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Smith & Wesson Model 10 facts for kids

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Smith & Wesson Model 1899 Military & Police
M&Prevolver.jpg
A Model 10 revolver from World War II, used in the Lend-Lease program.
Type Service revolver
Place of origin United States
Service history
In service 1899–present
Used by See Users
Wars World War I
Easter Rising
Irish War of Independence
World War II
First Indochina War
Korean War
Vietnam War
Bangladesh Liberation War
Gulf War
The Troubles
other conflicts
Production history
Designed 1899
Manufacturer Smith & Wesson
Produced 1899–present
No. built 6,000,000+
Variants 38 M&P
M&P Model 1902
Model of 1905
Victory Model
Model 10
Specifications
Mass ~ 34 ounces (960 g) with standard 4 in (100 mm) barrel (unloaded)
Barrel length
  • 2 inches (51 mm)
  • 2.5 inches (64 mm)
  • 3 inches (76 mm)
  • 4 inches (100 mm)
  • 5 inches (130 mm)
  • 6 inches (150 mm)
Cartridge .38 Long Colt
.38 Special
.38/200 (.38 S&W)
Action Double action
Muzzle velocity 1,000 feet per second (300 m/s) ('.38 Special')
685 feet per second (209 m/s) ('.38/200')
Feed system 6-round cylinder
Sights Blade front sight, notched rear sight

The Smith & Wesson Model 10 is a very popular revolver that has been made for a long time. It was first known by names like the Smith & Wesson .38 Hand Ejector Model of 1899 and the Smith & Wesson Military & Police.

This revolver has been made since 1899. It holds six shots and uses .38 Special bullets. It has fixed sights and a "double-action" trigger, meaning pulling the trigger both cocks the hammer and fires the gun. Over the years, it has been made with different barrel lengths, from 2 in (51 mm) to 6 in (150 mm). More than 6 million of these revolvers have been produced. This makes it the most produced handgun of the 20th century.

History of the Model 10 Revolver

M&P1899
The very first Model M&P from 1899. Notice the long six-inch barrel and how the ejector rod is not attached under the barrel.

In 1899, the United States Army and Navy ordered thousands of these revolvers. They were called the Model 1899 Hand Ejector. These early models used the .38 Long Colt cartridge. Because of this military order, the revolver became known as the .38 Military and Police model.

Later that year, soldiers in the Philippines reported that the .38 Long Colt wasn't powerful enough. So, Smith & Wesson started offering a new, stronger bullet called the .38 S&W Special (or .38 Special). This new bullet was a bit longer and had more gunpowder.

In 1902, the .38 Military & Police (2nd Model) was released. It had big improvements. The inside parts were simpler, and a new part was added under the barrel. This part held the ejector rod in place, which used to be loose. Early revolvers with the .38 Special bullet were mostly sold to regular people. By 1904, Smith & Wesson offered the .38 M&P with different handle shapes and barrel lengths.

The Model 10 in World War I

Model10target
A Smith & Wesson 1905 4th change Target model from 1915. This one was sent to Argentina in 1929.

The .38 S&W Military & Police Model of 1905 4th Change came out in 1915. It had new safety features and bigger sights. These features soon became standard for many service revolvers.

During World War I, many M&P revolvers were given to soldiers. They were known for being very reliable and accurate. Even though new semi-automatic pistols were becoming popular, revolvers like the M&P were used a lot. This was because not enough semi-automatic pistols could be made to meet the demand.

After the war, the M&P became the standard handgun for police for the next 70 years. It also became very popular with people who enjoyed shooting. New versions were made, including smaller "snubnosed" models with 2-, 2.5-, and 3-inch barrels, starting in 1936.

The Model 10 in World War II

During World War II, military versions of the S&W M&P were made from 1942 to 1944. These were called the Smith & Wesson Victory Model. Many of these revolvers had a "V" in their serial number.

About 590,305 of these revolvers were sent to countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. This was part of the Lend-Lease program, where the U.S. helped its allies. These revolvers used the British .38/200 bullet. Most Victory Models sent to Britain had 4-inch or 5-inch barrels. The 5-inch barrel became standard after April 1942.

Another 352,315 Victory Model revolvers were used by U.S. forces during the war. These used the popular .38 Special bullet. The Victory Model was a standard handgun for U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aircrews. It was also used by security guards at factories and defense sites in the U.S.

Some of these revolvers stayed in service with the U.S. military until the 1990s. This included the United States Air Force and the Coast Guard. Until the Beretta M9 pistol came out in 1990, U.S. Army helicopter crews and female military police used these .38 caliber Victory Model revolvers. A Victory Model revolver was found with Lee Harvey Oswald when he was arrested on November 22, 1963, after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

The finish on Victory Models was usually a dull, rough surface called "parkerized." This was different from the shiny blue or nickel finishes on regular M&P revolvers. Victory Models also had a loop at the bottom of the handle for a lanyard (a cord to keep it from being lost). They usually had smooth wooden grips, though some early ones had checkered grips.

The Model 10 After World War II

After World War II, Smith & Wesson continued making the M&P series. They made some changes to its look and improved the safety features. In the late 1950s, Smith & Wesson started using numbers to name their handguns. That's when the M&P was officially renamed the Model 10.

The M&P/Model 10 has been made with both a blued steel finish (a dark, shiny look) and a nickel finish (a silver look). It has also been offered with both round and square-shaped handles. Starting with the Model 10–5 series in the late 1960s, the barrel design changed. It became a straight, heavier "bull barrel" with a sloped front sight. Newer Model 10s can use any .38 Special bullet made today, even stronger ones.

As of 2012, the Model 10 was available only with a 4-inch barrel. Its stainless steel version, the Smith & Wesson Model 64, was also available. With over 6 million made, the M&P revolver is the most popular handgun of the 20th century.

Model 10 Variations

Smith and Wesson Model 10-5
A Smith and Wesson Model 10-5 revolver.

The Model 10 has had many small changes over the years. Here's a look at some of the different versions:

Model Year Changes Made
10 1957 First introduced with the new name
10-1 1959 A heavier barrel was offered
10-2 1961 Changed how the ejector rod was threaded for standard barrels
10-3 1961 Changed how the ejector rod was threaded for heavy barrels; front sight became wider
10-4 1962 Removed a screw near the trigger guard on standard barrel models
10-5 1962 Changed the sight width on standard barrel models
10-6 1962 Removed a screw near the trigger guard on heavy barrel models
10-7 1977 Changed a part called the "gas ring" for standard barrels
10-8 1977 Changed the "gas ring" for heavy barrels
10-9 1988 Updated several internal parts for standard barrels
10-10 1988 Updated several internal parts for heavy barrels
10-11 1997 New hammer and trigger parts, and a floating firing pin for standard and heavy barrels
10-12 1997 New hammer and trigger parts, and a floating firing pin for heavy barrels
10-13 2002 A special limited edition to celebrate the 1899 original
10-14 2002 An internal lock was added
10-14 2010 Production of this model stopped
10-14 2012 Reintroduced as part of the "Classic Line"

.357 Magnum Versions

Smith & Wesson also made stronger versions of this revolver that could fire .357 Magnum bullets. These included the Smith & Wesson Model 13 (in carbon steel) and the Smith & Wesson Model 64 (in stainless steel). These models were popular with police and the FBI.

.38 S&W Versions

From the late 1940s to the early 1960s, Smith & Wesson made a version of the Model 10 called the Model 11. This model used .38 S&W bullets and was sent to countries like Canada to supply their armies and police forces.

What Replaced the Model 10?

The S&W Model 10 revolver was a very popular weapon. However, many police departments and armies later switched to semi-automatic pistols. These newer pistols often hold more bullets and are faster to reload.

Here are some examples of what replaced the Model 10 in different places:

  • In Ireland, some police units replaced the Model 10 with the SIG Sauer P226 and Walther P99C semi-automatic pistols.
  • The Victoria Police in Australia replaced their Model 10s with the M&P in .40 S&W.
  • The New Zealand Police replaced the revolver with the Glock 17.
  • The New South Wales Police Force in Australia replaced the Model 10 with Glock 22, Glock 23, and Glock 27 pistols.
  • Norway's Home Guard used it until 1986, and the Norwegian Police Service until 2008. They were replaced by the Heckler & Koch P30.
  • Portuguese police replaced the Model 10 with the Walther PP, and later with the Glock 19.
  • The Royal Malaysia Police used the Model 10 as a standard handgun from the early 1970s. It was later replaced by the Beretta Px4 Storm and Walther P99.
  • In the United Kingdom, the Model 10 was a common police weapon. Many forces later replaced it with the Glock 17.
  • The United States Army and United States Marine Corps replaced the Model 10 with the M1911A1 and the M9 pistols.
  • The New York State Department of Corrections used the Model 10-6 until 2017, when it was replaced by the Glock 17.

Who Used the Model 10?

Many police forces and armies around the world have used the Smith & Wesson Military & Police revolver. It's important to remember that the name "Model 10" wasn't used until 1957. Before that, it was known as the Military & Police.

Today, this weapon is still used by some groups. For example, French cash couriers and banks, the Disciplined Services of Hong Kong, and the Myanmar Police Force still use it. The Peruvian National Police also use it.

Some copies of the Smith & Wesson Model 10 were made in Israel by Israel Military Industries (IMI). These were called the Revolver IMI 9mm and used 9mm Luger bullets instead of .38 Special. Also, Norinco of China has made a copy of the Smith & Wesson Model 64 (a stainless steel version of the Model 10) since 2000.

List of Users

See also