The ubiquitous S&W Model 10

[Petrol & Powder]

From the time I was old enough to own firearms, I’ve always had some type of DA revolver chambered in 38 Special. Often that category was filled by a S&W model 10 of some type. The S&W Model 10 is ubiquitous, and it deserves the label iconic.

A 4” barreled DA revolver chambered in 38 Special is about as close to a “Universal” handgun as one can get. It isn’t perfect at filling every role, but it fills a LOT of roles. They are reasonably accurate, can be used for self-defense, easy to carry, somewhat concealable, economical to load for, not too expensive to obtain and fairly common. Of the guns that fit the description, the Model 10 may be the one that best epitomizes the type.

The Military & Police [M&P] and later Model 10, isn’t fancy. Fixed sights, blued finish, typically rather plain. Barrel lengths could range from 2” to 6” but I’m certain the 4” type was by far the most common. They were made in staggering numbers and pressed into service for countless needs.

The later model 64 had the same attributes as the model 10 but was made with stainless steel.

There were many variations of the Model 10. The grip frame could be had in square butt or round butt configuration. Barrels could be tapered (sometime called pencil barrel) or heavy barrel. There were design changes over the years, but the core design never changed.

So how about a big shout out the ubiquitous, universal, useful, and undeniably iconic Model 10.

 

[Charles Graff]

A big AMEN to the post. A 38 Special will do about 98% of what we want a handgun to do. I have 7 Smiths and 3 Colts in that do-all caliber.

 

[RicinYakima]

The first handgun I bought when I turned 18 was a Model 10, 2 inch, with square butt that had the rounded bottom Magma grip. It was replaced with a 5 inch thin barrel when I first got out of the Army and it became the house gun for many years. When I started target shooting, the adjustable sight models because standard until about 10 years ago when I found a nice thin barrel six inch that was an ex-LE gun from 1961. It has the nicest factory action and timing I've seen for a model 10. Maybe being part of a large order, it got a little extra attention during building.

 

[Walks]

First handgun I ever owned was a WW2 M&P. I loaded for it with a 310 tong tool. Only model 10 I have these days is a 10-5 6"bbl that I bought from a retired LAPD Sgt back in the 1970's. Smooth as a baby's bottom.

But lets not forget the Colt Official Police/ Army Special. I have a 6" that My Dad bought back in the 1950's, just about the time I was born.
A heavier gun it digested many .38/44 loads before I got it in 1988.

Now both shoot only light target loads.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

A few Model 10 revolvers entered and exited the pack in my younger days. I didn't appreciate them as much when I was younger. The ones I have now are staying.
The simple things are often the best things.

I probably have 4 or 5 hammers laying around but the one at the top of the toolbox is the one I grab every time. That hammer is by far the oldest. It has a well-worn wooden handle that is finished by some combination of sweat and linseed oil. A good old model 10 S&W sort of feels the same way. Nothing fancy, just a perfect, simple design.


Top 10-7 marked RHKP (Royal Hong Kong Police)
Bottom 10-5 finished with NP3

 

[KeithB]

Got a 4” skinny barrel M10-something. It was a gift to a small town police chief upon his retirement. Probably didn’t put two-three boxes of ammo through it. His widow sold it to a local dealer and thats where I got it. It’s my fun gun. Shoots 150-160gr stuff pretty much right on to where the fixed sights point. No sonic boom like a .357 or 9mm, just a mild crack that doesn’t seem too unpleasant.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I had a m10 for a while. Traded for a 4" 64 HB. Then found a 3" 65 RB. Dont at all know why that gun was sold.

CW

 

[MW65]

Love my old victory model... us navy marked. My brother couldn't afford the shoulder holster when he bought it, but I was able to pickup a hip holster for it. Has gone on many expeditions, and enjoys the 158gr swc... still want to try out 125s... maybe soon!

 

[5shot]

Just picked up a pinned barrel Model 10 in excellent condition and will be getting delivery on a 64 shortly. A round butt 3" is on the wish list.

 

[bruce381]

From the time I was old enough to own firearms, I’ve always had some type of DA revolver chambered in 38 Special. Often that category was filled by a S&W model 10 of some type. The S&W Model 10 is ubiquitous, and it deserves the label iconic.

A 4” barreled DA revolver chambered in 38 Special is about as close to a “Universal” handgun as one can get. It isn’t perfect at filling every role, but it fills a LOT of roles. They are reasonably accurate, can be used for self-defense, easy to carry, somewhat concealable, economical to load for, not too expensive to obtain and fairly common. Of the guns that fit the description, the Model 10 may be the one that best epitomizes the type.

The Military & Police [M&P] and later Model 10, isn’t fancy. Fixed sights, blued finish, typically rather plain. Barrel lengths could range from 2” to 6” but I’m certain the 4” type was by far the most common. They were made in staggering numbers and pressed into service for countless needs.

The later model 64 had the same attributes as the model 10 but was made with stainless steel.

There were many variations of the Model 10. The grip frame could be had in square butt or round butt configuration. Barrels could be tapered (sometime called pencil barrel) or heavy barrel. There were design changes over the years, but the core design never changed.

So how about a big shout out the ubiquitous, universal, useful, and undeniably iconic Model 10.

My most fun gun to shoot easy on hands and ears, light 38 laods shoot like a 22 makes me smile every time i shoot it

 

[Petrol & Powder]

Despite the fact that the model 10 is a workhorse on many levels, the word often used in association with shooting a model 10 is "Fun".

 

[L Ross]

I like all the posts, but my Model 10's happen to be a 14 and a 15.

Funny, my first issue gun was a 15. I look back now 46 years later and I believe that any shooting scrape the officers of my old agency have ever been involved in where a handgun was the appropriate tool, the Combat Masterpiece would have easily sufficed. Same at the second place.

 

[Thumbcocker]

When I was a kid in the 60's they were called "my .38 police special" although that also applied to Colts. A K22 was "my .22 built on a .38 frame".

Dad had a 4" pencil barrel that he bought from the town Marshall for $65 in 1967 or 68. It shot well for him. Here is a story.

Dad's adult beverage of choice was a fifth of Canadian Club in a 1/2 gallon tea pitcher with the balance filled with tea. This would last him a day or so. With the advent of Tupperware glasses with the tight fitting lids Dad and his "snort" went mobile.

One day me, Dad, and a buddy of his were in the '66 Buick Wildcat on the backroads of Southern Indiana. Dad was equipped with a "snort" and the model 10. The buddy had not had a driver's license in decades due to dwis. Quite a feat at that time and place.

The conversation turned to marksmanship. Dad said he could shoot walnuts off one of the trees along the road. This was disputed by the buddy. Fast forward a few minutes.

Buddy is behind the wheel, 9 year old me in the back seat. Dad in passenger seat shooting model 10 out the passenger window of moving '66 Buick shooting at clusters of walnuts on tree beside the road. And hitting them.

Buddy says just luck. Dad says "you pick the walnuts. Done. He hits that cluster. Then more passes at higher speeds. More sips from the "snort" glass. More hits. Eventually ammo and "snort " glass run low and we return to base.

Yup I had an interesting childhood.

 

[FrankCVA42]

Grew up in NYC and all the police officers had model 10's with the heavy barrel. Finally got one about 25 or so years ago. Buddy owned a gun store and asked if he had any model 10's. One of the other guys in the store pulled out a large cardboard box full of model 10's. Spent the next half hour sorting them out until I got a nice one. Cost me a whopping $100. If I'd known how much they go for now I would have bought more. But that was the start of the "wonder nines" so no one wanted an old wheel gun. Frank

 

[CZ93X62]

I had to do some work with a stainless M-10 (64) x 4" HB one evening, and it did just fine.

I have a 5" Model 10 in the safe, and it has a VERY NICE D/A trigger stroke. I used it a couple weeks back to qualify for my HR 218 card in the "revolver" half of the program.

 

[Brad]

Never owned a 38 special revolver, only 357 mag. Mine rarely see a mag round, pretty much only 38 specials. I don’t like burning more powder than needed.

 

[Outpost75]

If shooting only .38 Special ammo, either standard pressure or +P, accuracy is better shooting in purpose-built .38 Special chamber vs. a longer .357 chamber. Well established in engineering tests we did at Ruger when I worked for the company. Confirmed in independent tests done by FBI Firearms Unit at Quantico in 1980s. Probably not important for the casual user, but IS statistically significant and measureable.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

Grew up in NYC and all the police officers had model 10's with the heavy barrel. Finally got one about 25 or so years ago. Buddy owned a gun store and asked if he had any model 10's. One of the other guys in the store pulled out a large cardboard box full of model 10's. Spent the next half hour sorting them out until I got a nice one. Cost me a whopping $100. If I'd known how much they go for now I would have bought more. But that was the start of the "wonder nines" so no one wanted an old wheel gun. Frank

I would have purchased every one I could have back in those days but:
1. I didn't have the extra money
2. I didn't have a functioning crystal ball (that thing has been broken for years)

Outside of a few periods of madness when ALL firearms get stupid expensive during the panic "du jour"; the model 10 is often fairly inexpensive (relatively speaking). They aren't the great bargains they were, say 30 years ago, but you can still find good examples for far less than the collectors grade stuff.

 

[richhodg66]

About 25 years ago, I was in a gun show in Lawton, Oklahoma, a guy had a table full of cast off cop guns. Blued Model 10s, 150 bucks, stainless 165. I went through and picked what I figured was the best one of the stainless and bought it, wish now I had made a deal for the whole table full.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

About 25 years ago, I was in a gun show in Lawton, Oklahoma, a guy had a table full of cast off cop guns. Blued Model 10s, 150 bucks, stainless 165. I went through and picked what I figured was the best one of the stainless and bought it, wish now I had made a deal for the whole table full.

I think many of us have been in front of that same table.