Ugly Smiths available again.

[Elkins45]

Buds sent out an email last night offering some heavy barrel 4” 38 specials that were traded in by a French police agency. $269 for a model 10 or $349 for a model 64. They are cosmetically challenged, but supposedly in good mechanical condition.

I bought a 3” square butt and a 4” round butt from them back when the Victoria (Australia) PD dumped their revolvers. Both are ugly but are good shooters.

 

[beag_nut]

I would venture that "ugly" may refer to which side of the firing pin one is standing by.

 

[warnerwh]

I saw those guns too and the picture of the gun they showed was pretty bad cosmetically. I have been recently considering a Model 10 but when I saw the bluing or lack of it turned me off even though they said they are fine mechanically. I am going to think about buying one as I really want a Model 10 but I will have to re blue so it is presentable. For only 269 dollars if they are functionally fine that is a very good deal. When something looks that it has had no care it makes me very wary about the internals. If someone buys one and opens it up I'd love to see some pics.

 

[John_R]

I’d take a 3” for that price!

 

[milemaker13]

Lets talk about the m10 vs m64. What is the differences between the two? Buds says the 64s are stainless..

 

[Elkins45]

Lets talk about the m10 vs m64. What is the differences between the two? Buds says the 64s are stainless..

That’s the difference. The 64 is the stainless version of the model 10. They are identical otherwise.

 

[Sistema1927]

Both of them are pretty ugly. However, with the 64 you could probably clean it up pretty good with some Flitz or Mother's Mag polish. The 10 is going to need a re-bluing.

 

[WestKentucky]

It’s a sickness... come on over to the chickenpox party. I found my ugly 10 locally. Was 225. It looks like a painted pony with the bullying gone. Can’t imagine one much uglier.

 

[The Evangelist Cowboy]

Those 10s look rough, I personally would not go for one, but hey its your money. Id strive for a local deal and I can see Model 10s in the 300s in way better condition that those listed on buds.

 

[Pat Riot]

One good thing about a knock around gun is you shoot it and use it without worry of harming it’s looks.

Of course, you could wait for one of those unicorn guns to magically appear.

 

[Col. Harrumph]

At that price I'd go for one and probably strip what's left of the finish and just leave it in the white. But then I already own three M10's so....

 

[Elkins45]

I don't own a 64 so I might see if they have any for sale in their retail store. I would prefer not buying a used gun sight unseen.

 

[Speedo66]

Odd looking, some might even say fugly, set of grips Bud's is showing on the blued version. The gun itself looks pretty beat.

 

[sequins]

It looks like it did it's part to keep people safe. I prefer putting my own wear on guns but that sure is a nice one.

There is a Japanese term for the aesthetic a well used tool takes on, the wear and markings from its use, etc. called wabi-sabi. I like a gun with some wabi-sabi, a beautiful specimen with no imperfection or signs of use is somehow not as beautiful as a specimen that exhibits signs of well-loved usage.

 

[John_R]

Those grips are kind of growing on me. I just can't justify a new gun that won't appreciate much in value, though. Model 10s are cheap for a reason (oversupply, I guess).

 

[JONWILL]

I think I might bite on one. Not hard to grind the grip to a round profile. Quick sand blast and parkerize it
Good woods gun

 

[John Joseph]

If only I didn't live in CA

 

[Sistema1927]

I think I might bite on one. Not hard to grind the grip to a round profile. Quick sand blast and parkerize it
Good woods gun

Recognize that they say that there is a mixture of wood and rubber grips. Odds are against you getting that odd ball grip profile.

 

[JONWILL]

Recognize that they say that there is a mixture of wood and rubber grips. Odds are against you getting that odd ball grip profile.

I would get rid of the grips that came with it. Get round K frame grips

 

[GunnyUSMC]

If I don’t already have a few 38 revolvers, I would order one.

 

[milemaker13]

Id like to order one... not sure the budget will allow that right now however... plus i think id get more use from one of the trade in 92s we' ve seen offered from time to time.

 

[Slamfire]

Local gun store had these Georgia Department of Corrections M64's for sale. Some of you might remember seeing them, during an extended stay. The best had been snapped up by selfish store workers who were so inconsiderate as to not wait for me to pick the best one!! I never seem to be able to get the world to revolve around me, no matter how hard I try. That being said, I picked this one, what they told me was that these were late 80's manufacture.

I took it out this week and it shot well. It shot to point of aim with my 158 grain reloads, which were 158 L 3.5 grains Bullseye, any case, any primer. Velocity was just at 760 fps in 90 degree weather. That is a standard pressure load and I was able to hold on a 12 inch gong target at fifty yards, standing. These pistols are accurate.

 

[Elkins45]

Odd looking, some might even say fugly, set of grips Bud's is showing on the blued version. The gun itself looks pretty beat.

View attachment 800087

Considering that's the one they chose to photograph you have to wonder how the others look. I would like to handle a set of those funky grips though.

Id like to order one... not sure the budget will allow that right now however... plus i think id get more use from one of the trade in 92s we' ve seen offered from time to time.

Be careful. The ones that Buds is selling for $299 have the magazine release on the lower rear of the grips, not in the 'normal' position under the trigger. Regular 92 magazines need to have a notch filed into them to work. I know this because I bought one. To add insult to injury it had about 50% finish and about a 37 pound DA trigger pull.

 

[Tallball]

If I didn't already have a couple of old Model 10's I would probably get one. Thanks for the heads-up.

 

[WestKentucky]

Considering that's the one they chose to photograph you have to wonder how the others look. I would like to handle a set of those funky grips though.


Be careful. The ones that Buds is selling for $299 have the magazine release on the lower rear of the grips, not in the 'normal' position under the trigger. Regular 92 magazines need to have a notch filed into them to work. I know this because I bought one. To add insult to injury it had about 50% finish and about a 37 pound DA trigger pull.

I had one of the berettas and it was decent. I still prefer the controls of the Taurus version. The beretta ended up getting racegun treatment at a coworkers place and he wouldn’t give it back when he was done I was going to have him work the slide over for Novak’s, but he cut in a dovetail then made a RMR mounting plate to fit it. I made money, and he still shoots it in some competitions. He made an extended heel mag release for it and runs ridiculous mag springs so that he brushes the mag release against his right thigh as he pulls a mag from his abdomen. I wish I had pictures of it. Ugly but beautiful.