My favorite pawnshop has a 4 inch 13-1 that is in very nice condition. Lock up is good, there is a little bit freckling on the backstrap, and a there are few blemishes on the cylinder. Bore is clean and rifling sharp. Both the visible screws are unbuggered and the side panel fits tightly. One grip panel is a little loose and I did not have a screw driver with me to see if tightening the screw will eliminate the play between the grip and the frame. They want want $600 for it, which usually means 525 to 550 in practice. Is that reasonable if a screwdriver fixes the loose grip? It's the first 13 I have seen in the wild.

If a pawn shop is asking $600, then they have less then $300 invested... I have no sympathy for pawn shops and make my best hard deals there. I'm thinking $400 on that model 13.

If in good condition, $600. is probably a decent price in this area.

Concur. I haven't priced or bought any handguns in a while, but i think $600.00 is a bit steep especially given the condition you describe. I think the $400.00 - $425.00 range is more appropriate, but I am a legendary cheap skate.

Good luck,

Dave

4" .357 k frames are popular. I have been following them on g-broker lately. 13-1 is pinned and recessed IIRC. This gun is competing with speed sixes, sp101s, S&W 65s. I think on a local deal with a good working shooter grade gun in hand- $500-$525 is probably a fair market price. If you are patient I am sure you could do better eventually, maybe... And if prices keep going the way they have been if you keep it for a couple years you definitely won't get hurt. I think that's a very useful gun, which will only increase in value. I say get it!

I spent too much time thinking about the 66 no dash they had a couple months ago and missed it. So I am inclined to go for it if I can get him into the 500-550 range. It is in fact pinned and recessed, which I like. Does any one have any thoughts on why one grip panel would be nice and tight and the other one be so loose that is has a 1/8 inch of play?

All Model 13-1 and 13-2 revolvers had the pinned barrel and the counter-bored charge holes. Those features did not disappear until 1982, when the Model 13-3 was released.

That is not a reason not to buy this gun, but it does mean there are plenty of them out there with these features. If you decide the price is too high (I personally think $600 is far too high) you can afford to bide your time. Another one will come along.

__________________
Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I don't know but I think you should be able to figure it out before you buy it. Just take an appropriate screw driver and take the grips off and fit them on one at a time without the screw. It may be the screw is just loose and the one side is fit tight and the other side is hanging on the screw.

Use the loose grip as a negotiating point, don’t fix it for the pawn shop. Fix it when you get that bad boy home.

Based on what you are describing I would think more in the 575-550 range. Here are my 13-3s and I picked these up for a bit more, closer to 650-675.

You said examination revealed freckling and blemishes... these handling and use marks do not make this a collector quality gun. There are a zillion pin and recessed guns out there and just because you located one (in a pawn shop) does not make it the one to have at an inflated pawn shop price. A model 13 was a popular carry gun for LEO either issued or personal owned. They ran about $150 - $175 new and when I was on the job, just about everybody had one to replace the issued model 10. The hunt is as much fun as the buy - so when you buy, buy smart by paying a fair price. Find one as new with the box and you will be much happier!

These are 3” guns, and the market for these is much different than the market for 4” guns. Still, if you can be happy with a deal in the $500s and enjoy shooting instead of waiting for a better deal, pull the trigger. Life is too short to sweat $100.

In the Reno area I’ve been seeing 3” 13-3s running around $700 to $900 for 95+% guns. At a recent show I picked up a 99% example with box and goodies for $775; unfortunately I traded it for something else later that day. Although I haven’t seen any 4” -1s or -2s, a good friend picked up a 90% 4” -3 for $375 a couple months ago.

Local dealer has a 13-1 in about a 75-80% condition , no box or papers , some scuffing on left side of barrel. Grips are the proper serial number to the gun.
He wants bottom dollar $450.00

What do you think about the price ?
What was the last year for the carbona bluing ?