Well, I Got The Model 10, Here It Is

[Jackal]

Well guys, here it is. This is the same as was discussed in this thread http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=250140 . Condition I would estimate at 99%, with the only blemish, a *tiny* blue loss at barrel tip. The original box was included and is also is superb shape. This is as close to NIB as it comes. It's a five screw, X-3, 6". The frame, underneath where the crane covers says "X-3" and has a serial #938*. The # on the grip frame is "S 9343**. I'm not sure what the mismatch frame numbers mean, but it all looks perfect and matching. The grips are also numbered to the frame. It also came with a vintage Pachmayr grip enhancer. Oh, and the trigger.....Soooo nice. Price OTD was $271, which I feel was very fair. If anyone can tell me anything about this little old fella, like the birth date and rarity, I would love to hear it.

Now, the shop also has a "very good" condition Colt Trooper MKIII .357, 4" for $250. I think I need that too.

Please note: I have yet to clean it. This is as purchased.

 

[Black Knight]

Looks great. The number on the crane is probably a part number, the serial number is on the frame. When I saw the pachmayr grip enhancer I thought it was a Tyler-T Grip. Looks like you did good.

 

[treebeard]

Very nice looking wheelgun indeed. Congrats.

 

[joneb]

That looks like a Great deal, congrats

 

[sm]

Now that is a handgun!

Congrats!

 

[Tbu61]

That's a fantastic Pistol, you will have LOTS of fun with it.

You will find that the older 10's are "regulated" to a point of aim a little differently than you may be familiar with. Just takes a little experimentation at the loading bench to get her in the 10 ring....


ENJOY!!!!!

tbu

 

[Old Fuff]

Well I have all kinds of bad news for you...

For starters, your revolver, serial number S 9343xx isn't a model 10...

It's a .38 Military & Police (pre-model 10/transitional)" made around 1947. It has the renowned pre-war "Long Action" which is the reason the trigger pull is so smooth. On the other hand it has the hammer block safety that was introduced in 1945, so it's safe to carry fully loaded. The number 938x is an assembly number, not a serial.

The latest edition of Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson says the value of "as new in box" is $500.00

Hope you can stand up to all of this...

 

[Jackal]

Old Fuff, you are my god. I was kind of suspicious the more I thought about the "X-3". So, I guess I did well? I'm gonna clean it up and just keep it to look at. I already have a nice 586 for a shooter. This probably was a better investment than putting the $270 in my .25% savings account. By the way, Mr Fuff, do you know if the pictured box is the original? Thanks a ton for the "better than a book" info. I'm gonna keep dealing with this shop! This is the same place that I got my mint P&R 629 for $395. They also had a stainless Python about a month ago for $650. I am going back tomorrow to grab the Colt Trooper MKIII for $250. I live in a retirement community and there are a lot of older folks that "retire permanently" and leave thier kids behind unwanted guns. Lots of great, classic revo's get pawned here and the owner just likes to move her inventory quickly.

 

[Old Fuff]

The box is period correct. Turn it over and see if the serial number of the gun is written in pencil. Also there may be an end label with information about the particular gun that came in it.

In "excellent condition" ( about 95% condition) the revolver wthout the box would be valued at $300.00.

Blessed are those dealers that never research what they have before they sell it.

 

[meef]

Blessed are those dealers that never research what they have before they sell it.

Amen!

I recently bought an absolutely pristine Colt Python with 4" barrel made in 1964 from my local dealer.

$550.00.

Amen.

 

[Jackal]

You know what? I never did think about the bottom of the box! Take a look at these. They are rather faint, however, totally discernable. The is the matching serial #, the year 1948, the original price of $56.50 and some other writing I can't quite make out. Forgive the quality of my pics, great lighting is hard for me to find. I wonder if a black light could be used to see the faint writing more clearly. Pics are easier to see in thier current minimized form.

 

[mrrick]

You're lucky you got a "pencil" barrel. they are uncommon.

 

[Tbu61]

While you are at it..........
When you give it cleaning, remove the grips (carefully).
They should be numbered inside as well..........

That stuff really warms the heart.

Oh BTW, I got one (without the box but identical) a few years back for $150, so there are a few floating around.

Fluff.....Thanks for the appraisal. I just enjoyed it for the way it shot, now I know a little more about it

 

[lawson]

Great revolver. My dad has one like it inherited from his own father. It's great fun to shoot and has a real history to it. In his last ten years, my grandfather sold off most of his large gun collection to pay medical bills. He kept two guns, that revolver, and an old beat up 20 gauge side by side from Brazil. The revolver he wouldn't sell for any amount of money, and the 20 gauge no one would ever spend a buck on. He had to get rid of over 50 guns, but he'd still strap on that revolver and chase quail on his back 40 with the doublegun.


Didn't Sean Connery carry one in The Untouchables?

 

[XavierBreath]

Jackel,
Unfortunately, with the grip adapter, a touch of muzzle wear, and turn line on the cylinder, you can't quite call your revolver "As New in Box" in most collector's eyes, but dadgummit, it's pretty darned close! Around my parts your revolver would easily sell for between $300 and 400. On a good day with the right collector, it might go near $500.

You did really well! These are the kinds of deals that keep me scrounging the pawn shops and gun stores. Welcome to the wonderful world of Smith & Wesson hunting/collecting. Enjoy shooting this revolver.

I live in a retirement community and there are a lot of older folks that "retire permanently" and leave thier kids behind unwanted guns. Lots of great, classic revo's get pawned here and the owner just likes to move her inventory quickly.

This is a pawn shopper's dream come true! You have found the Grail!

Here's a pic of my S serialed pre-Model 10. I paid........$89, no box, and a 5 incher, but they threw in the holster.....



FWIW, I am in 100% agreement with Old Fuff on what you have. He beat me to the punch again.

 

[Deanimator]

You're lucky you got a "pencil" barrel. they are uncommon.

Actually, they'e far and away the most common. I just bought one a week ago.

It's possible that in YOUR area, there are a lot of heavy barreled guns. Certainly that's the case for the large retailers these days. Overall, the tapered barrel guns are FAR more numerous.

 

[Deanimator]

It's a .38 Military & Police (pre-model 10/transitional)" made around 1947. It has the renowned pre-war "Long Action" which is the reason the trigger pull is so smooth. On the other hand it has the hammer block safety that was introduced in 1945, so it's safe to carry fully loaded. The number 938x is an assembly number, not a serial.

A week ago I received from RM Vivas, an ex-NYPD M&P that had last been used by a guard at a horse track. Mine was nowhere near as nice as the gun pictured, being as it's missing a lot of finish and is lightly pitted under the grips, but it's in great mechanical shape with a beautiful bore. For $190 including S&H, I can hardly complain. The same gun would probably be $50-100 more at a local gunshow. I bought it purely as a shooter to help with my DA practice.

If I come across a great deal on a nice looking Model 10, I'll probably jump on that too. You can't have too many blued, pre-lock S&W revolvers!

 

[tinygnat219]

Hey NICE revolver. To get the absolute skinny on it, send away for a letter from Smith and Wesson. It's 25-30 bucks and comes on S&W stationery signed by Roy Jinks. That letter is something nice to add to your "package" of original box and holster.

I think you got a cherry deal!

 

[Old Fuff]

You're lucky you got a "pencil" barrel. they are uncommon.

Actually all of this particular model were made with "pencil" barrels. Remember that it is not a Model 10 - it is a .38 Military & Police Model. 1905 Hand Ejector (Post War). as the box indicated, it was made in 1948. The model 10 didn't come along until 1957 - same gun, different name. The older revolver had some feaures that were victims of cost-cutting by the time the Model 10 was created, and the 4" heavy barrel was introduced 1959 as the Model 10-1.

Now this children, is why any SERIOUS Smith & Wesson searcher buys the latest avilable edition of Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson. Read this thread and see that Jackal might have passed on this gun and bought a surplus rifle instead. Think of the potential buyers that might have passed it up because they didn't know what Jackal learned on The High Road (fortunately in time). To them, and maybe the dealer, this was just another old .38 revolver with a barrel that was too long to be popular. Incidentally that length is a little hard to find among the remaining transitional revolvers that still had the pre-war "long action." Production of those was largely limited to the parts S&W still had on hand. At about serial number S 990,184 they introduced the new "short action" that's still used today. Thus the longer 6" length will add to the collector value.

Now think to yourself, "How many gold mines have I passed up because I didn't know what I was looking at?"

 

[Sniper X]

Awesome deal! Now go get it's big brother, the MKIII or I will!.

 

[Jackal]

Unfortunately, with the grip adapter, a touch of muzzle wear, and turn line on the cylinder, you can't quite call your revolver "As New in Box"

Ya, that's true. Luckily, I removed the grips and the adapter just pops off the frame with a touch. The steel under the grips is also perfect. All in all, this is the nicest old gun I have ever owned. Yup, I think I have found a keeper to put with my Remington 510 Targetmaster, which was my first rifle and my deceased grandfather's Marlin 25MN or as he called it, "Coyote Killer". These are in the never sell category.

Now go get it's big brother, the MKIII or I will!.

I am gonna go this morning and snatch it up. It's in about 85% condition with honest holster wear, but zero rust or anything ugly, just some blue loss. For $270 OTD, it's hard to pass up a Colt.

 

[Harry Paget Flashman]

Nice find.

 

[MCgunner]

Now, the shop also has a "very good" condition Colt Trooper MKIII .357, 4" for $250. I think I need that too.

Of course.... You should already have pix of it up with that sweet M10.

 

[Jackal]

And, here's the pics of my other purchases today. One is the Colt Trooper MKIII. It's a bit dirty, but otherwise in great shape (approx. 85%) and in the pics, it looks like rust on the cylinder, but it is in fact just literally dirt. The rifle is a mint Remington 550-1. It was a little steep price-wise, at $150, but I am a sucker for old .22's. God bless 0% credit cards .

 

[wcwhitey]

Sweet M&P, all I can think of is "Faster than a speeding bullet"! You will like the Trooper also, very sturdy accurate gun. I sold mind 10 years ago for the same price you paid today so figure you got a decent deal as well.