Smith & Wesson Model 10

The Smith & Wesson Model 10, previously known as the Smith & Wesson .38 Hand Ejector Model of 1899, the Smith & Wesson Military & Police or the Smith & Wesson Victory Model, is a revolver of worldwide popularity. It was the successor to the Smith & Wesson .32 Hand Ejector Model of 1896 and was the first Smith & Wesson revolver to feature a cylinder release latch on the left side of the frame like the Colt M1889. In production since 1899, it is a six-shot double-action revolver with fixed sights. Over its long production run it has been available with barrel lengths of 2 in (51 mm), 3 in (76 mm), 4 in (100 mm), 5 in (130 mm), and 6 in (150 mm). Barrels of 2.5 inches (64 mm) are also known to have been made for special contracts.^[1] Some 6,000,000 of the type have been produced over the years, making it the most popular centerfire revolver of the 20th century.^[2]

History

In 1899, the Army and Navy placed orders with Smith & Wesson for two to three thousand Model 1899 Hand Ejector revolvers chambered for the M1892 .38 Long Colt U.S. Service Cartridge. With this order, the Hand Ejector Model became known as the .38 Military and Police model.^[3] That same year, in response to reports from military sources serving in the Philippines on the relative ineffectiveness of the new cartridge, Smith & Wesson began offering the Military & Police in a new chambering, .38 S&W Special (aka .38 Special) — a slightly elongated version of the .38 Long Colt cartridge with greater bullet weight (158 grains) and an increased powder charge, from eighteen to twenty-one grains of gunpowder.^[3]

In 1902 the .38 Military & Police (2nd Model) was introduced, featuring substantial changes.^[1] These included major modification and simplification of the internal lockwork and the addition of a locking underlug on the barrel to engage the previously free-standing ejector rod. Barrel lengths were 4, 5, 6, and 6.5 inches with a rounded butt. Serial numbers for the Military & Police ranged from number 1 in the series to 20,975. Most of the early M&P revolvers chambered in .38 Special appear to have been sold to the civilian market.^[3] By 1904, S&W was offering the .38 M&P with a rounded or square butt, and 4, 5, and 6.5-inch barrels.

The .38 S&W Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change (introduced 1915), incorporated a passive hammer block and enlarged service sights that quickly became a standard across the service revolver segment of the industry. Heat treatment of cylinders began in 1919.^[4]

The 1st Model M&P of 1899, six-inch barrel. The ejector rod is free-standing, without the under-barrel latch of later models

Smith & Wesson 1905 4th change 1915 Target model. "NRA"Slow Fire at 25 yards. This one left the factory in 1929 and was sent with ten others to a firm in Buenos Aires. The hammer was added later and is in the general form of the King Gun Shop modification usually intended for the timed and rapid fire portions of the NRA course.

The lockwork of the first model differed substantially from subsequent versions. The trigger return spring is a flat leaf rather than the coil spring-powered slide used in variations dating from 1905 onwards.

The M&P 1905 Fourth Change variant (1915). The lock mechanism remained principally unchanged after this model.

Victory Model

The S&W Model 10 military revolvers produced from 1942 to 1944 had serial numbers with a "V" prefix, and were known as the Smith & Wesson Victory Model. It is noteworthy that early Victory Models did not always have the V prefix. During World War II over 570,000 of these pistols were supplied to the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa under the Lend-Lease program, chambered in the British .38/200 caliber already in use in the Enfield No 2 Mk I Revolver and the Webley Mk IV Revolver. Most Victory Models sent to Britain were fitted with 4" (102 mm) or 5" (127 mm) barrels, although a few early versions had 6" (150 mm) barrels.^[5][6] In general, most British and Commonwealth forces expressed a preference for the .38/200 Smith & Wesson over their standard Enfield revolver.^[7]

The Victory Model was used by United States forces during World War II, being chambered in the well-known and popular .38 Special cartridge. The Victory Model was a standard-issue sidearm for US Navy and Marine aircrews, and was also used by security guards at factories and defense installations throughout the United States during the war.^[8]

Some of these revolvers remained in service well into the 1990s with units of the US Armed Forces, including the Coast Guard. Until the introduction of the Beretta M9 9mm pistol in 1990, U.S. Army helicopter crew members and female Military Police officers were equipped with .38 caliber Victory Model revolvers. Criminal Investigation Division agents were issued .38 caliber revolvers with two inch barrels. The Victory Model remained in use with Air National Guard tanker and transport crews as late as Operation Desert Storm in 1991.^[9]

Some Lend-Lease Victory Model revolvers originally chambered for the British .38/200 were returned to the U.S. and rechambered to fire the more popular and more powerful .38 Special ammunition, and such revolvers are usually so marked on their barrels. Rechambering of .38-200 cylinders to .38 Special results in oversized chambers which may cause problems. Lee Harvey Oswald was carrying a re-chambered Victory Model when he was apprehended on November 22, 1963.^[10]

The finish on Victory Models was typically a sandblasted and parkerized finish, which is noticeably different from the higher-quality blue or nickel/chrome finishes usually found on commercial M&P/Model 10 revolvers. Other distinguishing features of the Victory Model revolver are the lanyard loop at the bottom of the grip frame, and the use of smooth (rather than checkered) walnut grip panels. However some early models did use a checkered grip, most notably the pre-1942 manufacture.^[11]

Post-World War II models

After World War II, Smith & Wesson returned to manufacturing the M&P series. Along with cosmetic changes and replacement of the frame fitting grip with the Magna stocks, the spring-loaded hammer block safety gave way to a cam-actuated hammer block that rode in a channel in the side plate (Smith 1968). In 1957, Smith & Wesson adopted the convention of using numeric designations to distinguish their various models of handguns, and the M&P was renamed the Model 10.^[9]

The M&P/Model 10 has been available in both blued steel finish and nickel finish for most of its production run. The model has also been offered throughout the years with both the round butt and square butt (i.e. grip patterns). Beginning with the Model 10-5 series in the late 1960s, the tapered barrel and its trademark 'half moon' front sight (as shown in the illustrations on this page) were replaced by a straight bull barrel and a sloped milled ramp front sight. Late model Model 10s are capable of handling any .38 Special cartridge produced today up to and including +P+ rounds.^[9]

As of 2012 the Model 10 was available only in a 4" (102mm) barrel model. The Model 10's stainless steel (Inox) counterpart, the Smith & Wesson Model 64, is also available with only a 4" (102 mm) barrel.^[12]

Model 10 Engineering and Production Changes Timeline

As the Model 10 evolved, the following Engineering and Production Changes were made:

• 10 (1957): begin stamping model number.
• 10-1 (1959): introduction of heavy barrel (the frame is slightly different for the heavy barrel, and changes to the standard-barrel variant were generally carried over to the heavy-barrel variant, thus the engineering changes happen in pairs)
• 10-2 (1961): change extractor rod thread for standard barrel
• 10-3 (1961): change extractor rod thread for heavy barrel, change front sight width from 1/10" to 1/8"
• 10-4 (1962): eliminate trigger-guard screw on standard barrel frame
• 10-5 (1962): change sight width from 1/10" to 1/8" for standard barrel
• 10-6 (1962): eliminate trigger-guard screw on heavy-barrel frame
• 10-7 (1977): change gas ring from yoke to cylinder for standard barrel
• 10-8 (1977): change gas ring from yoke to cylinder for heavy barrel
• 10-9 (1988): new yoke retention system, radius stud package, floating hand hammer nose bushing for standard barrel
• 10-10 (1988): new yoke retention system, radius stud package, floating hand hammer nose bushing for heavy barrel
• 10-11 (1997): MIM hammer/trigger + floating firing pin for standard barrel
• 10-12 (1997): MIM hammer/trigger + floating firing pin for heavy barrel
• 10-13 (2002): limited production 1899 commemorative edition
• 10-14 (2002): internal lock

.357 Magnum variations

After a small prototype run of Model 10-6 revolvers in .357 Magnum caliber, Smith & Wesson introduced the Model 13 heavy barrel in carbon steel and then the Model 65 in stainless steel. Both revolvers featured varying barrel weights and lengths—generally three and four inches with and without underlugs (shrouds). Production dates begin in 1974 for the Model 13 and end upon discontinuation in 1999. The Model 65 was in production from 1972-1999.^[1] Both the blued and stainless models were popular with police and FBI and a variation of the Model 65 was marketed in the Lady Smith line from 1992-1999.

Use

Many of the Model 10 revolvers were captured and used by some of the police forces, such as the Austrian Police, during the occupation after WWII. Some captured from the allies were used by the pro-Nazi Milice française militia of Vichy France during WWII. From 1942, the United States delivered the Model 10 to Kuomintang troops who were armed by Communist Liu Shaoqi during the Chinese Civil War.

The weapon is currently used by French cash couriers and banks, Disciplined Services of Hong Kong, Myanmar Police Force officers and other Burmese paramilitary units, Peruvian National Police and other police units.

Copies of Smith & Wesson Model 10 are produced in Israel by Israel Military Industries (IMI) as the Revolver IMI 9mm. The weapon is chambered in the 9×21mm caliber instead of .38 Special, the original caliber. Also, Norinco of China has manufactured the NP50, which is a copy of the Smith & Wesson Model 64, since 2000.

Hermann Goering, a German Nazi military leader had a .38 Model 10 for self defence.

Replacement

The S&W Model 10 revolver was a popular weapon before the semi-automatic pistol replaced the revolver in many police departments as well as police units and armies.

• Certain units of the Ireland's Gardaí (Irish Police) had replaced the Model 10 by the SIG Sauer P226 and Walther P99C semi-automatic pistols.
• Victoria Police replaced the K frame model 10 with the M&P in 40 S&W.
• New Zealand Police replaced the revolver with the Glock 17.^[9]
• New South Wales Police Force replaced the Model 10 with the Glock 22, Glock 23 and Glock 27.
• The weapon was used by Norway's Home Guard until 1986 and the Norwegian Police Service until 2008, being replaced by the Heckler & Koch P30
• Portugal police replaced the weapon by the Walther PP, subsequently by the Glock 19.^[9]
• Royal Malaysian Police used Model 10 as standard sidearm from early 1970 alongside Model 15 before it fully replaced by Beretta PX4 and Walther P99. It was used by Police Volunteer Reserve as standard sidearm and also by RELA Corps for training and self-defence purpose for their officers alongside with Smith & Wesson Model 36 2 inch barrel.^[9]
• The Model 10 was formerly the standard issue for firearms-trained police officers in the United Kingdom and they were replaced by the Glock 17 .^[9]
• The weapon was used by United States Army and United States Marine Corps, only to be replaced by the M1911A1 and the M9 pistols.^[9]

Users

•  Australia^[13]
•  Austria
•  Cambodia
•  Canada- Various Police Forces.
•  China^[9]
•  Costa Rica^[9]
•  Djibouti
•  Eritrea
•  France^[9]
•  Hong Kong- Hong Kong Police Force.^[9]
•  Ireland- Armed units of the Garda Síochána (To be phased out).
•  Israel^[9]
•  Macau
•  Malaysia^[9]
•  Mexico
•  Morocco
•  Myanmar
•  New Zealand^[13]
•  Norway - standard firearm of Norwegian Police Service from 1981 until about 2007.
•  Pakistan
•  Peru^[9]
•  Philippines^[9]
•  Portugal^[9]
•  Qatar
•  South Africa^[13]
•  South Korea^[9]
• Republic of Vietnam.^[9]
•  Thailand^[9]
•  Turkey- Emniyet Genel Müdürlüğü (Turkish National Police).^[14]
•  United Kingdom - formerly a police-issue weapon.^[9]
•  United States- Various Police Forces, Also used by the US Army.^[9]

See also

• Colt Commando
• Enfield No. 2
• M1917 revolver
• Service pistol
• Smith & Wesson

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Smith & Wesson Model 10.

• World Guns page
• Smith & Wesson Model 10 at the Internet Movie Firearms Database

Smith & Wesson Revolvers Top Hinge Model 1 Model 1 1/2 Top Break Model 2 Model 3 Safety Hammerless I-frame Model 30 Kit Gun J-frame Model 36 Bodyguard Model 60 Model 340PD Centennial Model 640 K-frame Model 10 Model 12 Model 13 Model 14 Model 15 Model 17 Model 19 Model 617 Model 64 Model 65 Model 66 Model 67 L-frame Model 581 Model 586 Model 619 Model 620 Model 646 Model 681 Model 686 M-frame Ladysmith N-frame Triple Lock .38/44 Model 22 Model 27 Model 28 Model 29 Model 57 Model 610 Model 625 X-frame Model 460 Model 500 Z-frame Governor C-frame (experimental) Model 73 Semi-automatic pistols Model 1006 Model 1913 Model 22A Model 39 Model 4006 Model 41 Model 410 Model 422 Model 4506 Model 457 Model 469 Model 52 Model 5906 Model 6904 Model 59 Model 61 Model 645 Model 910 Bodyguard 380 M&P M&P22 SD VE SW1911 SW99 Sigma Long guns Model 1940 M&P10 M&P15 M&P15-22 Model 320 Model 76 Assault Shotgun Cartridges .22 Short .32 S&W .32 S&W Long .35 S&W Auto .356 TSW .357 Magnum .38 S&W .38 Special .40 S&W .41 Magnum .44 Russian .44 Special .44 S&W American .44 Magnum .45 Schofield .460 S&W Magnum .500 S&W Special .500 S&W Magnum Horace Smith Daniel B. Wesson