Extremely Rare Smith & Wesson Model 10-7 / Anyone seen one like this?

[whatnickname]

I have recently acquired a very rare Smith & Wesson Model 10-7. While model 10 guns with a 3” barrel are somewhat scarce, this gun has the only 3” tapered barrel I have ever seen. There is reference to a small run of model 10-5 revolvers that had tapered barrels in the 4th edition of the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson. These guns were exported to Spain. I purchased this gun directly from the US importer. It has German proof marks on it indicating a date code of registration in Germany of 1990. The gun was imported into Germany by a large commercial distributor. The importer told me he’s only seen two of these guns. The serial number prefix on the gun is AFW. That prefix is not shown in the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson. I contacted Jim Supica at the Collector’s Association to see if he has ever seen a model 10-7 in this configuration. He had no idea that a 3” tapered barrel Model 10-7 ever existed and advised he would like to publish pictures in the next edition of the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson.

To the best of my knowledge this is the only one of these on the North American Continent today. I plan to send a request to the S&W Historical Foundation for a letter of authenticity ( S&W no longer issues factory letters. The Historical Foundation does that now. )The gun is in 97% condition. In the interim, does anyone know anything about this revolver or have any additional information they could share?

 

[1KPerDay]

Weird. Love it. That front sight is bizarre.

 

[Frulk]

Cool revolver. Make sure you follow up on this thread with what S&W said. I’m very interested in their response.

 

[Riomouse911]

News to me, that is a unique revolver for sure.

Weird. Love it. That front sight is bizarre.

Yeah, it has lines sort of like a Charter Bulldog and Colt Agent were an inspiration.

I, too want to hear what S&W says about your revolver.

Stay safe.

 

[RayRoy]

Is this tapered? It's a 10-7 imported by Century.

10-7

• RayRoy
• Apr 22, 2023
• 3

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Is this tapered? It's a 10-7 imported by Century.

10-7

• RayRoy
• Apr 22, 2023
• 3

Looks like it, need to see a top down shot to be sure.

 

[whatnickname]

Is this tapered? It's a 10-7 imported by Century.

10-7

• RayRoy
• Apr 22, 2023
• 3

it’s tapered. Has a different importer name stamped inside the frame where the yoke closes. Where did you get yours? Any additional info you could share would be appreciated.

 

[RayRoy]

I couldn't find a receipt or anything to verify, but I'm going to say I ordered it from J&G back when they had a bunch.

Here's an old thread mentioning J&G Model 10s that I think is when I got mine.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/my-new-old-model-10.189770/

 

[bangswitch]

I have recently acquired a very rare Smith & Wesson Model 10-7. While model 10 guns with a 3” barrel are somewhat scarce, this gun has the only 3” tapered barrel I have ever seen. There is reference to a small run of model 10-5 revolvers that had tapered barrels in the 4th edition of the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson. These guns were exported to Spain. I purchased this gun directly from the US importer. It has German proof marks on it indicating a date code of registration in Germany of 1990. The gun was imported into Germany by a large commercial distributor. The importer told me he’s only seen two of these guns. The serial number prefix on the gun is AFW. That prefix is not shown in the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson. I contacted Jim Supica at the Collector’s Association to see if he has ever seen a model 10-7 in this configuration. He had no idea that a 3” tapered barrel Model 10-7 ever existed and advised he would like to publish pictures in the next edition of the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson.

To the best of my knowledge this is the only one of these on the North American Continent today. I plan to send a request to the S&W Historical Foundation for a letter of authenticity ( S&W no longer issues factory letters. The Historical Foundation does that now. )The gun is in 97% condition. In the interim, does anyone know anything about this revolver or have any additional information they could share?

View attachment 1147277View attachment 1147278

I'd like to see a true profile shot and one from directly above the gun, specifically the barrel and top strap. Your profile picture of the gun in front of the target looks like a standard heavy barrel, and I can't tell much from the other picture. Tapered barrels (light, or "pencil barrel") are decidedly smaller in diameter at the muzzle than a heavy ("bull barrel"). I don't own any 3" barrel revolvers, but have several tapered barrel and heavy barrel N frame models, and the light and heavy barrels look the same as the K frame guns. The picture RayRoy posted is a heavy barrel.

Your AFW serial number is post 1983, and according to SCSW, the M10-7 was made from 1977 to 1988, when the M10-9 started (light barrel models are even dashes, heavy barrel are odd dashes after the dash-2), and the M10 heavy barrel frame is also slightly different from the light barrel frame in the yoke and front strap area. AFW doesn't show in the listings in the SCSW appendix, but AF-B, -K, -L, -N, -R, and -S are all 1985, while AFZ is 1988, so your revolver is most likely 1985 or 86, but could be as late as 1988.
Below are examples of light barrel and heavy barrel on 4" N frames, showing the taper at the beginning of the light barrel and the lack of taper on the heavy barrel. Taper is the same all the way around and top profile would look like side profile on either barrel, except of course the barrel rib and extractor shroud if the gun has one.
Heavy barrel:

Light (tapered) barrel:


Also for reference, here is a K frame 6" heavy barrel without an extractor shroud(I don't have a tapered barrel K frame):

 

[Pat Riot]

Looks like a heavy barrel to me, but regardless, that is a cool revolver @whatnickname

 

[Walkalong]

Wow! That's very cool.

 

[PistoleroWadcutterGANG]

Well, "Hello" you sexy beast! ... Thank you for posting. Really want to hear the story from Smith Wesson and academics.

 

[J-Bar]

No need for a comment if Supica is on the job. He's the man! Please update as you get additional info, and congratulations on your good fortune!

 

[shafter]

Looks like a heavy barrel from the photos.

 

[StrawHat]

Cool revolver. Make sure you follow up on this thread with what S&W said. I’m very interested in their response.

S&W will say “ dunno”. The HistoricalSociety has all the records the factory tossed in to the dumpster.

Kevin

 

[Riomouse911]

Light, “mid weight” and heavy barrel K frames;

Model 15 4” .38 has a modem-profile light barrel,
Model 19 2.5” .357 has a slightly tapered “mid weight” profile. and Model 13 3” has a non-tapered heavy barrel:



Models 15 and 19:


Model 19 and 13:


The heavy barrel of the 13 has wider rib like the 19 along with zero taper..


19 on left and 13 on right.


The muzzles of the tapered barrel of the 15 on left and the heavy barrel 13 on right. Note the very thin rib on the 15 under the front sight.


And the thin profiled 15 and the 19 with the mid weight barrel.


Not the best pictures but I hope it helps show the various barrel thicknesses on the K frame .38/.357’s.

Stay safe.

 

[bannockburn]

Very interesting! I like it! Would love to have a 3" heavy barrel Model 10!

 

[PzGren]

This gun was definitely imported into Germany by Frankonia, their importer mark WWF and the German proofs are in the yoke. There were no Spanish proofs on the gun. A lot of German distributors received their S&Ws from a Belgian wholesaler and they all have Belgian proofs.
The sought after CS-1 was imported in large numbers as the Security Special into Germany and three inch revolver are popular among German hunters to carry in the field. There are many S&W models that come from the Germn distributor with Nill grips and in configurations that are not found here. I had considered it a heavy barrel, despite the long ramped front sight looking kind of high.

 

[whatnickname]

This gun was definitely imported into Germany by Frankonia, their importer mark WWF and the German proofs are in the yoke. There were no Spanish proofs on the gun. A lot of German distributors received their S&Ws from a Belgian wholesaler and they all have Belgian proofs.
The sought after CS-1 was imported in large numbers as the Security Special into Germany and three inch revolver are popular among German hunters to carry in the field. There are many S&W models that come from the Germn distributor with Nill grips and in configurations that are not found here. I had considered it a heavy barrel, despite the long ramped front sight looking kind of high.

This thing just intrigues me. I thought I knew the S&W line pretty well. I know the 3” K frame Smith & Wessons were somewhat scarce. Looks like this one is not as scarce as I thought. Another poster put up pictures of his 3” 10-7 that was imported by Century Arms some time ago. All things considered a 3” tapered barrel square butt Model 10 is still a rare critter. I wouldn’t have even remotely guessed that German hunters would be hot to trot for a 3” 38 Special…Go figure. I will never understand why Smith & Wesson tossed all of their records…Glad the Historical Society was there to pick up the pieces. Wonder what other historical secrets are buried at Smith & Wesson.

 

[whatnickname]

No need for a comment if Supica is on the job. He's the man! Please update as you get additional info, and congratulations on your good fortune!

Thank you!

 

[whatnickname]

Several have requested a picture from the top of the barrel looking down. Here it is. While the barrel is heavier than the barrel of a 4” tapered barrel, it still has a lighter couture than the 3” heavy barrel 10-5 Model 10.

 

[eclayton]

Here is my 3” tapered 10-7. Also has CAI markings. I wasn’t aware that it was rare by any means. I bought it in a private sale and paid about the going rate for a Model 10 at the time. Great shooter and occasional carry piece.

 

[Jonesy814]

S&W made the 3 inch model 10 with a standard (tapered) barrel and a heavy barrel. They were uncataloged until around 1996. The tapered barrel is not as evident as it is on longer barrels and is more of an intermediate profile. Heavy barreled versions usually have a square butt, standard barreled usually have a round butt. Front sight of heavy barreled guns have a pinned front sight while the standard barrels front sight is forged as part of the barrel. This is the quickest way to tell them apart.
This info came from a post on a S&W forum. It was posted by someone who specializes in collecting and researching 3 inch model 10’s.