Happy Monday all,

I walked into my local gun shop at lunch today, and looking back at me through from the used gun display was a very clean S&W 13-3 3" RB revolver. If my reading glasses didn't lie to me - the SN is BBB00xx. I'd say the gun is a solid 95% - but no box or papers.

My first question to those that know - when was this one born?

My second is - this one has a beautiful set of S&W , finger groove combats. Did they ever come that way from the factory?

The VA. State Police didn't give as instant a "instant background check" on me as I'd like, so I'll go by after work to (hopefully) pick it up. Pics to follow.

Take care,
Bob S.

Bob: How much (if you don't mind)? They're starting to fetch some pretty good money -- and I'm afraid I'd pay more than I'd like if I saw one. Oh well, supply and demand...

I think they all came with RB Magna stocks. Mine did.

__________________
Wayne
Torn & Frayed

They were asking $350.00, and I offered $325.00 and he said yes. ($341 after the Governor gets his commission , I think I did OK - and you can never have enough good 357's.

Take care,
Bob S.

I think that is a fantastic buy, I paid more than that for mine in about 90% condition.

Great price on a superb sixgun! Congrats! The 3 inch barrel is VERY desireable.

I had my gunsmith slick up my 3" 13-3. Rendered DAO with a spurless hammer. One very nice carry gun. Enjoy yours! Regards 18DAI

Bob, just insure that the VA State Police come to your LGS and arrest you for theft. That's a great price on a Model 13. It's an even better deal, if those combats are genuine S&W's.

Congratulations!!

NOW, SHOW US PICTURES!!!

Great price on one of my favorite revolvers. In California a 3 inch model 13 is going for $600 to $650. Model 19s are more common than model 13. I have a 4 inc 13-2 but would like to find a 3 inch barrel model 13.
Good luck,
Howard

Regarding original 13-3 3" grips, mine came with, what I believe to be factory original "goodyears". Since I cannot abide rubber grips on a handgun, I put a set of Ahrends, tung-oil finished maple stocks on it:



Aahhhh... that's better!

Mike

Ha, I took too long being silly...

That is indeed a VERY good price for a 3" Model 13 in that condition. It makes me wonder what the dealer paid the poor guy that sold it to him if he was able to sell if for $325 and still get a mark-up profit!!?? Why can't I ever find those kind of deals?? I thought I was doing okay when I paid $525 for a similar condition 3" 13-2 with no box on GB last year.

This was a consignment gun - and the way this shop works consignments is the price is set by the gun owner. If he wants the money, the shop takes 10% of the sale price, if he wants to use the money for another purchase in the shop, the shop gives him the full sale amount as credit towards that purchase.

As of 8pm last night, the VA. State Police had still not completed the "instant" background check. I'll head back there after work today to pick it up. (I hope) And yes - pics will be added.

Take care,
Bob S.

Well? We're waiting!

ECS

__________________
CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

ME TOO!!!! Blankety-blank State Police!!!

I stopped by after work - no joy. I went shopping and called back (shop is open until 8pm) no joy.

I'll try again after work today. One of the bills we have in this year is to get the VA. State Police out of the gun buying process - after this, I'm all for that change!

sigh...

Bob S.

Bob-those combats are worth close to half your purchase price. So yes, you have done real well on the purchase. I picked up one of the Aussie 3" model 10s from Buds and it is a great carry gun and the 3" barrel balances nicely. It is my dog walking companion.

__________________
Jim
Many K and N Frames

I'm still waiting on my background check for my 13-2, 4". I'm always "delayed" but this is getting silly these days.

Oh. BTW...You got a great price. I'm paying $450.00 for mine..

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John 3:16 .

In the last few years - it's usually delayed until the next day, and while annoying, I can live with that. But - I have a CHP & a CDL with hazmat (so I can drive truckloads of explosives up & down the highway), so you would think that somewhere in their database they could see they've done this before.

I've heard that several of the people working the background checks quit last month, so the workload on the remaining folks is higher. I don't know if that's true or not, but it sure has slowed down a great deal since just before Christmas.

Take care,
Bob S.

With no thanks to the Virginia State Police, I now have my new (to me) S&W home tonight. As of 8pm, they had still not even started the background check that I filled out the paperwork for on Monday. Truly sad!

Anyway - the shop released the gun to me today.

Here are the first pics - the flash is a little bright, I'll get better pictures outside soon.

model 13-3 3" - S&W combat grips...



SN is BBB00xx - can anyone tell me it's birth year?

It'll be at the range tomorrow to see how it'll do.

Have a good weekend,
Bob S.

Congrats. 3" Model 13's are really nice revolvers!!

Probably 1988.
It's late enough that a call to S&W CS could narrow it down for you further.

Very nice Bob!

That's a nice one Bob. Congratulations. I finally got mine Thursday (pictures in another thread). I would have liked to have gotten a 3" RB, like the one you have, but I've got a 65-5 that fills that niche...sort of.

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John 3:16 .

Nice. I recenty scored a 13-3 3" for about $325 OTD. Some finish wear, but tight and an excellent shooter. It has the best action in the safe.
You should enjoy yours.

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Watch & Pray

Nice piece, MHO, good deal. That's what I would expect to pay in my neck of the woods here in PA.
Enjoy.........

Wow! That was a super price. Man I would love to get a 3" 13 for anywhere near that price!

Very nice. I paid $200.00 for mine about 13 years ago.

Thinking about sending it back to S&W for a "refresh." Don't know if I'll do this or my Model 681 first. They've both seen hard use.

ECS

__________________
CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

I know some of you will laugh, but I only just found out about the Model 13. I've been obsessing about Model 64 and 65s recently, and it occurred to me that while the 64 is essentially a Model 10 in stainless, what was the blued equivalent of the 65? After a (very) little checking, I realized it was the 13, and then after some more looking around, found that there's not a lot of info or posting on them, so it was good to find this thread and to see these excellent 3"ers, would like to see some 4"ers too. Now I've got to have one; the M10 has been one of my very favorites for years and a blued HB 3 or 4" is right inline with the K-Frame fever I've got, which is including 547s these days. What are some favorite loads for you 13 owners out there?

Favorite load for my Model 13-3 is the Speer 135 grain GDHP .38 Special+P Short Barrel load. It is accurate, low flash, and low recoil from either of my K-Frames. It is a handful from my Taurus 85SSUL 2 inch, but it is still accurate.

ECS

__________________
CPT, Armor (Ret)
Luke 22:36

Thank for all the replies.

I took the 13 out to the range on Sat. - I only got to shoot at 7 yards as I was helping with a class - but at that range, It's dead on with factory magnum ammo.

I'll have to change out the grips - the S&W combats are just too big for me. I might also let a smith smooth out the double action a bit.

I also got to compare shooting full house loads out of this gun with a Chiappa Rhino side by side - shoot 3 round out of the S&W & immediately shoot 3 rounds out of the Rhino. The felt recoil was the same - the Rhino did have a lower muzzle rise - but it didn't shoot to point of aim at 7 yards - it was 3-4 inches high left. While the Rhino is "interesting", I'll stick to my S&W's.

Take care,
Bob S.

The rhino was a disappointing gun to shoot after all the hubbub; the worst part after its accuracy was trying to reload with any speed.

Beautiful model 13, my model 65 3inch isnt anywhere near as pretty, that blue just makes me smile

Hey Messer, somehow I had missed your photo and was still waiting for it; didn't mean to hijack your post about ammo. Did you shoot 158 grainers in it then? I'm looking for a 13 like that now, I've just got to have one. I like those grips, but so far Ahrend's is really got it my hand mold down with combat finger grooves for round butts. I'm assuming the 3" 13 is a round butt????

Yes - I used 158gr HP's from Federal to do the recoil test - I also put about 25 38+P's through it to see what (if any) change there was, and it wasn't enough to matter (about the same POI - maybe a little lower than the 357's, but very close).

It has a set of Ahrends on it now - borrowed from it's model 65 cousin until the next gun show where I'll get the 13 her own set. Here is the model 65LS wearing the Ahrends...



The 3" model 13/65 is a round butt - and is (in my mind) just about the perfect size/weight for a carry gun.

Take care,
Bob S.

I concur, just wish S&W would see it that way. Thanks for the note, that's one of my normal choices for carry ammunition, but normally hunt with SJSPs from Fiocchi, which produces quite a bit of recoil, but manageable in my opinion. I'm not too sensitive to recoil, and find those Ahrend's, exaclty like those on your 65, are a good match. Congratulations again on that 13 (and that 65, too), can't wait to find one like it.

Best regards,
Raleigh