I recently picked up a like-new Smith & Wesson Military & Police revolver, more commonly called the Model 10. For those of you born after police switched to semi-auto pistols, this was the most popular police revolver of all time. Not because of it's "stopping power" and not because of fancy "tactical" features. Because it was simply the basic .38 Special revolver. And, of course, it was cheap.
The M&P started life in 1899 with the idea of a swing-out cylinder for faster loading and reloading. This was a big advance over single-action revolvers with their loading gate. It was also a stronger frame & action than the break-top revolvers like the Schofield and smaller .32 caliber pistols.
Between 1899 and about 1942 the M&P went through some relatively minor changes to improve the model. During WW-II, an internal safety lever was added to prevent an unintentional discharge if it was dropped. It was just this sort of accident aboard a U.S. Navy ship that spurred the new feature. And that feature still exists in S&W revolvers today.
In the post-war years, many police departments issued the M&P as the basic weapon for police officers. S&W wasn't the only brand in police holsters to be sure. Colt also marketed several models to police departments, touting Colt's superior accuracy or the heavier duty frame of the Official Police. The marketing battles between the two companies rivals that of Coke vs. Pepsi or Ford vs. GM. And it was not unusual for some aspiring police officers to avoid applying at agencies using the "wrong" brand.
The M&P has, historically, been the most popular, best selling revolver in the S&W line-up. In addition to police guns, many of the 1 million "Victory Model" guns - essentially an M&P with a parkerized finish and a lanyard ring - were purchased after the end of the war. Many of these were bought for simple protection and many others were the basis of some "project" the owner had in mind. Between 1946 and today, when the average citizen walked into a gun shop looking for a handgun to protect his family, most likely it was the "plain Jane" M&P that went home with him. It's simple, well balanced and fires a cartridge that is "good enough" to do the job. But most of all, it didn't break the household budget.
The M&P revolver has served both police and the military for over 100 years. The term tactical cannot be applied to the M&P. There is no-thing "tactical" about it. As you can see in these photos, this is about as simple as it gets. Perhaps the right term for it is high speed, low drag simply because
there is nothing to get in the way of the simple process of shooting the gun.
The photos presented here are of the M&P I purchased recently. It was made in 1969-70 by the serial number and it is in like-new condition. The blued finish is still glossy and deep, just the way it came from the factory. The primary reason I purchased this one is that it sports a 5-inch barrel instead of the more popular 4-inch or 6-inch tube. The first gun I ever learned to shoot was an old WW-II Victory Model with a 5-inch barrel. My father purchased it in 1948 by mail-order for a grand total of $28.75. It had been reblued but still carried the lanyard ring and US Property markings. This one is about 20 years younger, but it still feels the same.
If you are new to handguns and looking for something to protect your home or business, don't overlook the Model 10 M&P revolver. It's not fancy. It's 
not "tactical". It's not a magnum powerhouse. But it does have a proven track record. When something works for over 100 years it is worth serious consideration. Used specimens can usually be found in your local gun shop for a much more modest sum than you'd pay for that 9mm tactical tupperware pistol or even a brand new Model 10. Depending on condition and what part of the country you are in, you can find a Model 10 for $195 and up. Even a pristine gun like the one I found doesn't sell for more than $350 here in expensive California.
With its virtues and simple elegance, everybody should own a Model 10 M&P.
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