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THESMITH &WESSON MILITARY &POLICE MODEL 10 REVOLVER

Mainstay of America’s Police Force for Almost 100 Years

Smith & Wesson’s Military and Police (M&P) revolver, or Model 10, is one of that company’s most successful designs. In addition to its long service life, it has also been the platform from which many of the company’s other popular revolvers have been developed.

Much of this revolver’s success and that of the other models that have been developed from it can be attributed to its size, especially its grip. It uses a frame designated as the “K” size, which is a major factor why the M&P is considered a classic handgun.

HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT

The Military and Police revolver traces its ancestry back to Smith & Wesson’s swing-out cylinder revolvers. Prior to 1895, all Smith & Wesson revolvers were either tip-up or break-top designs. The company never copied Colt by developing a solid frame revolver like the Single Action Army.

Nevertheless, Smith & Wesson was interested in Colt’s new swing-out cylinder 38 revolver of 1892. The company came out with their own such design called the “hand ejector models.” According S&W historian Roy Jinks, the first prototype was made by modifying a Colt Model 1892 revolver.

The first production model was a 32-caliber six-shot cylinder revolver called the Hand Ejector. The cylinder was locked in place in the frame by means of its ejector rod. Pulling the rod forward released the cylinder from the frame for loading and unloading.

In the years that followed, Smith & Wesson improved the design until they arrived at a swing-out cylinder revolver much like the models in production today.

Calibers were expanded from 22 and 32 to include larger cartridges like 38, 44 and 45. The first 38 was the Hand Ejector Model of 1899 introduced in that same year. It was later called the 38 Military and Police model. This revolver is significant in that it introduced the now famous K-frame and the 38 Special cartridge.

DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS AND FEATURES

The M&P Model of 1905 is a six-shot solid-frame swing-out cylinder double-action revolver chambered for the 38 Special cartridge. It is built on the medium-size K-frame and employs the cylinder locking and trigger system of the Hand Ejector models.

The cylinder was locked in the frame at both ends by a spring-loaded plunger rod that was released by a sliding latch on the left side of the frame behind the recoil shield. When released, a crane with the cylinder swung out of the left side of the frame.

To clear the cylinder chambers of cartridges and spent cases, the ejector rod in front of the frame was pushed to the rear. When the cylinder was swung back into the frame, it automatically locked in place. Up until 1959 all revolvers had tapered barrels.

Sights were fixed and grips were of checkered wood containing brass S&W medallions. The revolver was of all-steel construction. All major metal components were finished with a highly polished blue except for the trigger and hammer, which were color case-hardened.

THE 38 SPECIAL CARTRIDGE

Smith & Wesson hoped the U.S. military would show interest in the new revolver. The first models were chambered for the 38 Colt cartridge, but because this round had developed a poor reputation for putting down determined attackers in the Philippine insurrection, better ammunition was needed.

A new, more powerful 38 cartridge was designed by lengthening the case and changing the bore size so that the powder charge could be increased from 150 to 215 grains and the bullet size increased from 150 to 158 grains. The result was a round that has become a favorite for both defense and competition.

MILITARY USE

Military interest in the M&P was adversely affected by the fact they were already committed to the semi-automatic pistol. Nevertheless, the navy and army purchased some of the early 38 models. In later years, more revolvers were purchased, but it was never universally adopted by the military, even though it saw considerable use during World War II. During the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, the M&P was issued to navy and marine pilots.

A considerable number of M&Ps saw service with British and Commonwealth forces during World War II. After the evacuation of its army at Dunkirk, the British were desperately short of firearms of any type. As a result, various U.S. arms companies were contracted to manufacture arms for the British including Smith & Wesson, which was given a $1,000,000 down payment to develop a 9mm carbine.

The Military & Police (Model 10) revolver was asolid-frame, swing-out cylinder revolver chambered for the popular 38 S&W cartridge, which was actually made for the M&P when it first appeared in 1905.

The Victory Model M&P was made for both the British and U.S. militaries. The British revolvers were chambered for the shorter 38/200 and the U.S. version, the 38 Special cartridge. Victory Models have a plain, rough, parkerized finish. Photo courtesy of Garry James.

The project was never completed because the British were not satisfied with the gun the company delivered. Instead, they agreed to accept a large quantity of 38 revolvers in full settlement of the down payment.

Smith & Wesson used the M&P model for the revolver, chambering it for the British 38/200 cartridge, and the revolvers were so marked. Sometime after the revolvers went into production, the prefix “V” was added to their serial numbers. These are known as the “Victory” model M&Ps. Instead of the highly polished blue finish of the civilian M&Ps, the Victory models have a sandblasted parkerized finish.

After America entered the war, the Victory model production was expanded to include revolvers chambered for the 38 Special cartridge. These have the same sandblasted parkerized finish and were used largely by navy and marine aviators as well as other military personnel. A total of 568,204 Victory models were made for the British and several hundred thousand more were used by the U.S. After the war’s end, many Victory models saw service with the military and police of countries such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Rhodesia. In addition, many were sold to defense plants, postal services and other such organizations.

CIVILIAN AND POLICE

The M&P and the 38 Special cartridge have proven to be extremely popular with police and civilians. The 38 Special is an extremely versatile round that is powerful enough for defense, especially in the modern +P loadings, as well as being extremely accurate. The latter characteristic has made it a longtime favorite with serious target shooters.

As far as the revolver is concerned, its frame and grip size are such that it generally suits most hands, which helped increase its popularity with both civilians and police. Since being introduced in 1905, it has seen service with many police departments including the NYPD, the RCMP, the Royal Hong Kong Police and the London Metropolitan police to name but a few.

POST-WAR PRODUCTION

After the war ended, Smith & Wesson resumed civilian production of the M&P about September 1945. In 1957 Smith & Wesson began a number system to classify their handguns and the M&P was designated as the Model 10. It is a tribute to the soundness of the revolver’s original design that the postwar models have changed very little from the

M&Ps were made for many foreign police forces. This 4-inch barrel model carries the marking of the British Colonial Royal Hong Kong Police.

After 1959, Smith & Wesson introduced a Model 10 with a plain non-tapered bull barrel with a top rib.

M&P VARIANTS

The first M&P Model of 1905 introduced a square butt frame that was used on many subsequent M&P models. Towards the end of the last century, Smith & Wesson made all their swing-out cylinder revolvers with round butt grip frames using a Hogue-style rubber grip available in either a round or square butt configuration.

All revolvers were equipped with tapered barrels up until 1959 when a heavy barrel version was introduced. This consisted of a four-inch-long parallel bull-type barrel.

M&Ps and Model 10s are mostly constructed of blued carbon steel although an optional nickel finish was offered.

Lightweight models with aluminum alloy frames called the 38 Military & Police Airweight were introduced from 1952 to 1986. Prior to this, lightweight models with both alloy frames and cylinders were made for the U.S. military. The latter are known as the Aircrewman Models. Apparently, the first civilian Airweights also had aluminum cylinders, but in the later models, this was changed to steel.

An all-stainless steel version of the Model 10—the Model 64—was introduced in 1970.

As with all Smith & Wesson revolvers, the M&P has undergone the usual design alterations such as the elimination of pinned barrels, reduction of frame screws from five to three and various grip design changes.

THE MODEL 13 357 MAGNUM

In 1974, a 357 Magnum version called the Model 13 was introduced. A few years later a stainless steel model called the Model 65 appeared. Both the 13 and 65 have heavy barrels and are virtually identical to the Models 10 and 13 except for caliber.

BARRELS LENGTHS

All of the above-mentioned models have been made in a variety of barrel lengths. While the most popular length for all models is 4 inches, other lengths for the M&P 1905 include 4, 5, 6 and 6-1/2 inches.

British Victory models were made with barrels of 4, 5 and 6 inches while the American versions had 2-, 4-, 5- or 6-inch barrels.

Airweights had 2-, 4-, 5- and 6-inch barrels while Model 13s had 3- or 4-inch barrels.

RELATED REVOLVERS

The introduction of the K-frame by the M&P has spawned a number of other popular centerfire revolvers such as the Model 19/66 and Model 15/67 as well as target models like the K-38 Masterpiece or Model 14. With its unbroken record of service from 1905 to the present, the M&P is truly one of the classic handguns of all time.

After 1970, stainless steel and 357 Magnum versions of the Model 10 were introduced. The latter was designated the Model 13. This Model 65 is the stainless version of the Model 13.

Even though the Model 10 has grips that fit most hand sizes, it can be improved by adding either custom stocks or a grip adapter, which fills in the annoying gap at the back of the trigger guard.

LOADING AND UNLOADING PROCEDURES

To unload a M&P, place it in the left hand, press the cylinder catch forward and push the cylinder out of the left side of the frame using the fingers of the hand holding the revolver.

With the cylinder swung open, elevate the barrel and strike the top of the ejector rod smartly with the palm of the right hand to clear the chambers of spent cases.

To load, hold the revolver in the same hand with the barrel pointing to the ground and insert fresh cartridges in the chambers. When the cylinder is loaded, push it firmly back into the frame.

SHOOTING AND HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS

The M&P is truly a handgun with few defects. It has a grip and frame size that really does fit all hand sizes. The 38 Special cartridge for which it is chambered delivers excellent accuracy that is more than adequate for self-defense purposes. In fact, I have seen a 6-inch-barreled M&P custom fitted with an adjustable target rear sight that proved to be a very fine target revolver.

Being a solid-frame swing-out revolver design, it is simple to load and unload.

It is of rugged construction, and if properly cared for and maintained, it should outlive its owner without difficulty.

Except for the very early models, the revolver has very good fixed sights that are easy to acquire when brought quickly up into the aim. Admittedly, they don’t always shoot to points of aim, but I have found that most M&Ps of post-war vintage have sights well regulated for standard velocity 38 Special 158-grain ammunition.

Most M&Ps I have shot have had very good single- and double-action trigger actions. The latter is a good example of the relatively light, smooth, even pull for which Smith & Wesson is famous and is enhanced by a grip that permits proper engagement of the double-action trigger.

All of these attributes make for a revolver that is easy and pleasant to shoot. Recoil is mild, allowing for fast recovery between shots. This is especially so with the modern heavy-barrel versions, which probably have the best feel and balance thanks to the additional weight in the front.

Can the revolver stand some improvement? Even though its grip is quite suitable as is, I have found that fitting a set of well-designed custom grips will improve the revolver’s overall shooting performance. As with many similar revolvers, the M&P has the annoying gap behind the trigger guard that can cause it to move in the hand during firing. When this is filled with either a grip adapter or custom grips, a firmer hold is provided, which helps considerably in improving both speed and accuracy.

COLLECTOR INTEREST

The only M&Ps that have much collector value are Victory models that are stamped on the side plate and top strap with N.Y.M.I., U.S.G.C and U.S.M.C. Except for these and the rare aluminum alloy Aircrewman, most other M&P values rarely exceed $300, so they can be shot.