The Model 13. Great 357 Magnum overshadowed by the Model 19. I have found the 4" Model 13 to point just a little better and hit a little faster than my 4" Model 19.

The 3" 13, however, shoots much better than a 2.5" model 19. The bull barrel and low profile front sight just seems to find the target better. Not near as beautiful as the classic 19, but there are reasons that the 19s are safe queens in this house.

The top is a 13-1 made in 1978 sporting Ahrends grips. The other is among my preferred carry guns: a 13-2 made in 1981 with bobbed hammer and Craig Spegel grips.

Checking the Book, found it surprising that there were no Model 13 no-dash guns. They went from a 357 Magnum version of the Model 10 to the 13-1 in 1974. Odd. I always assumed that ALL S&W model numbered guns began life as a no-dash.

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I have a gorgeous nicholed model 13 with sweet target grips. Like yours, it shoots beautifully as well.

Good prices can still be had when buying.
I'm at a loss as to why they aren't more appreciated.

Prescut

Hi,

what a coincidence: I own a 13-2 3", Ahrends Retro Bananas on it. Just used it today on a range trip for about 120 .38 Special handloads with 158 gr SWC coated bullets (standard pressure, about 740 ft/s). It is very accurate on the distances it was intended to be used, you just have to be careful with the sights as it shoots much higher with only a few too much front sight protruding. Superbly balanced and thus pointing perfectly - I could keep 20 rounds double action single handed on 12 yards within a 3" circle, rapid fire 5 shots in 6-7 seconds.

Not too much fun with full house 357 Magnums...

regards from Germany
Ulrich

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Life is too short to own a bad gun

they are great guns. here is my 3inch model 13.

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God save the SOUTH

My 13-2. Has an extremely ugly import mark below the cylinder release, but it was very well taken care of before coming home.

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The "official" reason given is that the .357 M&P (formerly the special order only 10-6) already incorporated engineering changes that precluded the use of "Model 13" with no dash number.

BUT, I've always suspected that it had more to do with avoiding any possible confusion with the now-rare, aluminum frame Model 13 Aircrewman, made for the Air Force in the 1950s.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

My Model 13-2


upload picture with link


My Model 19-2

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Mike
S&WCA #3065

sw44spl, those are beautiful grips. Who made them? What type of wood?

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Kevin in Oregon

I will agree, the M13 is a fine shooting revolver.

I really like my nickel, 3" M13-3

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Life NRA, Life TSRA, C&R FFL

I love the M13. I can shoot better than my ability with the M13 and the M17 that I have for some reason. My father wanted my 13, I offered him several others but he wanted that 13 so bad. So I bought a shoulder holster for it and I let him have it. When he was diagnosed with Lung cancer he passed the guns back to me and the 13 was still pristine.

The Model 13 was my last issued revolver. It replaced a four inch 66-2 which replaced a 2.5 inch 66-1. The 13 was a much better carry gun than either of the model 66's. The three inch barrel was the sweet spot. The only negative was having to remember to wipe it down every day since it was not stainless.

We ordered them with the round butt target (banana) grips, which were very comfortable to shoot.

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Bill

I picked up a 13-1 4” a few years back at a great price, what I’d call an excellent-condition shooter. It quickly won me over and became my favorite carry .357. I’d love to find a 3”.

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Geoff. Since 1960.

Igiveup they are kingwood well that is what the shop said I got them from.but I cant say who made them.

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God save the SOUTH

My 13-2 isn't pretty but it is a smooth and accurate shooter.
Gila's Trout Slayer.jpg

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Tom in AZ
Respect the Dingbat

I'd be willing to bet they are J. Scott , zebra wood grips.
Generally pretty nice replacement grips from back in the day.
HUGE variety.

I am limited to the SS cousins of those great revolvers - M65's in 4" and 3".
And - both came used, more than likely prior LE duty pieces.
The 4" is sort of a freak. It shoots groups with most hotter .38's and .357's like a match revolver.
Either are hard to beat for what they were designed for.

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Ret'd LEO
SWCA #2275

When I went through the po-leese academy, the firearms instructor stated that the 4" M13 was the ideal police sidearm. His was equipped with a Tyler T grip. He liked that set-up, as he felt that most grips were too big for the hand. He also preferred round butt revolvers and narrow (.265") smooth triggers.

At that point in time, only revolvers were allowed at the academy. My range gun was a 4" blue M19, that I had round butted myself. It was wearing compact Pachmayrs and a smooth .400" trigger. It must have been a decent combo; I shot NRA Expert with it.

Over the years, I have had two 4" blue M13s, a 3" blue M13 and a 3" M65. The 4"ers I had bought as barreled frames. I had enough parts to rebuild them. Unfortunately, they got sold over the years. My ex wound up with the 3" M13. My present (and last ) wife now has the 3" M65. She likes stainless revolvers. She did give me back my 4" nickel M19!

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Only thing better is a 65.

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Only a cold warrior

The 3" barrel is a sweet spot for a carry revolver........ but the 3" 13 was overshadowed by it's stainless twin the model 65.

Only thing better IMO is the 3" 66 for the COooool factor.........

All three deserve Craig Spegel Boot Grips to bring out their very best!!!!!!!!

It is kind of a toss up, I really like my 3” M13, it’s nickel, then there is my 3” M66-3, a really fine revolver, S&W at its best



But as a shooter I really tend to favor my 3” CS-1, choices are good!

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Life NRA, Life TSRA, C&R FFL

My Model 13-3 with Bianchi Lightning grips made by Pachmayr. The original grips were long gone when I got it. This was my EDC for years until I gave it to my son-in-law early this year.

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

I'm sure we all appreciate them, but given the choice between fixed sights and adjustable - I can see why the 13 would take a back seat to other models.

IMO, the 3 inch K-frame revolver is an outstanding size handgun. The 3 inch barrel is not that much harder to carry concealed than the 2 1/2 inch barrel, but that extra 1/2 inch of barrel gets you a full length ejector rod. That, IMO, is significant.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Quote:
The 3" 13, however, shoots much better than a 2.5" model 19. The bull barrel and low profile front sight just seems to find the target better. Not near as beautiful as the classic 19, but there are reasons that the 19s are safe queens in this house.

The top is a 13-1 made in 1978 sporting Ahrends grips. The other is among my preferred carry guns: a 13-2 made in 1981 with bobbed hammer and Craig Spegel grips.

The FBI agreed with you for about 10-11 years until they decided to issue the 1076 in it's place and crushed, burned and buried in a pit at Quantico this great service revolver. It's still an awesome CCW weapon.
Chuck

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SWCA1517 SWHF256
Rangers LTW!

Here's another one - with my favorite S&W RB Target grips.

Jerry

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Would love to have a 3inch version but I was quite happy to pick up this one, especially at the price I paid. The grips are Culinas that replaced the non matching magnas it came with.

A blued 3” 13 has always been a “grail gun” for me. In all my years of puttering in gun shops and shows I have never even seen one for sale. I detest stainless and have never had issues with rust on my blued guns even when I lived in a very humid region. I very seldom see a 3” 64 or 65 but the blued guns seem much more scarce

Some great looking guns here

This model 65 has been tuned and is smooth as silk.

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SWCA 1932 SWHF 135

My 3" Model13 is my favorite carry revolver.

That's because a 3" Model 13 in average shooter condition is worth only $500-700 or so. Most anybody with any sense would rather have a 3" 13 than $600 cash. So why sell?

Thankfully not all were destroyed. We had a beautiful Model 13 3” specimen in our vault that I would shoot as much as I could. Also had a couple of 1928 Thompson’s, a Model 19, a Model 60, several 1076’s, and a 1911 in “Super .38”. The vault at Quantico has even better firearms.

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No good deed goes unpunished.

Got this one cheap from Bro in law. I bobbed it and found some really funky but great feeling grips off ebay. Man, it rides so well in a hip pocket.

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Charlie

Minty 13's are much harder to find than 65's.

I predict the 13 will surpass the 65 very soon in desirability and value. Even more so than 19's and 66's.

Very nice carry K-frame.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

A favorite model of Smith here for sure.

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KM
S&WCA 3110 S&WHF 625

I also forgot to add the fact that the blue on blue sights are much better for shooting than the SS on SS presentation on the 65. Much better sight picture on the 13.

I carried a Model 19, 2.5" from 1975 until 1992 when we transitioned to the SIG P228. I never liked the Model 19. It didn't balance well, didn't ride well in a holster, and I tried many. I never understood why it was chosen. We did NOT carry .357 cartridges. Issue was Federal LE .38 +P. I would have taken a four inch Model 10 or three inch over the Model 19. My "off-duty" firearm was a Model 60. It was carried a lot "on-duty." I have never handled a Model 13. I'm still looking for a Model 10 or Model 13 with a 3" barrel.

So far, the most comfortable revolver I have fired/carried is a Model 10, 4" pencil barrel with round butt. My hands aren't large and this is the one for me. I'm thinking the 3" might be better, with a RB.

I also have a 4" pencil barrel .38 M&P. I agree, it is a good handling revolver. I bought mine from a fellow forum member a few years back.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

The reason I was able to give my Model 13-3 to my son-in-law is right here, a 4 inch Model 65-1 with Thai grips and a BK Grip adapter.


Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk

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CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

Here is my 65. It started life as a SB but a trip to Mag-Na-Port took care of that in addition to the porting that they did. The trigger pull is also smooth as any of my other S&W revolvers.

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Let's be careful out there