My New Toy - S&W Model 10 .38 Special

[Irish Maddog]

I have been wanting a little Model 36 nickel plated .38 special for awhile. I've always been a sucker for the old school S&W pistols and I love the nickel plated finishes. Yesterday I found an old-but-like-new nickel plated Model 10 .38 in my FLGS and slapped some money down it right away. It's exactly what I've been wanting. While $550 was a little more then I've been wanting to spend, trying to find a smaller conceal carry then my full-sized xD .45 and had been looking at a $400 Kel-tec, it was worth it in my opinion.

I will get it Thursday and then can determine it's exact age with the serial number. I'm really excited, this will be my first S&W .38 and I've wanted one for a long time! What do you guys think? Good deal? Any tips on having one of these? Got any good recommendations for holsters?

I'll be plugging a couple hundred rounds through it this weekend (going shooting with a friend who just picked up a .357 S&W and a new xD 9mm) and will post pictures later.

 

[Bellevance]

Barrel length? Dash number? Round butt or square?

 

[Irish Maddog]

I don't pick it up until Thursday, but it's a short barrel and square butt. That's all I know, I didn't get the chance to write down numbers and all that. Once I pick it up, I'll post numbers and everything.

 

[1KPerDay]

$550 for a model 10??

Sounds nice, but that's quite a premium, since you asked.

 

[Bellevance]

At $550 for a Model 10 snub SB, you're definitely paying a premium price, but if you've got the bucks and it's the gun you want at the time you want it, what the hell. Enjoy it.

Great concealed carry piece, but a little heavy for the pants pocket.

 

[Irish Maddog]

Well, basically, only $150 of it is my actual money. The rest is coming from an outside source that I forgot I had! Otherwise I wouldn't be spending this much. And I've had a really hard time finding a good nickel plated .38 snubbie that isn't hammerless.

 

[Ala Dan]

$550, Why~?

Unless, of course you live in a state full of restrictions such as
Kalifor'na, Mass, or Jersey. Even a NIB model 10 would not cost
that much, my friend~! Several months ago, I found a factory
nickel, 4" pinned pencil barrel, square butt with diamond-cut
walnut factory grips, and a pristine nickel finish for $200. Guess
when The Standard Catalog Of Smith & Wesson 3rd edition
says it was manufactuered~? Between the years 1963-1965,
as its C737xxx S/N indicates~!

 

[Irish Maddog]

That's amazing. I've seen other nickel plated Model 36s go for $600 and more around here. It's Alaska, so we are the gun friendliest state in the Union but have pretty limited selection.

That's depressing you guys have seen them for so cheap. I haven't seen a S&W .38 below $400 in a single store.

 

[andrewdl007]

The price all depends on where you live. I live in a similar price where gunstors want $400 for the most terrible sporterized rifles that arent worth a sent, but sometimes you have to pay what they want or you will come away with nothing at all. Congrats on a nice purchase.

 

[finfanatic]

Whew!

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/manufacturers_id/31/products_id/26316

That seems high to me, but....

I have been known to pay too much for something I really wanted.

So if you really want it....

 

[Irish Maddog]

Edit: Never mind, read the site wrong

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

Irish,
You are not alone. I see these guys all the time talking about their prices and I get so depressed. That sort of talking on this site has almost run me away from this sport and tonight is one of those nights. I just left a shop tonight with these prices.

Model 10 $565
S&W model 29 $900
DPMS AR15 $1090

Most stores and shops in my area have prices like this. And they are all saying well with the new election the demand is up. Granted before the election prices were about 25 bucks cheaper on things. I will say, this is one of the larger stores in the midwest and they were dang near empty tonight. I have never seen them with such low stock, so someone is buying at these prices. What ticks me off is I heard the guys including the owner in this very spot complaining about gas prices being up for no reason and how everyone is cashing in and how unethical it was. Now they are in the same boat if you ask me. They have looked for the slightest reason to jack prices.

So ok take this scenario, I buy online pay 25 for ffl transfer for the shipping then when it gets to my end everyone around here wants you to pay at least $30 for just receiving it. So on most things I look at online like at Buds or anyone else, by the time I pay all the ffl fee's ($55)I am up to the price where I can just walk in locally and walk out with what I want.

I wish someone would share their secrets with me about how to get these great deals.

 

[moewadle]

Well, is it a Model 36 or Model 10?

You have called it both.

 

[krs]

It DOES NOT matter what you pay. What does matter is that you HAVE THE GUN, whatever it might be.

As collectors often say "You can't pay too much, you can only pay too soon" because whatever you pay, the gun will be worth more than that someday if you take care of it.

This does not mean that you can't shoot it and enjoy it, it just means that you don't abuse it by modifications or letting it rust or be damaged. Some of the nicest and highest priced collectible guns show considerable wear but it will be honest wear from intended use.

So congratulations for getting yourself a certain something that you'll enjoy and be happy to own. You would not have it if you waited hoping to find the deal that all of the naysayers suggest you should find. You'd likely end up picking away at what others have, like they do, because you won't have one, like they don't.

 

[Bellevance]

Well, is it a Model 36 or Model 10?
You have called it both.

Nah. He says he's been wanting a 36, but what he found is a 10.

 

[Ala Dan]

Guys I Must Confess~!

I'm in Alabama, and happen to work in a long establsihed family owned
and run sporting goods store that happens to sell firearms. My boss
(who is one of the finest gentleman I have ever known) and I have
been friends for well over 50 years. His family, and my family have a
very long and respectful relationship; dating back too school days
and church attendance. Its my pleasure working for these fine folk's,
and YES I must admit that I do get some great deal's~!

 

[Irish Maddog]

Ala, I hate you so much! I wish I was in that position. I hate shelling out this kind of money. Hopefully it's easier to find deals in King County, WA. I'll be moving there in two years to work for the Sheriff Department.

It's only my second handgun ever though, soon enough I'll have a veritable armory. That's the goal, anyways. Next up is finding a CZ pistol, I think. Or a Walther PPk.

 

[Bellevance]

Getting a good price on a gun you have a hankering for is about patience, luck, and location. (And connections, of course ala Ala Dan--but that's true for just about anything.) Desire is what can often trump all of those. Even though the hunt is often pleasurable, what matters in the end is acquiring and having the gun you're after.

A year ago last summer I was looking for a .38 snub. Luck and location came together for me when I saw a 10-5 adverstised in the S&W Classifieds. The seller happened to be a detective in Vermont. We came to terms through email and met at a restaurant to make the deal--and I scored a perfect 10-5 square butt with a period holster, Tyler-T, and spare Ajax "pearl" grips for $330. I sold the Ajax later for $50.

Here's a link to a fine piece about the M10 snub--with a pic of what could be the twin of mine:

http://www.snubnose.info/docs/m10.htm

 

[dispatch]

I think the obvious is that now is NOT the time to expect any good deals on any firearms or any ammunition. Please buy what you need or want- just don’t expect it to be cheap.

 

[Daizee]

I think it's timing.

I lamented the cheap prices I've heard people throw around online.
Then I happened across a very aggressively priced Model-10 at a local shop where I'm reasonably friendly with the owners. It was just beyond buy-it-now price, and the owner must have scented a sale, and said he could do $20 off the tag. Well, that was like another 9% off, and I couldn't very well expect another deal like that ever. Yep, it came home. He must have paid peanuts for it. But it was by FAR the cheapest quality revolver in good condition that I've ever seen in my state. Sometimes you just get lucky. 'Course you might have to buy a lot of other guns before you do.

-Daizee

 

[ArchAngelCD]

$550 for a good condition Nickel M10 snub nose isn't all that out of line, especially in Alaska where their neighbors are ice to the north and Canada to the south. There isn't much foot traffic going on to circulate used revolvers!

If you're happy with the gun you bought it's worth every penny, Congrats...

 

[Brian Dale]

It's only my second handgun ever though, soon enough I'll have a veritable armory.

There are few finer choices for that "second handgun" position. Your first was whatever it was, but this one...a classic, and meant to be shot.

Whatever you do, I suggest that you set aside some money from the purchase budget and spend it on ammo. Thousands of truly expert shooters got to be that way by putting a lot of ammo down range from a Model 10 Smith.

Congratulations.

 

[TomcatPC]

A few years back I bought my very first handgun. I got a decent deal on a S&W Model 10-5, Square Butt, with 4" Standard Barrel made in circa 1966-1967. Since I bought that revolver about 4 years ago, my handgun collection has swelled to an entire two revolvers, the other being a .380" Calibre Webely & Scott Ltd. Mk. IV Revolver. Needless to say, I like both a lot. I really like the Model 10, I have not heard many people say bad things about the Model 10. I'd love to find an older Commercial "Pre- Model 10" M&P one of these days. I do have a .380" Calibre WWII "Victory" Model on lay away, so I'm getting closer...LOL. Have fun with your S&W Model 10, most people I know that have them, really like them.
Thanks
Mark

 

[Irish Maddog]

So I got it today and I had forgot it was in such fantastic condition. It looks brand new and the guy doing the paperwork/background checks kept remarking what unbelievable condition it was in. Plus it came with original papers and box, which I didn't know. I am in love with this thing.

It has different grips then I've seen before, real light wood. I'll post pics after my shift down at the station.

 

[Bellevance]

Sounds terrific. Maddog. Congratulations!

As long as you're buying on the high side, you might as well be buying a premium example of the M10 snub. In a pre-owned handgun, there is nothing prettier or more gratifying than a perfect factory nickel job. You can be pretty sure that whoever had the gun before you took excellent care of it.

Except for the square butt, it probably looks just like the one at the bottom of this Web page, and I'll bet you just can't stop looking at it:

http://www.snubnose.info/docs/m10.htm