Hi everyone,

In my local gun store today and saw a pristine 13-2 4 inch. Hardly a turn line and no visible holster wear. No box. Price 545.00 out the door. Is it worth buying?. Very nice revolver.
Thanks,
roaddog28

Seems like it would be a little steep here in central Ohio. I would expect something like that to be more like $450-475 around these parts.

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

I'd guess about $100 high as well.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I agree, at least $100 to high, but how many 13's do you see in shops these days.

I thought 400 for a 13-3 was a little high back in the fall. but I got it anyway. this is really up there it seems but then I haven't really followed 13 prices since my purchase.

Hi again and thanks for the responses. Two years ago I would of never considered buying a M13 for that kind of money. But I live in California and K frame magnums run in the neighborhood of $400 for a shooter up to $650 for one with a box and papers. This one is $475 plus tax and DOJ fee (background check). Total is $545. I have a M19-4 I paid $269 out the door but it is far from pristine. Its a great shooter typical of K frame magnums. I also have a M66 which is my best revolver in my stable. I am considering buying the revolver because they are not made anymore and the M13 is harder to find than a M19.
Thanks,
roaddog28

Being so pristine and in CA, I suggest you go ahead and buy it. It will look cheap in a couple of years.

My stance is that once you get into the giddy heights of "like new", "pristine", "unfired", you can expect to pay a significant premium. Some will pay it, some won't.

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You're shy a few manners.

The wife and I looked for a good P&R Model 13 for several years. When we did manage to find one, it would be in rough shape, and the owner would want $400 - $450, no box, rubber grips.
We finally found this excellent Model 13-1 at a gun show, and I bought it for $300 out the door (and if I ever see another 13-1 for $300, I'll sure as Hell buy it):

It had rubber grips, so the wife put on Ahrends Maple stocks. It's pretty much established that it's her gun; she lets me shoot it once in a while if I'm good.
Anyway - there is something special about the 13. I know a lot were made, yet I see few for sale. Apparently, it is the sort of gun folks just do not want to sell. The trigger action and balance are unmatched, in my opinion, even by the Colt Python.
My gun of preference has an N frame, but if I were really serious about getting a Model 13, I'd (grudgingly) pay $545. Large enough to shoot magnums, small enough to conceal, it could be the only gun you need.

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NRA Lifetime Member

Hi everyone,

Again, thanks for the responses. Update, I did buy the 13-2 yesterday and for $545 out the door. The revolver has no holster wear the forcing cone is perfect and not a hint of flame cutting. I suspect the revolver was fired very little. Many here would say that's to high for a M13. But in California that is actually reasonable. I have found very few M13 for sale in the last two years. I can find M19s, M65s and M66s but few M13s. On my top five wish list has always been a M13. I actually like them better than the famous M19. With this purchase I now have a M13, M19 and M66. The only K frame magnum I am missing is a M65. I have always shot the K frame better than any of my Smiths and Rugers. I guess the grip, balance and accurately just suite me and my very small hands. I have a total of five K frame Smiths two of them 38 specials. I like other frame sizes like the L and N and have them but the K frame will be my favorite. I think a lot of members here feel the same way.
I will post pictures went I pick up of revolver.

Thanks again,
roaddog28

My thoughts as well. Over the past few years, for each M13 that comes up for sale I have seen a dozen M19s.

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You're shy a few manners.

Prices will vary a lot depending on where you are. I think you did just fine for Calif. This time next year you'll look at the gun and be very glad you got it at all. Then the price won't matter.

Here is model 13-1 number 3D158XX, that I bought new in
1978. It shoots as good as any S&W I've ever shot. An all around great gun.

Although you can always find an example of whatever model you want for sale, as time goes by it is getting harder and harder to find the example you want in the condition you want for a reasonable price. And, if you are keeping it, it doesn't matter if you paid a little more than you wanted to. If you paid, say 100 bucks more than you wanted that is 20 bucks a year extra if you keep it 5 years....big woop! Enjoy it, I wish I had one like it.

Good score roaddog28. I too live in CA and desirable S&W's are harder and harder to find every day. I bought a 3" Model 65-3 a few months ago and paid coincidentally, the exact same amount out the door as you did on your Model 13. Both the Model 65 and Model 13 had been on my short list for several years. The last time I saw a 3" Model 65 was about 5 years ago. I hesitated, went back a few days later and it was gone. I hadn't seen another until the one I just bought, and can't remember the last time I saw a Model 13. Buy 'em when ya see 'em has become my motto here in this state.

I'm glad I read that you bought it. It was the smart thing to do. Good guns just keep on going up in price every year.

I think you will be glad you got it.in my area its hard to find model 13s.I found one in a pawn shop in mooresville but it had been reblued.I passed on it because when it was polished they messed up the sw logo.

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God save the SOUTH

In my area thats pretty steep, I think Id pass on it and keep looking. You can do better.

Hi again,

In California the market on K frame magnums is all over the place. I bought a 19-4 6 inch for only $269 out the door. Did a lot of cleanup and I think the gun will make a great shooter. I have also seen M19 as high as $700 with box and papers. K frames magnums in good condition with no box run between $500 to $650. So for a M13 with no holster wear and original grips the $545 out the door price is not bad. The actual price was $475 plus tax and background check. Remember I live in California where the cost of living is high.
Thanks,
roaddog28

Same here - buy it while its available. You walk away, you wont see another one for 3 years. Of course, now that you did buy it, you will see 5 in the next 6 months..........

Hi everyone,

Well I finally got my M13-2. Sweet revolver. Here are the pictures. I don't take the best pictures so bare with me. My M13-2 will join my M19-4 and M66-4 K in my collection.

Regards,
roaddog28

This is 100 percent correct. What is one hundred buck when you find exactly what you want, in the condition you want, and while you can in California the way things are going there.

Like Smith357 said, Thats high in these parts.

A never ending dilemma for certain.

FWIW, I remember in the 1970s passing on like new commercial Colt 1911s because the were priced in the $180 or so range. At that time, they seemed really pricey. Of course, WWII Colts went for less, depending on condition, maybe much less. ... But I was too smart to buy at that price.

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You're shy a few manners.

+1

In our always-connected WalMart-ized culture we can too easily get caught in the trap of worrying that we paid "too much" for something..."too much" being defined by what a similar item might cost you elsewhere.

I mentioned in another thread that I recently paid $90 more than the "going rate" for a revolver that I really wanted. I made the right decision.

The question to ask is not whether something might be cheaper if you found it somewhere else; the question is whether the particular item is worth the asking price to you.

If it is, then you didn't pay too much.

EDIT: I should add the qualifier that this is from the perspective of someone (me) who buys guns and keeps them. If you're the type of guy/gal who enjoys buying/trading/selling (and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that) then the statements above do not apply.

I agree that all guns have gone up. I have seen in California a K frame magnum go for $650 without a box. I see very few M13s where I live. It was on my short list to buy. Now, I have scored some good buys. I bought a M66-4 4 inch for only $300. I also bought a M19-4 6 inch for $269. Its hard to know when to pull the trigger on a gun you like. I loss a lot of chances to buy a M13 because I thought the price is high. In this case, I was not going to lose this one. Its hardly used with no holster wear.
I have already tagged this one as one of my favorites.

Regards,
roaddog28

Let's not forget that the actual price was $475 plus tax. A decent price, especially in Kali. Roaddog28 did good. I bought mine new in 1979 for $259 plus tax. Still have it AND the box it came in. A keeper. Good job, RD!

Over 5 year old thread, thought that was frowned upon here?

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K & N S&W revolvers