S&W Model 10-5 w/ tapered brl and .38 +P

A

aug e. dog

New member
I'm considering purchasing a S&W Model 10-5 w/ a tapered barrell and was wondering if this revolver will stand up to .38 Special + P ammo.

The revolver is in great condition, blue is nearly 100%, absolutely no cylinder play when gun is in full lock-up, and there is barely even a cylinder drag line.
 
Plus P is fine in your revolver. That was the standard police load for most departments when they issued the Model 10's.
 
Aug, what's your gun's serial number? I've got a similar gun no. 247,6xx . . . photo below.

Is yours like this? I was told not to fire a lot of +p in this. But maybe they were over cautious. so far it's been all regular power ammo.

Please note that there is a better photo posted later in the thread which shows the front sight profile more clearly.
 
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Thirties, I haven't actually purchased it, but it does look similar to yours. I don't remember the front sight being rounded though. The gun shop is asking $239 for it, but the owner said he would sell it for $225. That's is low as he'll go.
 
The front sight isn't really rounded, but has a serrated ramp facing the rear [see other photo posted later in thread here]. The rear sight is very good also with a square notch. If I wanted to, I could paint both front and rear sights to make them even better.

I paid $250 for mine from a large dealer. I am blown away by the trigger on this gun -- it's my first Smith and Wesson revolver. I am very happy to have such a fine revolver.
 
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aug e. dog,

I have the five and six inch versions of the 10-5, and they are wonderful revolvers. Still looking for a perfect four inch thin barrel, but haven't found one yet.

$225 is a terrific price for one in like new condition.

Bill
 
Thirties, went back last night to look at it. The front sight is indeed the same as the one in your picture. The revolver came home with me. I got the dealer to take $225 total, including tax.

Bill, I don't know if it's like new, but if not, it's very, very close. The dealer was holding it for me, and the employee who got it out of the holding area (not the same employee who showed it to me) remarked upon seeing it, "this looks like a new gun."
 
Aug,

Congratulations!!

What barrel length did you get?

The model 10 is still in production after all these years, so that should tell you something about the quality and popularity of your new revolver. :)

There were way too many variations of the model 10 for me to collect, so I limited mine to the 10-5 in blue, with at least a four inch barrel (don't like snubs). :D

If you run across a nice model 15 someday, don't hesitate to buy one of those as well. It is the same K-frame action, but with adjustable sights.

The K-frame 38 Specials are about the finest handling, most accurate, and pleasant to shoot revolvers in the world!

Bill
 
The general rule of thumb is that you can shoot a limited diet of +P without too much trouble in Model 10s made prior to about 1980, but you want to keep it relatively limited in the taper barreled guns.


WHOA! Just looked at the picture.

Aug, if your gun has the half-moon front sight, it's too early for a 10-5 by about 10 years.

What's the serial number on the butt, and I'll give you the year of manufacture.

If this is the case, I wouldn't shoot many +Ps in it, if any at all.

I'm not sure when S&W changed the heat treating on the Model 10s, but I'm pretty sure it was well after 1952.
 
To the best of my knowledge any K frame that has a model number is safe to shoot with +P ammo. A model number Smith indicates manufacture 1958 or later and a 10-5 certainly falls into that category.
 
I have a S&W Military/Police 4" tapered barrel and the serial # starts with C37xxxx: I contacted Smith-Wesson who dated it 1956 or 57-- they said DO NOT FIRE ANY +P through it! I had already fired at least 50 rounds of Winchester +P HPs without any KABOOM(!) I took their advice and will not fire any more +P in it. Mine is like-new in appearance...politics aside, them boys at S&W know how to make a bitchen' wheelgun:D
 
It's a question of the sights, Ron.

Aug is saying that the sights on his Model 10 match those on the picture that's posted.

The picture that's posted appears to have the pre-1952 half-moon sight.

From what I understand, Smith also changed its heat treating at least once in the 1960s, specifically to make the guns even more durable with steady +P use. It's not really a question of safety, but one of durability.
 
"The picture that's posted appears to have the pre-1952 half-moon sight."

Just to clear Things up a bit, here is another photo of the same gun. In this image the front sight profile is more aparent. In the earlier photo, there was some shadow which may have obscured the front sight profile. Gun is marked model 10-5.
 
AH! That funky sight.

I've never seen any indication as to why that particular sight came about, and it doesn't look like it was offered all that long, but for the life of me it looks like S&W found a bunch of old style barrels and decided to salvage them in the 1960s.
 
Are we talking Mod 10 with 5" barrel or Mod 10-5. Huge difference. IIRC -5 is post '62 and should have no issues with +P.
 
Thanks for all the input fellas. The model on mine reads 10-5. I'll try to copy the serial # down tonight and post it in the morning. The front sight is not a half moon, but rather more like a pyramid, if that makes sense. I'd take a picture, but I don't have a digital camera, nor access to a scanner that scans pictures worth a hoot. It has the 4" tapered barrell, and looks very much like Thirties model 10, if not the same.
 
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