S&W 3" Model 10

This revolver was made when the TRS-80 was the pinnacle of computing technology.  Blade Runner was in theaters. Ingrid Bergman and John Belushi died, and Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands.

Even if the J. Geils Band and Survivor aren’t with us any more, Smith & Wesson still is.

The Model 10 has been around in one form or another for over a century.  Until this year, it has enjoyed an unbroken production run, the longest of any firearm in existence.  That’s not hard to understand, as the .38 Hand Ejector is a reliable, accurate and powerful platform.  All modern double-action revolvers can trace their lineage to it.

As such, there have been many variations on the standard configuration.  Traditionally, the Model 10 has been available in the standard 4″ length service barrel.  5″ versions have been quite popular over the years, and many police officers and civilians took a shine to the diminutive 2″ version when it was introduced in 1915.

The 3″ version is a bit rarer.  While not as popular in America, it saw service with many foreign agencies.  It was produced sporadically here, but it didn’t enjoy a regular run until the early 1980’s.

A few 2 1/2″ specimens were produced to fill special orders, but for some reason, K-Frame .38’s never caught on in that barrel length.  The 19 and 66 Combat Magnums are about it.  A Model 10 in this length is quite the rarity.

The 3″ version was removed from the catalog somewhere around 1990.  Like other 3″ K-Frames, it tends to command something of a premium these days.  It’s easy to see why.

The shorter models have a somewhat abbreviated sight radius, and due to the length of the barrel, they have to utilize a shorter ejector rod.  2 1/2″ models have the same issue.  As such, the ejector doesn’t always have enough clearance to kick spent brass clear of the cylinder reliably.  The 3″ barrel is the shortest variation that allows for a full stroke.

So, we’re left with the best of all possibilities.  It’s short enough to conceal easily, but has a usable sight radius and full-length ejector.  The 3″ K-Frames also have a marvelous balance in the heavy-barrel variations.  The fixed sights leave no sharp edges to snag clothing or bite elbows while carrying.  This is a fighting gun, plain and simple.

That’s not to say it can’t shoot as well as its cousins.

It may do better once I change the grips.  I’m not a fan of factory Magnas, and we’ll see how she does with Ahrends conversion grips.

Postnote:  the Model 10 has in fact been dropped from the regular S&W catalog.  It will still be available as part of the “Classics” series, but according to a rep, the normal version will no longer be maintained.

This is a shame.  Though the K-Frame is still used for the 617, the 64 and 315 Night Guard are the last of the K-Frame .38’s.  How much longer those remain in production is anyone’s guess.

All said, it was a heck of a run while it lasted.