Hi all,

I have a smith M 10-1 from the early 1960's.  I have owned it for many years and it's starting looking a little long in the tooth if you catch my meaning.  I world like to have it gone through, replace and worn parts have it re-blued.  I live in Houston, Texas.  Is any one aware for a shop local who can help or would sending to S&W be the correct path.  I plan to leave it to family so selling is not planned.

thanks for any input.
mac

If it was mine I'd change out the springs , maybe .
I think your family would want your old gun because because it was your possession .

Id rather have it passed down to me the way it was .

If you must reblue send it to Smith & Wesson and least they should do a good job .

With decent refinishes going for $500 or more, and nearly perfect Model 10s selling for $600, it rarely makes sense to refinish one for cosmetic reasons.

Re-blueing almost never makes financial sense.  I've done it once, I don't regret it but will almost certainly never do it again.  Around here a decent blueing job will run about $250 for the basic and can climb higher.  The last I checked there's only one place in Iowa still doing it.  As far as parts it's highly unlikely it needs anything other than maybe a spring kit.  There aren't any known weaknesses in the Smith lock work unless the thing has a bazillion rounds through it.  I collect Model Tens.  I have a dozen or so that range from 1903 to 1988.  None have ever needed any parts.

Fully agree refinishing is a waste of time and money. In my experience S&W K frames just don’t wear out. If the gun is functioning properly don’t do a thing. They are NOT like semi autos where replacing springs at certain intervals is advisable.
My go to S&W is a combat masterpiece made prior to model numbering around 1955. All original and runs perfectly. Not a beauty queen but I buy them to shoot not look pretty.
My primary bullseye competition revolver is a model 17 I bought used, again all original made in 1966, I have at least 100 thousand rounds through it with no maintenance beyond cleaning and oiling. I don’t even think I have had the side plate off sine I have owned it. I generally run about 1k between cleanings. And when I do clean we are talking about 5 minutes worth of effort

thanks for all the input,  I believe i will it as is and enjoy shooting it more.

Damn... I was thinking of buying a replacement
heavy barrel for my 10-7, maybe have the frame reblued and such.

Bad move for several reasons:
1) the frames between standard and heavy barrels are slightly different and the frame and barrels contours will not match up
2) a good quality reblue job will cost as much of more than just buying a second model 10 heavy barrel gun.
10 HB’s are pretty common and a nice example can be had for under $400 with a little patience and effort.

Yeah, I'm likely just gonna sell it and use the trade in value for a .357.