Found a nice "Pencil Barrel Smith 10-5

[HighValleyRanch]

My wife and I went over the mountain to town today. She spent 300.00 at an art store getting supplies. So when I got to the gun store, she said, have some fun.

Spotted a Smith and Wesson model 10, early model, but it was cosmetically challenged, and lock up was kinda loose. But right next to it was a Model 10-5, tapered 5" barrel in nicer condition for 50.00 more. Did the usual check on it and paid & did the paperwork. Of course here in CA, ten day wait. So I told my wife that she had to wait ten days to unpack her supplies!LOL

It's a revolver I've always wanted. I love the look of those skinny barrels.
Pics of the gun when it gets here. Had the original grips and an ugly Tyler T adapter on it. Lockup tight, and smooth trigger.

Usually I pick out something for my CCW, but got that all covered with snubs, so this is my ranch/woods kick around. Even have a beautiful tooled holster it will fit into. The holster had no occupant since I sold the Colt Official Police that it was made for. That my 6" Smith K-17 next to the holster.

[mk70ss]

That’s a beauty. Great gun with some honest wear. Nice score!

[HighValleyRanch]

Thanks! Just to be clear, that photo is of my K-17, not the taper barrel 10-5 I just bought.
I only showed it with the holster. Don't have the taper barrel yet.

[Jim Watson]

That is a lot of wear on the grip of a .22; much like what you see on a police revolver, right side out in all weathers. Maybe it was the previous owner's hiking, hunting, camping carry.

[HighValleyRanch]

Not the original grips, just an old cheap pair I got on flea bay

[bamaranger]

OK, I get it. Saw the title, saw the pic and first thought was....that's not a Model 10. READ post......right...understand....awaiting pic of revolver.

That IS an interesting holster. I've done a good bit of wandering about walking alongside a handgun and use flap holsters as well. Some of my favorites are old Gi 1911 holsters that nicely holds (in addition to a 1911 on occasion) a Ruger standard model .22 auto pistol. Another flapper is a Triple K model restitched to ride crossdraw, that holds a 5-1/2" Ruger Single -6 with the .22 mag cylinder installed. I had a rig at work that utilized a Bianchi M84 holster to hold a SiG P220.

When possible, I use some type of lanyard in my walkabouts, though not all handguns are so configured. But a flap holster and a lanyard, while not speedy, will pretty much insure that your pistol will be there if you need it.

As an interesting aside, I have an old book in my library that has some pics of some of Jeff Coopers handguns, and installed on the bottom of the grip frame on a revolver, is a sling swivel stud, no doubt intended to take some tupe of lanyard.

[Webleymkv]

I'll be interested to see the pictures as the closest I've ever seen to a 5" Model 10 were the "Victory Models" made for the British during WWII and those were in .38/200 rather than .38 Special (the "American" Victory Models I've seen in .38 Special all had 4" barrels). Honestly, I've never quite understood why a 5" barrel revolver wasn't more common and popular as it seems a very practical barrel length to me. My 5" M27 isn't noticeably heavier or more inconvenient to carry than my 4" M28 is and has the advantage of a longer sight radius, slightly better ballistics, and IMHO better balance and handling.

[Driftwood Johnson]

I think you meant to say K-22 Masterpiece.

This one shipped in 1954. When Smith and Wesson changed over to their model number system in 1957 these became known as the Model 17.




P.S. I would like to see a photo of your tapered barrel Model 10.

This is the only Model 10 I have. It is a Model 10-5 and it shipped in 1964. I got it over 20 years ago and only paid $125 for it, the best deal I ever got on a Smith. I have always assumed the number 54 above the trigger was a police armorer's rack number.

[HighValleyRanch]

Thanks, Driftwood J.
Like that 4" model. A 4" model with taper barrel and round butt would be my next choice.
It'll be Oct 8th before I pick up the 10-5. Really looking forward to it.

That photo is actually of a model 17 that I purchased around 1979. It looks beat up because I used it as a shop gun for making grips as a business. I know that you are an expert on these revolvers, so appreciate all your input.

[Mike Irwin]

"Thanks! Just to be clear, that photo is of my K-17, not the taper barrel 10-5 I just bought.
I only showed it with the holster. Don't have the taper barrel yet. "

Yeah, you had me confused.

[armoredman]

Didja get it yet??

[HighValleyRanch]

Tuesday! Long 10 day waiting period here. Sucks!LOL

[HighValleyRanch]

Picked up the Smith 10-5 with 5" taper barrel today.
It was in more pristine shape than I remembered. Took it down to the field and shot 25 rounds through it, all single action to verify POI. Looks good. The high shots were because I was using a center hold and then remembered many of these older revolvers used the 6 O'clock hold at longer distances.
Very clean condition. Any marks are more dirt or dust than real. Anyways, I plan to make it a shooter.

Just as nice or nicer than if I had purchase a new model 10, except this has the pinned tapered barrel, no hole, 3 screw and made using the mid 60's. Serial of c611xxx dates it around 1967 I believe. The original stocks look good without much wear. Nice case hardened hammer and trigger.
Here in California, 500.00 was a really great price for this beauty. New model 10's are running 900.00 in these parts. Cannot import for auctions into CA.

Really happy to have this beauty! Fits the holster perfectly.


Shot from 5, 7, 10 yards, 25 rounds----Black tape square is 2"

[Driftwood Johnson]

Very nice, that is a real beauty.

[LAH]

Love the -5. I've put several rounds through this one.

[jetinteriorguy]

What a beauty, I’ve always longed after one of these.