SN#D20XXX. 5" barrel. Said to be '69 with all the goodies. I have many handguns and shoot 'em all but I think I'll save this one for my boy when he's ready. Patched barrel and chambers with a little oil and patch came out as clean as it went in. Not rare but I couldn't pass it up. It's going to guard the safe for awhile.
Nice find - looks like it came out of a time machine. My reference puts that serial number at 1968 but no matter, very nice. My son's favorite cartridge is still 38 Special and he's very fond of my Model 15-2 which will be his some day.
Mikes1707, Model 10s are a classic. Their roots go back to the original M&P 38 Special of 1899. I wonder how many M&Ps and Mod 10s S&W made? ... it must be a million or more. Back in the day, the M&P or Mod 10 was the standard sidearm for just about every law enforcement agency in the nation. There are still many Mod 10 police trade-ins so their used prices are way less than their true value. S&W still makes the Mod 10 in their Classic series but its price tag is out of sight at $739.
S&W started a model numbering system in 1958-59 and along with model numbers, they also include the engineering changes (dash numbers). Some models have had many changes .... especially the Mod 10 because it has a unique dash number system, unlike any other model. Odd number dashes are for tapered "pencil" barrels and even numbers are for "heavy" barrels. So .... a Model 10-5 and a model 10-6 have identical internal parts but the -5 has a pencil barrel and the -6 has a heavy barrel. The most popular barrel length is 4", however they were made with snubbies up to 6". 5" barrels are not very common.
Here's my favorite "house gun" that I keep stoked with 148gr DEWCs. Note .... my gun is a Mod 10-6 .... heavy 4" barrel (also made in 1968) compared with the OP's 5" tapered barrel. Both are K-frame square butt however Mod 10s were also available with a round butt. Mod 10s have fixed sights whereas most other S&W revolvers have adjustable rear sights.
That gun is a piece of art. I love the pics that show the beautiful case colors on the hammer, the mirror finished side-plate, and the pristine ratchet star on the rear of the cylinder. The old girl looks unfired. Collectors go crazy for all the paperwork and nice original box, but I just enjoy the inherent beauty and build quality of an older Smith & Wesson. I know it belongs in a safe, and I wouldn't fire it, but I might put it in a display case just so I could look at it.
Thank you to all of you for the vast knowledge, suggestions, kind words and for a great firearms forum.
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