Looked at a S&W 10-6 today

[Mlee]

I went to a gun show today. I haven't been to one in a while. I couldn't believe how packed it was, and prices were a bit hard to believe also. I ran across a table with private sales (not a dealer). He had a S&W 10-6 with 4" heavy barrel, manufactured in 1978. It was in very good condition, original grips, no scratches, and little ware on the bluing. I almost made an impulse buy like I normally do but the guy was packing up so I figured I could go back first thing in the morning if I decided I want it.

So what do I need to know about it? Is the heavy barrel common? Is it too heavy and not desirable? The use will probably range and nite stand on my wife's side.

 

[ColtRevolver]

IMO, the heavy barrel makes it more desirable.

 

[jar_]

LOL

Once you shoot it I doubt it will spend much time on the nightstand.

 

[simon1]

The heavy barrel aids in point shooting.

Where exactly is this gun show at and what time do they open?

 

[ColtRevolver]

I bought this NIB unfired heavy Model 10 a few years ago. I kept it awhile and then moved it along. I probably should have kept it.

 

[Ad Astra]

Buy it. 1978 was a good year. Check the timing twice, of course.


AA

 

[Mlee]

Thanks for the replies gentlemen, you helped spend some more money .

I had forgotten that I had to take my wife to the airport this morning so I didn't make it back to the gun show as soon as I wanted. When I got there, I went straight to the table where the gun was at yesterday and it was gone. I asked the guy if he had sold it and first he said yes then he said, well I actually decided to keep it. I talked with him for 5 or 10 minutes about some other stuff then walked off.

I started to leave but I had a pocket full of money so I decided to walk around a bit.
About 10 minutes later he came up to me and said he would let me have it if I still wanted it. We went back to his table, I looked it over again, handed him the money, shook his hand then I went home.

I made a mistake yesterday on the manufacturer date, it was made in 1976.

 

[jar_]

But have you shot it yet?

 

[ylekot]

Those are good solid firearms.....any issues contact Smith and Wesson directly. They have gone above and beyond for service with guns I bought used!

 

[jar_]

And while those grips weren't the sexiest available they sure did work. Try them before you replace them.

 

[Mlee]

But have you shot it yet?

I shot it out the window on the way home a few times. Ha, just kidding . My wife is going to be out of town a few days, so maybe I can sneak out to the range after work tomorrow or the next day.

 

[ColtRevolver]

I wouldn't replace those grips. I would add a Tyler T grip.

 

[Mlee]

I wouldn't replace those grips. I would add a Tyler T grip.

Hmm, I've seen those somewhere before, probably at a gun show but I don't remember when or where. I didn't realize they were really a thing. I thought it was something homemade but when I did a search, it brought them up on ebay for about $115. It also brought up some alternatives that I may look into.

 

[ColtRevolver]

You can buy them new for under 50 bucks:

Tyler Manufacturing and Distribution Company, Inc

 

[CANES]

I went through the Police Academy with a Model 10. I was 18 years old. After starting work, I carried its .357 equivalent in stainless, the 65. Carried it for years and years until the Dept. made us change out to Glock because everyone else was doing it. The K frame revolver will always be my favorite shooting gun of all time. It looks great. Enjoy it.

 

[nortac]

Wow, the price of T-grip adapters has at least doubled since I last bought any, but still cheaper than a nice pair of replacement grips. Plus, it's an iconic piece of gear often used with revolvers of that era, kinda goes together.

 

[Ad Astra]

Congrats! To me, K-frames are the best.

The neat thing is that classic "magna" stocks, or whatever the smaller K-frame stock grip is called, was easily found at gun shows for like $10 in the 80s-90s, as everyone put the rubber Pachys on. What's old is new again! Love that grip.

Altamont makes a slight improvement on the comfy, smaller grip. I do have a couple sets.






AA

 

[FarmerTan]

You might want to look into putting some Pachymar's on it because of the value of those original grips.

I did it with that tiny model 63 of mine when I found out they had gone up to half of the price I paid the gun!

Of course, with prices today compared to 22 years ago they probably aren't worth as much?

 

[shoelessjoe]

Though I always preferred the looks of pencil-barreled S&Ws, when I noticed minty heavy-barreled Model 10-10s from Victoria, AUS selling for $300, I snatched one up. The Chevy 350 c.i. small-block of revolvers (the pencil-barrel variant, being the 327 c.i. ), IMO no collection, nightstand, truck or tackle box is complete without a Model 10 … a decade later & it’s still a frequent companion at the gun club.





Review:

Gun Review: The Smith & Wesson Model 10 is Perfect :: Guns.com

What makes the Model 10 a perfect 10? The Model 10 strikes a balance between truly utilitarian revolvers, like the GP100, and delicate hand-tuned works of art from Colt.

www.guns.com

Model	Year	Modifications
10	1957	Introduction
10-1	1959	Heavy barrel introduced
10-2	1961	Change extractor rod thread for standard barrel
10-3	1961	Change extractor rod thread for heavy barrel, change front sight width from 1/10" to 1/8"
10-4	1962	Eliminate trigger-guard screw on standard barrel frame
10-5	1962	Change sight width from 1/10" to 1/8" on standard barrel
10-6	1962	Eliminate trigger-guard screw on heavy-barrel frame
10-7	1977	Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder for standard barrel
10-8	1977	Change gas ring from yoke to cylinder for heavy barrel
10-9	1988	Replace yoke retention system, radius stud package, floating hand hammer nose bushing for standard barrel
10-10	1988	Replace yoke retention system, radius stud package, floating hand hammer nose bushing for heavy barrel
10-11	1997	MIM hammer/trigger and floating firing pin for standard barrel and HB heavy barrel Model M10 Park police model.
10-12	1997	MIM hammer/trigger + floating firing pin for heavy barrel
10-13	2002	Limited production 1899 commemorative edition
10-14	2002	Internal lock added
10-14	2010	Discontinued
10-14	2012	Reintroduced as part of the Classic Line

 

[oc_in_fw]

Congrats! To me, K-frames are the best.

The neat thing is that classic "magna" stocks, or whatever the smaller K-frame stock grip is called, was easily found at gun shows for like $10 in the 80s-90s, as everyone put the rubber Pachys on. What's old is new again! Love that grip.

Altamont makes a slight improvement on the comfy, smaller grip. I do have a couple sets.






AA

If I get a wheel gun, it will be a K frame.