look like it had been fired outside of the factory. I gave right at $300 for it.

The 3" 64 came back from Europe and has an import marking on the bottom of the trigger guard. It is pristine as well. I gave around $350 for it.

Both guns are round butt, and came with the recently introduced rubber grips. Even though both sets of grips looked almost new, I have replaced them with Altamonts. The 4" received a set of round to square conversions and the 3" got a set of round combats. Both revolvers have had their rear sight areas blacked out and the front sights treated to a coat of white nail polish followed by 3 coats of "traffic cone" orange nail polish.

Even though these are later models, with the two piece barrel and the internal lock, they are both smooth and accurate with excellent triggers. They are every bit as good as older pre-lock/pre-MIM S&W revolvers that I own or have owned in the past. I am very happy with both purchases.

 

[film495]

I'd like to get a couple more, but I prefer the tapered barrel and don't see too many available. Just a personal preference.

 

[WestKentucky]

Model 10s are getting scarce for sure. The 64s seem to be a better deal right now. My model 10 is UGLY externally but wonderful internally. I need to clean it up and get everything situated to do an at-home parkerizing job on it. I paid I think 180 for it last year (18 months ago roughly) and I have recently seen some 64s that made me wish I had waited.

 

[.455_Hunter]

I bought a 10-8 ex-California DOC off GB a few years ago for a good price. Evidence showed it had not been fired very much, but it was COMPLETELY wore out due to, what I expect, was multiple load/unload cycles per day. The cylinder slop in all directions was extreme.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

Last year, Bud's was selling used police Model 10s for $269 + FFL fee and used Model 64s for $349 + FFL fee. I picked up one of the Model 10s. The bluing is wrecked, but it's one of the best shooting revolvers I own.

A pawn shop up the road has a Model 64 marked at $400 that's been tempting me. It's a newer model with the lock, and is way too nice cosmetically to have been a police gun. I don't need it but I want it.

 

[stonebuster]

The correction guns, at least in NYC, were carried by the transportation officers. Every time they went into a courthouse cell, jail, correction facility, etc., the guns were removed from the holsters and later replaced in the holsters, many times a day.

They were shot once a year for re-qualification, so lots of holster wear, little shooting wear.

OP, if you're concerned about exterior condition, why not consider the stainless version? Model 64's are also available many places at this time. I bought one at AIM Surplus not long ago, very happy with it.

I was told by a corrections officer that the M10s were shot @500 rounds a year. Because they had a lot more guards than guns, several guards would use the same gun to qualify. I've got a 10-14 NY DOC that's had thousands of rounds through it judging from the forcing cone wear and the gun's age X 500 rounds/year. That said, I just got back from shooting it and it shoots just fine. I think you've got a better chance of getting a "carried a lot, shot a little" gun with a police trade in rather than corrections guns and was the case with my M64. One plus about the Corrections guns is that they didn't sell off non-functioning or unsafe M10s/M64s.

 

[BluesDancer]

Looked online. There are a few available right now for $249.99 at Classicfirearms.com.

Yeah...I've been monitoring them...they've got the following at the moment:

• Smith & Wesson Model 10-6 Police Turn-In Revolvers 38 Spl 4" Blued Heavy Barrel - 6 Round. Surplus Fair - worried about the surplus fair condition
• Smith & Wesson Model 10-7 Police Turn-In Revolvers .38 Spl 4" Blued Tapered Barrel - 6 Round. Surplus Good - looks good but sort of prefer heavy over tapered barrel (personal preference)

 

[BluesDancer]

I'd like to get a couple more, but I prefer the tapered barrel and don't see too many available. Just a personal preference.

film495 - Classic has some of the tapered ones at the moment - Model 10-7, Square Butt, 4" Tapered Barrel, supposedly "Good" condition...something to ponder...

 

[tbob38]

They are out there if you can spend the time looking. I got a Model 10 4" heavy barrel off GB last week for $230. It is in excellent condition internally and very good externally. Grips are even good.

 

[film495]

film495 - Classic has some of the tapered ones at the moment - Model 10-7, Square Butt, 4" Tapered Barrel, supposedly "Good" condition...something to ponder...

thanks. ordered one, if it is particularly good might get another.