12/29/2023
I haven't been on here in quite some time but we're still around! I don't shoot for fun much anymore so I thought I'd take the opportunity to jump in on the old discussion about old police issue .38's. I've got the two most popular right here. On top is a Smith and Wesson model 10-6 c.1969-1970 with the heavy 4" barrel and unmodified aside from an aftermarket, standard weight hammer spring. On bottom is a C**t Official Police c.1929 with a 5" barrel and completely as it came from the factory.
These two guns are nearly identical in size and shape. I prefer the grip feel on the Smith but the C**t feels better balanced. As far as trigger feel goes, both of these old guns are worn in to perfection. I've always found that Smith triggers are a bit smoother but definitely longer. The C**t triggers are usually lighter and shorter, still smooth but I can generally feel more of the mechanics going on inside the C**t, and there are a lot of mechanics going on inside a C**t.
I set some targets up 20 yards away and fed each one 30 rounds. The only things I gleaned from that was:
1-I desperately need to shoot more
2-I'm more used to the model 10
3- once I settled in there isn't much difference in the accuracy of these guns.
I will say as a gunsmith there are deep differences between these two fi****ms and these firearm companies. Whether or not those differences matter is entirely up to the end user. The design of the Smith and Wesson is better and more rugged but C**t's manufacturing process was second to none prior to the 1970's. Case in point, I'm convinced this particular model 10 never shot reliably despite bearing the warranty mark. Everything was "in spec" but the headspace was at one end of the spec and the firing pin was at the other. This has been remedied but this gun was unreliable after the first six rounds for 50 years. On the other hand, this C**t is nearly 100 years old and besides being ever so slightly out of time, those hand fitted parts are still working exactly as they should- just like they always have. The old adage "drop your C**t and your refrigerator quits working" is definitely true to an extent, which is why I give the design edge to Smith and Wesson.
In short, whether you like old C**ts or old S&W revolvers I think you're right either way. They both have made some great guns. I should mention if you did drop your C**t and need your refrigerator to start working again, I can definitely help you out with that!
I hope everyone had a merry Christmas and have a blessed new year!
