I guess they decided to upgrade that component. The old style firing pins did get brittle after maybe 50 years or so. One of the more critical changes in the Smith 10 series came with version 10-11 when the classic old hammer pivoting and pinned firing pin was replaced with a hammer that strikes a flat face to hit a floating firing pin inside the rear of the frame. There is very little to go foul as long as everything is kept reasonably clean and lubricated occasionally. Everything is mechanical on a Smith revolver. The unload part comes simply by pushing the cylinder pin backwards releasing the star ejector pulling out the cartridges empty or loaded by their rims. Then the cylinder can be swung out to the left to load or unload. Pushing this release forward moves the cylinder pin forward through the cylinder pushing a lock up spring loaded catch pin forward under the barrel. The six-shot cylinder releases from the frame with a push forward slide checkered thumb button on the left side of the frame just below the hammer. It was meant for armies, police officers, and us. After all, such a handgun is for up close work, not long distance shooting. It causes the eye, though, to point naturally down the barrel.

The rear “sight” is more of a channel milled down the center of the top strap.

“Sights” on a Model 10 consist of a plain ramp front or a rounded half-moon on the oldest models. Never quite got interested in a shiny, reflective gun, but each to his own. The finishes are either deep Smith blue or nickel. The grip butts can be found in round or square configurations. Smith 10s came in barrel lengths of 2-4-5-6 inches as factory standard and some 3-inch by special order only. Today, though the Model 10 is only currently produced in the “Classic” line of Smith handguns, the latest 10-dash designation is at 10-13.

They began with just the “10”, then 10-1 and so forth as modifications were made to the subsequent models. There have been literally dozens of modifications or enhancements to the Model 10 over the years.Īs with most Smith revolvers after model numbers were assigned rather than model names, the yoke is stamped with the model number and version. Since 1899 these guns started out as 5-screw models, then 4, then 3. These cylinder revolvers are 6-shot loading for the time honored mid-range powered 38 Special. The handgun is based on the Smith proven K-frame, just slightly smaller than the mid-frame L series. The Smith 10 got its start as the 38 Military and Police. Literally tens of thousands of Model 10s reside in the possession of private citizens for everyday shooting uses including personal defense, home defense, and just fun recreational shooting. This 38 Special wheel gun has seen action in militaries and law enforcement agencies all over the world since its inception in 1899. If ever there was a generic specimen of the classic double action revolver, the Smith and Wesson Model 10 and its lineage has to be it.

Smith and wesson model 10 4 inch barrel