Two new Model 10s

M

Marko Kloos

Inactive
Since everybody these days wants either tactical plastic or Magnums made out of styrofoam, there are plenty of abandoned and neglected old .38 Special steel frames around.

This weekend, I acquired not just one, but two S&W Model 10 revolvers, a 3" heavy barrel and a 2" nickel version.

The 3" HB has a bit more wear on it, with a few honest wear scuffs and some finish wear at the muzzle, but it shoots like a million bucks. With 158-grain lead wadcutters, I ate the center out of the target at both 21 and 50 feet.

The 2" nickel round butt was a range loaner, but it cleaned up very nicely. It came with gigantic Pachmayrs which were promptly replaced by the rosewood splinter grips off an older M65LS, and a worn-in Tyler T-Grip adapter.

m10snub.JPG


I won't show a picture of the 3" HB M10 yet, since I had to put Hogue Bantams on it temporarily. It was wearing factory splinter grips and a Tyler, but I had to borrow the grip screw to pretty up the 2" M10, and I don't have another grip screw for factory K-frame grips around.

The M10 is just a neat, functional, solid, and dependable gun. It's not very tactical, but it'll get the job done just fine.
 
My summer carry is a S&W M10 2" RB in blue. I like 6 shot K frames over 5 shot J frames. Hand size has a little to do with it. The 3" Ks are just about perfection.
 
Tyler T-Grip adapter?

Nickel plated guns definitely look sharp. I don't go in for chrome much, but do like nickel - almost looks like silver.

Marko: Can you explain what that grey piece on there does? I believe you call it the "Tyler T-Grip adapter"... I have noticed that most revolver grips fill in that area, but some don't... what reason to fill it in or leave it empty?

Thanks,
Caleb
 
Caleb, it is about the hand size. Some people can grab the stock skinny grip comfortably and absorb recoil too. The larger hand folks need either larger grips or to use their stock splinter grips with a Tyler T-grip adapter. The Tyler was a cheap and functional method of filling the hand, using the stock grips and providing finger grooves to aid in recoil recovery. Many LEAs authorized or even purchased them for service weapons.
 
The function of the Tyler T-Grip adapter is to fill in the area behind the trigger guard without having to resort to aftermarket grips. Purists like the looks and concealability of the original grip frame, but appreciate the improved grip provided by the adapter. It adds just enough meat to that area to make the hand ride a little lower and a lot more comfortable.

A S&W with factory stocks and the Tyler adapter just feels right.

Plus, it looks crusty and old school. :D
 
Not a thing in the world wrong with a Model 10.

J&G Sales in Prescott, AZ had some french police buy backs a while ago.

They were 3" medium barrel models. Think of them as a cross between a 3" model 10 heavy barrel, and a 4" tapered, or "skinny" barreled model.

They are square butts...but the SIX I have purchased now wear either stag, smooth magna-style, or Spegel "Boot Grips".

They look darned near new, and for $189.00 each....they were a STEAL.

I guess since they were french...they were never fired, and only dropped once.
 
a car backfired in Paris yesterday

and the French army surrendered :D

Yup, a used model 10 in whatever guise is probably one of the best deals out there.
All the young guys/newbies have to have to latest/greatest tactical ninja whatever, so used model 10s are dirt cheap around here. my last couple were $175 or less. can't go wrong with that.

glad you found some new toys, enjoy!
 
Nice old snub, Marko. I am known to be weak for nickel S&W's.

The Tyler-T grip remains one of the best low-profile grip solutions available, for folks with small to medium-sized hands. I can recall a time when probably 80% of the Kansas City PD uniform patrol division had Tylers on their K-frames, as did most of us the metro area. They became that popular for several reasons. First, they significantly improved the way the gun pointed and handled recoil. Second- they were one of the few modifications allowed by General Order. And third- they didn't cost an arm and a leg, which was important to rookie cops who weren't making boat-loads of money.

If that gun was mine, I'd load it with +P 158 grain LSWCHP's (the FBI load) and feel well armed indeed, provided that it shot to the sights. K-frame Smiths so loaded have settled a lot of dirty business over the years, and will still do it as well as ever.

Congratulations.
 
Very nice indeed. IMHO, nothing has ever improved on the Model 10 as a fine, basic, DA revolver. For many years it's remained one of my two or three fav S&W models. Right now, my nickel 3-inch HB is in the nightstand, loaded with 125-grain Federal Nyclad HP's.
 
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