hello, I really like the looks and sights on a fs 3in gun
besides a model 65 lady smith that seem hard to find, did smith make anything else with a 3in fixed sight 357 with the shroud?
I carry a model 2.125 model 60, I love the sights and the way it shoots. it would be nice to have the next size up to carry sometimes.
thanks

There were a very small number of fixed sight 3" model 19s with the shrouded ejector rod, mostly made for the French (?!) export market. The 65 LS is out there but somewhat pricey. If you can live without that feature, a standard 3" model 13 or 65 will be much easier to find.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

murphydog nailed it with the 65 and 13 being much more plentiful. There were a small number of Performance Center 13s that had an ejector rod shroud as well as ports at the end of the barrel-2 different styles of ports, there are photos by owners on the forum. Beautiful guns.

The barrels with the shrouded ejector rods certainly look good. But, in practice, I've never found any problems with the standard (exposed ones). Since the shrouded ejector rod K's are hard to find.....and the 3" K-frames are hard to find.....and everyone wants the .357 mag K-frames, so they are closely held and pricey (when they do come up for sale)....the OP is looking for a bit of a unicorn. They ARE out there....but do not appear nearly as often as the "regular" models.

Just sayin'.......

3" guns have gotten real popular in the last 10 years.......most who get one (or more) hold on to them..........for personal defense a lot, maybe most carry +P.38 hollow point ammo*.......if that works for you....... add Models 64 and 10 to your search list.....


*faster follow up shots and .357s out of a short barrel.....are not the same as out of a 6inch barrel...a lot of the powder ends up as "flash and bang"

There are some 3" 681's floating around....there are a whole bunch of 65's in the world that are 3", but not many with the full shroud.

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On the Oak Savannah

Forgot to mention, 3" model 10s and 64s are nice too .

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

3" HB (no shroud), RB 65. Joe

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Wisdom chases me; I'm faster

3" k frames are best k frames.

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Co-Owner NoDak Spud LLC

Once you have a 3" model 13 or 65, you'll love it and never notice the shroudless barrel. I felt the same way until I got one. Now I consider it the most practical gun for most purposes that i'll ever come up with. The most perfect camping, home defense. hiking, car travellin' revolver ever!

are all 65 lady smith satin finish?

I have managed to get along just fine without a shrouded barrel.

Yes, though some you'll find out there have been post-factory polished, either to address carry wear or corrosion, and because some folks can't handle owning a firearm with "Lady" on it.

I have seen two S&W 65 revolver with 3" shrouded barrels that had no markings on them. One was shiny, the other had a matte finish. These were carried by a LEO who was also a SWAT team member. He said a few were made up and shopped around to LE agencies as BUG's.

It's difficult, if not impossible, to improve on a 3.0 inch long barreled revolver. Pictured are my Model 64-3 (.38 Special), Model 13-3 and Model 65-3 (both in .357 Magnum), and my Rossi Model 720 (.44 Special).

Regards,

Dave

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Did he say they were factory? Certainly possible, as we all know with S&W, but I'm inclined to think one was post-factory polish, the other a re-bead blast.

Never encountered any official documentation indicating factory shipped 65 Lady Smiths without the bead blast finish and LS markings, and the only one I've seen myself that the owner was advertising as such was revealed under just a little scrutiny to be an uneven Flitz special with the LS marking still visible under bright light.

The guns looked pretty much like my two S&W 65's in the photo above, finish wise. He indicated the guns were factory.

I've pretty well covered that ground. I've got two M-13 3", one blue, one nickle, a 3" M36, a 3" CS-1, and a 3" 629. Except for the 36 and the CS-1, they all get workouts pretty regularly. Easiest caarrying .357 is a 3" K frame, IMHO.

Years ago, I was a young PFC who owned two pistols - a Ruger .22 semiauto and a 4" tapered barrel Model 10 S&W with a square butt. That Model 10 was great , accurate, ate anything I dared shoot through it. Whenever I carried it, though, I always wished the barrel was about an inch shorter, and the butt was a bit more contoured.

Ran across a 13-3, 3" round butt a few years ago. Had to put it on layaway, but eventually got it home. Such a nice gun! Still mostly run .38 through it, but it is nice to have the .357 option.

I wouldn't like the shroud, I think. It would add weight to it, and it's already got such great balance, I wouldn't want to screw that up with more weight.

While the shroud looks good, it does nothing to enhance the ability of the Model 65 to be a better shooter. I had both, sold the LS to a friend and shoot rather well with the plain-jane version. It is so well balanced and easy to bring onto target. It is my favorite S&W.

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GA Carry member
Vietnam Vet

I love my unsurprised 3 inch 13

The barrel contour on the 3" shrouded LS version is lighter than the bull barrel typical on the 64/65/19 3" models. I notice a slight difference in how the two point, preferring the bull barrel, but that may be my imagination. I vaguely remember some discussion about an order of shrouded 3" model 13 revolvers made up for a police agency of a South American country. The story goes that this agency specified the shroud for the increased durability. It seems the officers would sometimes use their revolvers as a sap. I'm not sure if this story is apocryphal, but unless you are planning on "cracking some palooka on the conk with your roscoe," I don't think the slight edge in "durability" would be worth the trouble. Now, if you just like the way it looks: different story.

It took me a few months to locate this 3" 13-3, about 15 years ago. This revolver has a semi-target hammer and a smooth trigger, both worthy additions. I scored the KB Combat style grips and a 3" Don Hume lined holster years later and I think I'll hang onto them. It's my glove box gun.

I like the 3" M10; it was a great off-duty gun long after I started carrying an auto on-duty. It's now a favorite range gun.
Bob

Not your imagination -- you're right on in both the barrel differences and how they swing and point.

Sounds more like the 3" fixed sight Model 19, some of which went to France, some to South America. The only shrouded Model 13 I'm aware of is the PC one from the early '90s.

There's also the uber-rare shrouded 3" Model 10...

Thanks for setting me straight. I knew it was something like that, but I was a little foggy on the details. I had no idea about the existence of a 3" shrouded model 10. That would be an odd bird. Interesting though...

Yeah, glove box gun, if you drive a Rolls!!!

Man, those 3-inch K-frame .357s look great. My grandfather carried a 3-inch Model 65 in a Safariland clip holster for years as a homicide detective and into retirement. When his arthritis led him back to his Model 64 4-inch, he sold that Model 65 for about 180 bucks to a dealer. This was about 15 years ago, but I sure wish now he would have kept in the family. I rarely see 3-inch .357s anymore. The first magnum I ever fired, and a most excellent revolver.

Traded a 2 1/2" Mdl. 19 for a 3" Mdl. 13 many years ago because I was convinced the adjustable sights on the 19 would hang up during concealed carry. Probably wrong about that but the 13 has been a blessing as a great carry gun. Sometimes I switch to a Mdl.36 or 442 because I need something smaller and I have even laid the 13 aside on occasion for a Glock because of capacity, but after a short time I go back to the 13. It just feels right and with a speed loader or two, I have been able to keep the zombies away. Have not looked for a 13 lately, but I know they are hard to find.

Nope, a ten year old Chevy Pick-up...

Smith & Wesson did, at one time, sell shrouded 3" barrels for fixed-sight K-frames. I know, because I own this one that started life as a typical 4" 65-5. You'll notice that the roll-marks are different than that of a Lady Smith barrel. I've yet to see another barrel like this, and don't know the story behind it, as it was on the gun when I purchased it.

Performance Center 357 Carry Comp. Just a beautiful carry gun and very easy to conceal.



Keith

This gun started as a Model 13-3 with a 3" barrel. All you have to do is get on Ebay or GB & pick up a 4" M19 barrel, then whip out the hack saw & belt sander. A lathe & mill come in handy too.




Ned

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Devil's afraid I'll take over.

I started as a full time agent in 1979 and we had revolvers until about 1987. First a 66-1, 2.5 inch, then a 4 inch 66-2 and finally this one: Model 13-3. It was purchased/issued with the grips shown below. One of the most comfortable carry guns ever and much, much better than the hog leg Beretta 92 we were burdened with later.

This is my 3" Model 13-2 transitional gun that is recessed, but not pinned. Still NIB, and unfired, as best as I can tell. Not even a turn line. I'm trying pretty hard to trade something else I have for a 3" 65-3 here locally, so I will have a 3" K frame .357 that I can carry, and not have to worry about tarnishing. Also, while not a S&W, I have a Ruger Speed Six in stainless with a 2.75" barrel and round butt that handles every bit as well.

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MARK