The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > Hogan's Alley > Handguns: The Revolver Forum

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old February 3, 2013, 09:52 AM   #1
Skippymjp
Junior Member
 
Join Date: January 8, 2013
Posts: 7
A blast from the past

I was at a gun show this weekend and was behind an elderly woman at a booth. She had brought in a gun to sell, no trade, nada, just sell. The fellow at the booth politely declined, as it was a revolver and he felt he had more than enough.

I inquired into what she had, and she showed me the most beautiful Model 10-5 I'd seen in many a year. Her late husband had bought it new "about 50 years ago" for "just in case", and had fired 5 rounds through it into the ground in his back yard, cleaned it, and put it back in the box. Bluing is 100%, even though a very faint beginning of a cylinder lock line can be seen in the right light. Even the muzzle crown is still blued. I gave her $400 for it, with neither of us really knowing what it was really worth, and feel we both were treated fairly. BTW, she also still had the original box of 158 grn lead round nose ammo, minus 5 rounds. It was so old the cases were turning brown.

Skippymjp is offline  
Old February 3, 2013, 09:54 AM   #2
Mike Irwin
Staff
 
Join Date: April 13, 2000
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 41,374
That dealer was an idiot.

You didn't get a screaming good deal, but you got a good deal, and the lady who sold it to you got a good price.
__________________
"The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza

Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.
Mike Irwin is offline  
Old February 3, 2013, 10:23 AM   #3
Jack19
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 18, 2001
Location: Somewhere in the Ford Galaxy
Posts: 711
Basically as new in the box...for $400...I think you did pretty well.

All steel parts, pinned barrel, grips look almost perfect, thin barrel. None of that is available on Smith's current Model 10.
__________________
Liberty will not long survive the total extinction of morals.
Samuel Adams
Jack19 is offline  
Old February 3, 2013, 10:33 AM   #4
j357
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 25, 2009
Location: Liberty Twp, OH
Posts: 283
+1 on idiot dealer. He could have song and danced her into $300 and sold that particular gun (condition) within the day for around $500 at shows around here (SW OH).
j357 is offline  
Old February 3, 2013, 10:40 AM   #5
Tom Servo
Staff
 
Join Date: September 27, 2008
Location: Foothills of the Appalachians
Posts: 13,057
Quote:
That dealer was an idiot.
Normally, I'd agree, but at the moment, it depends on where you are. The industry is seeing a huge spike in demand for OMGHICAPGONNABEBANNED rifles and pistols, but the demand for revolvers (outside of pocket guns) is just not there at the moment.

The dealer may have been looking for product to sell at an easy profit in a reasonable amount of time, and a service revolver isn't it.

Now, in that shape, with the box...I'd have forked over $400 in a heartbeat. Even if I didn't want it personally, and even though the market's soft, that would be something worth sitting on for awhile.

(Around here, before the current crisis, that gun would fetch $600 easy.)
__________________
Sometimes it’s nice not to destroy the world for a change.
--Randall Munroe
Tom Servo is offline  
Old February 3, 2013, 11:32 AM   #6
Mike Irwin
Staff
 
Join Date: April 13, 2000
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 41,374
Here's the thing, Tom...

As the OMG demand continues, and supplies run even shorter, people are going to start buying revolvers at a very healthy clip because that's what's available.

Saw it in 2009.
__________________
"The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza

Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.
Mike Irwin is offline  
Old February 3, 2013, 05:38 PM   #7
Joe_Pike
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 30, 2010
Posts: 1,581
Quote:
but the demand for revolvers (outside of pocket guns) is just not there at the moment.
Revolvers are just starting to sell again around where I live because it's the only thing that is left. I traded a model 13 to a shop back before Thanksgiving and he just sold it Friday. I was shocked that it took that long.
__________________
Stay Groovy
Joe_Pike is offline  
Old February 3, 2013, 06:24 PM   #8
g.willikers
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 28, 2008
Posts: 10,442
Nice find, Skippy.
An old lady cousin was recently rooting around in her long deceased father's storage box, and came up with the same gun.
Tried as I might to wrestle it away from her, no dice.
I asked her to leave it to me in her will.
Only trouble is she's only a couple of years older than me.
But I'm meaner and should live longer.
__________________
Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez:
“Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”
g.willikers is offline  
Old February 3, 2013, 09:12 PM   #9
Corona
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 1, 2011
Location: LoneStar State
Posts: 156
Skippy....I think ya done good. I bought a 10-5 last fall in nearly the same condition, except it had the rubber uncle Mike's grips. Wonderful shape, blueing was nearly new, and lockes up tighter than a tick. Paid $325 at the time, maybe a little more than I should have.

But it's a great shooter, a piece of history and the soul of a classic S&W. I just love shooting mine

You WILL shoot it, right?
Corona is offline  
Old February 3, 2013, 10:44 PM   #10
Sevens
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 28, 2007
Location: Ohio
Posts: 11,755
That revolver right there would be a REAL conflict for me. It's in dang near dead-mint condition. At $300, you'd have to buy it or you'd be struck by lightning for being an idiot. At $400, it's probably the right price -- and that's where the conflict is.

All Model 10's are great guns. I have a 10-6 from 1983 and I shoot it often. I've got a pre-Model 10 from early in the century that is a family heirloom that I rarely shoot. I've got other K-frames that get lotsa love.

That one might not be textbook MINT, but it's close. There are a hundred gujillion of them, so they simply don't ever carry a high "value." Typically, you'd simply make a shooter out of it because I'm sure it shoots like a complete gem. But when I consider how easy it is to find a great shooting Model 10 that isn't nearly that minty to shoot, why would I want to put a bunch of wear on THAT one that is so clean?!

But yet, keeping it so pristine for...what? They don't have a lot of value because of the sheer numbers. These are the silly kind of thoughts that interrupt my day at gun shows sometimes!

You did good and she got the right money for her property. I just see conflict if I had come across the same deal. I'm glad it was YOU that got it. I hope you love it and give it a good home!
__________________
Attention Brass rats and other reloaders: I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.
Sevens is offline  
Old February 3, 2013, 10:49 PM   #11
Skippymjp
Junior Member
 
Join Date: January 8, 2013
Posts: 7
Oh yes, I intend to shoot it. I'm going to load up some lead RN for it for the range, and I've ordered it two boxes of this for serious bid'nez.

Buffalo Bore 38 Special 158 grn lead semi-wadcutter hollow point
Skippymjp is offline  
Old February 3, 2013, 11:21 PM   #12
9mm
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 9, 2011
Location: Land of the Free
Posts: 2,834
Are you kidding me? I wonder what other "mint/95-100%" guns are just sitting in people's houses they have no clue about.
9mm is offline  
Old February 3, 2013, 11:22 PM   #13
shootniron
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 16, 2011
Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,599
If that were a Taurus, you would really have something there.

But, it is very nice anyway.
shootniron is offline  
Old February 4, 2013, 01:22 AM   #14
lowercase
Senior Member
 
Join Date: August 30, 2012
Posts: 287
Quote:
As the OMG demand continues, and supplies run even shorter, people are going to start buying revolvers at a very healthy clip because that's what's available.
That stage arrived about a month ago in WA state.
lowercase is offline  
Old February 6, 2013, 08:49 PM   #15
tomrkba
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 29, 2011
Posts: 751
$400 is a great price for a gun in that condition in my area. In my mind, you really made out because most service guns today will cost you $600 new after tax. I know the M10 is not all "tactical", but it will do the job. Consider yourself lucky and never sell or trade it.
tomrkba is offline  
Old February 6, 2013, 11:11 PM   #16
j357
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 25, 2009
Location: Liberty Twp, OH
Posts: 283
+1 to Sevens and the conflicting thoughts that cross many minds throughout the day. My stepson could give that weapon to his son as a 95%.... in 15 years, if only I could keep it laid back in the safe that long.

I picked up a 90% M-10 three years ago from my Dad and knew it would be a shooter, glad I did. Now I would have no conflicts about laying a great priced nearly NIB example back, if I ever get lucky.

FWIW, my Dad is still trying to find one as good as the one he sold me above. He just made a third try two weeks ago and still wishes he hadnt sold the first to me.
j357 is offline  
Old February 7, 2013, 02:04 PM   #17
jrothWA
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 11, 2006
Posts: 2,519
Just one word...

LUCKY!
jrothWA is offline  
Old February 7, 2013, 02:54 PM   #18
Ferretboy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 6, 2012
Location: Longview, WA
Posts: 214
I would have a hard time passing that up as well. I just got into Revolvers, thinking of selling all my hicap stuff and working on reloading supplies for .38, .357 mag, and .30-06. Plus stock up on .22 plink ammo for the kids.
__________________
There is no such thing as Overkill, Dead is Dead!
Ferretboy is offline  
Old February 7, 2013, 03:31 PM   #19
Nasty
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 18, 2008
Posts: 323
Not tactical?

Ask an old PPC shooter to show you what an old revolver can do.



ps: The Taurus made back then were total crap.
__________________
Above is based on the opinion of a 20 year Small Arms Marksmanship and Training Unit USAF instructor with more than 30 years in competitive shooting sports. Your mileage may vary.
Nasty is offline  
Old February 7, 2013, 05:32 PM   #20
smee78
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 14, 2008
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 2,918
That was a great find, and that Taurus joke almost made me choke I had laughed so hard...
__________________
We know exactly where one cow with Mad-cow-disease is located, among the millions and millions of cows in America, but we haven't got a clue where thousands of illegal immigrants and terrorists are
smee78 is offline  
Old February 7, 2013, 06:58 PM   #21
Glenn E. Meyer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 17, 2000
Posts: 20,064
The Bass Pro near me was cleaned out of revolvers. So are the Academys.

That's a fine gun and I'd have bought it as a Biden Ban Backup!

How can a Model 10 be evil?
__________________
NRA, TSRA, IDPA, NTI, Polite Soc. - Aux Armes, Citoyens
Glenn E. Meyer is offline  
Old February 7, 2013, 07:12 PM   #22
USMC EOD
Member
 
Join Date: January 6, 2013
Location: Virginia
Posts: 60
Wow, that is an awesome find. I wonder if anyone would think I'm creepy if I started following little old ladies around the next gun show I go to so I can find a bargain.
USMC EOD is offline  
Old February 8, 2013, 10:54 AM   #23
Glenn E. Meyer
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 17, 2000
Posts: 20,064
I was at a show and from the other side of a big table, saw a guy trying to sell a snubby Model 66 to a dealer. The dealer was low balling him and the poor fellow said he even had an extra set of nice wood grips. Before I could speak the poor guy accepted the deal.

I would have had to shout and vault the table for it. Sigh.
__________________
NRA, TSRA, IDPA, NTI, Polite Soc. - Aux Armes, Citoyens
Glenn E. Meyer is offline  
Old February 8, 2013, 12:26 PM   #24
Texshooter
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 17, 2006
Posts: 261
Droooool.

Lordy, I wish I could run into someone with a similar mod. 19
Texshooter is offline  
Old February 8, 2013, 02:45 PM   #25
Lordy123
Member
 
Join Date: June 6, 2011
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 94
Your wish is my command. Except I don't have those powers

I feel lame, I'm headed to a gunshow right afterwork and all I really need is a new range bag and some 9mm ammo!
Lordy123 is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:14 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.08273 seconds with 10 queries