Smith & Wesson Model 10
- Category
- Pistol
- Barrel
- 102 mm
- Weight, empty
- 964 g
- Introduced
- 1899
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Smith & Wesson Model 10 is a medium revolver built on Smith & Wesson's K-frame, introduced in 1899. Chambered in .38 Special with a 6-round cylinder. Built with a carbon steel frame, this revolver continues Smith & Wesson's tradition of robust, reliable revolver construction. The 4.0-inch barrel provides an excellent balance of sight radius and portability, suitable for both duty carry and range work. The double-action/single-action trigger system allows both deliberate double-action shots and precise single-action fire when the hammer is manually cocked, providing versatility across different shooting scenarios. Weighing 964g (34.0 oz) empty, this revolver provides a solid, confidence-inspiring heft that helps absorb recoil without being overly burdensome for extended carry. Smith & Wesson has been producing K-frame revolvers for well over a century, continuously refining the platform with improved metallurgy, ergonomics, and manufacturing techniques while maintaining the fundamental reliability and accuracy that has made their double-action revolvers the benchmark against which all others are measured.
The Model 10 served as the standard sidearm for countless law enforcement agencies and military forces. Its simple, reliable design made it one of the most successful firearms ever produced.
Also known as M&P (Military & Police). The most produced revolver in history.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Smith & Wesson
- Category
- Pistol
- Country
- United States
- Status
- Discontinued
- Produced
- 1899
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 102 mm
- Overall length
- 235 mm
- Height
- 124 mm
- Width
- 37 mm
- Sight radius
- 140 mm
- Weight, empty
- 964 g
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Firing mechanism
- Double action single action
- Trigger
- Double action single action
- Trigger pull
- 20.0 N
- Capacity
- 6
- Magazine
- Rotary
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Carbon steel
- Barrel
- Carbon steel
- Finish
- Blue
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 260 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 273 J
- Effective range
- 45 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
No load solved for this record yetThe flight path is computed from a cartridge and a bullet. This record has no ammunition filed against its chambering, so there is nothing to solve.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
K frame
Fixed sights
Swing out cylinder
Transfer bar safety
Stainless steel construction
Exposed hammer
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 25 .38 Special pistols | 964 g | 595 g | Heavier than about 70% |
| Overall lengthAmong 1,911 pistols | 235 mm | 196 mm | Longer than about 70% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 26 .38 Special pistols | 102 mm | 51 mm | Longer than about 70% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 26 .38 Special pistols | 6 | 5 | Holds more rounds than about 90% |
Answers
Questions about the Smith & Wesson Model 10
How much does the Smith & Wesson Model 10 weigh?
The Smith & Wesson Model 10 weighs 964 g (2.13 lb) empty.
What caliber is the Smith & Wesson Model 10?
The Smith & Wesson Model 10 is chambered in .38 Special.
How many rounds does the Smith & Wesson Model 10 hold?
The Smith & Wesson Model 10 holds 6 rounds, fed from a rotary magazine.
How long is the Smith & Wesson Model 10?
The Smith & Wesson Model 10 is 235 mm (9.25 in) long overall, with a 102 mm (4.02 in) barrel.
Who makes the Smith & Wesson Model 10?
The Smith & Wesson Model 10 is made by Smith & Wesson (United States).
When was the Smith & Wesson Model 10 introduced?
The Smith & Wesson Model 10 was introduced in 1899.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- United States Armed Forces
- 1940
- FBI
- United States
Provenance
Confidence in this record
92%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/smith-wesson-10' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "smith-wesson-10", "name": "Smith & Wesson Model 10", "manufacturer": { "id": "smith-wesson", "name": "Smith & Wesson", "countryCode": "US", "foundedYear": 1852, "website": "https://www.smith-wesson.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:40", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:48", "version": "6e259a578cb1b21d72610d761d652c983ff25806b9e736e2db8d2938596e9202" }, "category": { "id": "pistol", "name": "Pistol", "description": "Handguns designed to be fired with one or two hands" }, "country_of_origin": "US", "year_introduced": 1899, "barrel_length_mm": 102, "weight_empty_g": 964, "action_type": null}