10mm HANDGUN MANUFACTURERS: S to Z




SMITH & WESSON (link)
By far, S&W has had the most extensive product line. I say had because S&W no longer manufacture firearms in 10mm (boooo!!!). The 10mm firearms manufactured by S&W came at a time when this company was coming up with several new guns a month. S&W manufactured both large frame double action semi-automatics and double action revolvers. The semi-automatics come with 9 round single stack magazines, one of three Derlin grip options, magazine safety (except FBI 1076), and Novak style rear sights (with optional Tritium inserts) or adjustable sights, and stainless steel construction. S&W's 10mm revolver is a stainless steel N-frame revolver with adjustable sights. Here is an ad from S&W about their 10mm line (pic).

I have scanned a couple of product advisory notices from S&W. I believe that most 10mm S&W semiautos have had the appropriate changes, but if yours haven't been upgraded, then I advise you contact S&W to find out more information. S&W grip upgrade notice (pic). S&W 1076 upgrade notice (pic).

The most impressive of the S&W 10mm family of firearms, in my humble opinion, is the revolver. The 610 (pic) is an N-frame revolver in stainless steel that holds 6 rounds in it's cylinder using half or full moon clips. The barrel lengths are 5" and 6.5", and both coming with adjustable sights and combat wood grips. Only 5000 of these revolvers were manufactured, a relatively small production run. The only draw back to the 610 is that it requires moon clips in order to eject rounds. As an interesting side note, the 610 is one of the only firearm able to safely shoot both 10mmAUTO and .40S&W without modification. All one needs to do is use the moon clips to shoot the .40S&W.
S&W has come out with a new run of the Model 610 called the 610CH (Classic Hunter). It was only available in 6.5". There are some significant changes to the new 610. Some differences between the original and the new:
-new 610CH has a recessed crowned muzzle, original doesn't
-unfluted cylinder
-white outline back sight, original doesn't
-extractor star is square(???), original is circular
-improved cylinder release (I like it a lot better)
-Hogue grips, original came with great wood grips
-carbon trigger & hammer (internal parts too?), original had flash chromed & stainless parts
-52oz.(6.5") vs. 46oz.(5")
-drilled and tapped for scope mounting, original isn't
Overall, a very very nice gun! Get one while you can!
In 2002, S&W brought a 4" barreled version of the 610 CH, having all the features of the 6.5" 610 CH, with the exception of the barrel length. a very nice revolver in a near perfect length for the barrel.
Click for a pic of the "new" S&W 610 CH (Classic Hunter) (link) to see it at S&W's homepage.
S&W has manufactured a very limited run of 3" 610s. The run, produced in 1998, is only 300 610s and should make for a nice addition to any 10mm enthusiasts collection. The cylinder is unfluted and the rosewood grips are the new style that S&W is putting on their revolvers. The sights are fully adjustable and would make a great carry gun. Of note, the 3" 610 has the new firing pin system where the hammer no longer has the firing pin as apart of the hammer. The firing pin is captured in the frame of the gun and is actuated when the hammer hits the firing pin.

S&W ventured into the frame decocking field (pioneered by SIG/Sauer (link)) with the 1026 and the 1076. The 1026 has a 5" barrel and frame mounted decocker system (pic). The 1076 has the same features as the 1026, but with a 4.25" barrel. Here's a comparison of the 1026 & 1076 side by side (pic). The 1076 comes in a civilian version and an FBI version. The FBI 1076 (pic) also came with an 11 and 15 round magazine and has two modifications. One modification was to allow the gun to be fired without the magazine and the other modification was to the trigger guard and group. This modification (requested by the FBI) caused some serious problems which made the trigger inoperable. The problem was rectified by S&W but the 1076 is no longer the official sidearm of the FBI. To my knowledge, the civilian 1076 does not have the problems that plagued the FBI version. In fact, my 1076 performs flawlessly. As a side note, S&W produced 5", 4.25" and 3.5" versions of the frame decocking design for the FBI to evaluate. Too bad the 3.5" (1036) model never made it to store shelves...sigh...

S&W manufactured the 1006 (pic) and 1066 (pic) in it's traditional slide mounted decocker double action system. The 1006 is a 5" barreled version with the 1066 having a 4.25" barrel. Both models are strong sturdy handguns that have no problem handling the 10mm. The 1006 was produced in the greatest numbers and is the most commonly encountered S&W 10mm. Here is an interesting picture of the 1006 and the experimental 1016 that has a 3.5" barrel...wish they made it a production model. Click here for pic of 1006 & 1016. Also, here is a comparison between the 4.25" barreled 1066 and 1076 (pic).

With the litigious age we live in, S&W developed a Double Action Only (DAO) trigger. These triggers are very smooth and have a shorter pull than the regular double action from S&W. Due to the DOA trigger, the rear of the slide is a bit longer than other 1000 series S&W and bobbed hammer. The 1046 (pic) and 1086 (pic) are identical except for barrel length. The 1046 has a 5" barrel and the 1086 has a 4.25" barrel. The 1046 is extremely rare and is difficult to locate.

STAR
STAR created a very interesting 10mm handgun that created a behemoth of a handgun...the size is on par with a Desert Eagle (well almost, but it is a very large handgun). Even the name is big...it's called the MEGAStar (pic). The major innovation of this handgun was that it has an inverted slide rail system like the CZ75/85 design. It was offered in a blued or a nickle based finish called Starvel. The MEGAStar in 10mm and .45ACP both used the same magazine interchangeably, which had a capacity of 14 rounds. The only thing about this handgun that most shooters didn't like (other than the girth and weight) was the safety. The safety is mounted on the slide and is pushed up to the rear (so that it sticks up and out from the back of the slide) and is very awkward to manipulate. The MEGAStar also has a magazine safety. I'm not sure if STAR ever made a production competition model available with an extended barrel, compensator, and single action trigger assembly, but I have a couple of pictures of it. Competition model with Standard model (pic) and close up of the MEGAStar Competition compensator (pic).

THOMPSON/CONTENDER (link)
This single action, single shot handgun/carbine is a unique and versitle firearm that allows the owner to change the barrels to be interchanged, thereby creating a firearm that can fire many different cartridges. The handgun version comes in various barrel lengths from 10" and up, although there are shorter custom barrels. The carbine (pic) cannot have a barrel length less than 16" in the U.S., so that is the barrel length that it is sold with. The barrel lengths run right up to 24"+. The 10mm Auto barrel was introduced in 1988. The T/C comes in either blue or stainless steel, and with wood or synthetic stocks. The fixed barrel contributes to the terrific accuracy that the T/C's seem to exhibit.

WYOMING ARMS/PARKER/LASER AIM
This 10mm AUTO handgun is based on the 1911, but has significant design changes. The beaver tail and thumb safety have been omitted and replaced with a slide mounted safety. It is a single action semiauto that is on the large side, although compact versions were produced (but I'm not sure if 10mmAUTO model had short barrels). In the LASERAIM 10mm (pic) version, the receiver is modified to accept a laser mount. Construction is all stainless with differing slide configurations from the various companies that have manufactured this firearm. The PARKER version I shot, shot ok and I believe that any competent 1911 gunsmith could tighten the gun up for accuracy. The trigger was heavy, but acceptable. The "feel" of this handgun is not like the 1911, but somewhat more like COLT's Double Eagle (but not as comfortable).

VICTORY
I'm not sure if this handgun was avaiable in the USA or not, but apparently, Magnum Research (of Desert Eagle fame) were the importers. If I recall, the VICTORY MC5 (pic) was made in Europe (UK) but I know of no one who owns one in any of the calibers it was offered in. The gun is a psuedo CZ75 design with DA/SA trigger, inverted rails, frame mounted safety. The MC5 actually looks like a cross between a S&W Auto and a CZ75. The frame was made of alloy (making me skeptical it was made in 10mm) but there was a stainless steel option (and maybe the frame was in stainless too making it suitable for 10mm). 3 barrel lengths were available in 4", 6", and 7.5" with porting also being available. Magazine capacity is 12 rounds in 10mm. If anyone owns one of these guns (in any caliber) please email me with details about the gun...I would really appreciate it.

ZASTAVA
The Z10 is made by Zastava of Yugoslavia and has been in production for about a couple of years. The design follows the Tokarev, although it is beefed up to handle the 10mm. the Z10 is made of stainless steel and looks to be an interesting design. Due to the bad economy in Yugoslavia, the company cannot afford much (no brochures) and was shipping out Z10s without boxes as late as Oct. 1998. From a source in the Yugoslav, the Z10 will print 3" groups at 25m / 27yards with no malfunctions in 5000 rounds.
Overall length: 190mm~7.48"
Height: 146mm~5.75"
Width: 30mm~1.18"
Weight: 980gr~35oz
Barrel: 116mm~4.57"
Sights: Fixed
Capacity: 8 Rounds
 Here is a pic of the Tokarev based Z10. Click Z10 for the pic.