Custom “Smolt” Smith & Wesson S&W Model 10-5 M&P .38 Spl 6″ DA/SA Revolver

SOLD FOR: $2,275.00

LSB#: LSB250928MB054

Make: Smith & Wesson

Model:  “Smolt” 10-5

Serial Number:  D116010

Year of Manufacture:  1969-70, C&R

Caliber:  .38 Special

Action Type:  Single and Double Action Revolver with Swing-Out Cylinder

Markings:  The left side of the barrel is marked “PYTHON 357 / * 357 MAGNUM CTG” and the right side of the barrel is marked “COLT’S PT. F.A. MFG CO. HARTFORD. CONN.U.S.A”.  The yoke cut is marked “MOD. / 10-5”.  The yoke is marked “65518”  The butt is marked with the serial number.  The side plate has an S&W monogram logo and the frame’s right side has the four-line Marcas Registradas address. 

Barrel Length: 6”, Pinned Colt vent-ribbed Barrel.

Sights / Optics:  The front sight is a fixed patridge blade pinned to the vented rib on the barrel.  The rear sight is an adjustable square notch screwed into the top strap.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The grips are two-piece checkered Goncalvo alves target stocks with a speedloader cut.  Checkering is sharp.  There are no cracks or chips.  There is light handling wear, with scratches, compression marks, and small areas of finish loss.  Overall, the grips are in a Very Good condition. 

Type of Finish:  Blue

Finish Originality:  Original

Bore Condition:  The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is minimal erosion in the bore.  There is some stubborn fouling in the grooves.  9/10 bore rating

Overall Condition:  This handgun retains about 98% of its metal finish.  There is a sharp turn line on the cylinder. Some finish is rubbed off of the barrel near the muzzle and the front edge of the cylinder shows finish loss.  There is blueing loss on the top strap and corrosion freckles under the grips.  There are tiny handling marks throughout. The screwheads are lightly tooled but still quite serviceable.  The markings are clear. Overall, this handgun rates in a Very Good condition.  

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The cylinder locks up well on each chamber with light side-to-side play. The single-action trigger is crisp and the double action is very smooth. We did not fire this handgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories:  none

Our Assessment:  The Model 10 was a staple of police departments across the country for decades. Its K-frame, 6-shot capacity and, of course, Smith & Wesson quality make it an ideal service revolver. Over 6,000,000 of the type have been produced over the years, making it the most popular centerfire revolver of the 20th century. There were many variations made, some are still being produced today! 

This particular gun is a “Smolt”, a hybrid Smith&Wesson with a Colt Python .357 barrel.  This modification is done to get a particular twist rate associated with the Colt Python in order to make an optimal PPC (Police Pistol Competition) Gun.  PPC requires wadcutters and the Python barrel is believed to stabilize them better.  They are hard to make as the threads on a Colt Python are not compatible with those on a Smith & Wesson.   Thus they are rare and of interest to collectors.

The buyer of this gun should remember that, though the barrel says “.357”, the cylinder is most definitely a .38.  .357 should not be shot in this firearm.  

This particular “Smolt” is still in very good shape, wearing a few cosmetic blemishes, some of which are hidden beneath the grip