New project gun. Not sure if it was just abused, left in a wet holster, stored in a boat or what but it is ugly. Times ok. End shake is ok, lock up is ok but could be better. But it was cheap so I will play around with it.

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Gary SWCA 3669

What does the bore look like?

Gary, depending on the cost, I would have bought that for a truck/garage gun. You sure aren't going to hurt it. Good snag.

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Mike 2796
SoFo Bunch member

Perfect project gun! If I didn’t leave it as is, she’d be bead blasted and either be black nitrided or hard chromed.

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213th FBINA

Looking forward to reports on your project progress

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Guns + Dogs= Bliss

Hey! I have its little brother. Head over to the smithing forum and look for project Short & Sweet…

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SWCA #3942 / SWHF #988

Bore is good. Function tests good other than slightly loose at lock up. I have a good stock pile of parts so I think mechanically it will be an easy project. Since some of the lettering is compromised I may slab side the barrel. Bead blast and probably have it matte blued. Or send it to Mahovsky for hard chrome.

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Gary SWCA 3669

If that were mi e, I'd say I have another slow rust blue project in the making!

Tighten it up mechanically and leave the finish alone. Great Truck/Garage/Fishing/Hunting/Going For A Walk Gun. Everybody needs one!

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

That's some great looking patina. Folks pay lots of money for things to look like that these days.

Had the LGS try to patina an M1911A1 one time. I asked them what kind of finish they called that. Their answer was "War Patinaed". I laughed at it and said no thanks. When it was still there several months later, I bought it for half what they were asking. Stripped the finish and parked it. Why did I buy it you ask? Well the slide had been fitted to the frame with absolutely zero play and same with the barrel (tightest I have seen in 55 years of handling M1911's), the barrel was marked NM and the bushing was marked NM. Shoots as well as my Series 70 GCNM.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

I would call the finish either well loved or neglected. Hard chrome sounds like an excellent alternative.

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

[
POOR THING! Good luck with your project! Bob

Looks like someone tried to scrub rust off with a wire brush

I'm lazy so I'd probably just tear it down completely, clean and oil everything and leave it . It would be a good range banger

I'd guess it was an old Duty gun that got stuck away somewhere in the leather holster and forgotten about

Chrome is a great way to protect your investment but remember that chrome accentuates every defect. No matter how much is applied, faults will show. I'm not saying don't do, just be aware of the limitations.

Were it mine, it would be bead blasted, followed by parkerizing or a hot blue. And if I was doing it myself, a couple of good soakings in warm cold blue salutation after heating the metal just hot enough to know they are warm. Not so hot the bluing salutation boils when the parts are gently lowered in .Different parts need different times in the salutation.

And I'd put a set of finger groove Pach's on it before tossing it in the truck. The magna grips on it now, if original, would be saved for a later date.

I'm guessing that Model 13-3 was well used and neglected, then someone tried to scrub and sand away the accumulated rust to make it presentable for sale. Beyond any DIY finish, if you want it to look nicer, bead blast and parkerize or blue. Hard chrome is the most durable and corrosion resistant finish, but with the roll marks sanded away and pitting still visible, the hard chrome will likely make those issues just as visible as they are right now.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Looks like it may have met some Naval Jelly along the way. Wish it were mine!

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Pisgah

Very finish Challenged. It looks like it was a cop gun.

Yup - certainly a rough one! I'd just use it as a plinker and not try to restore it as too much metal is pitted and missing. You would just be throwing money down the tubes as compared to simply buying a better example.

You can simply use it as it is or apply a finish that is inexpensive and can simply and easily be done at home. Looks like a perfect gun to be a "learner" for gun smithing purposes. Something you won't get upset about if your screwdriver slips or you nick the side-plate.

I have a 3" M10-7 square butt that was in similar condition when I got it. It's probably an overrun from the Australian police contract since there aren't any re-import markings. The bore and chambers were pristine and lockup was tight. The action is smooth enough to not need any work done to it. I had it Parkerized and installed a set of the discontinued Spegel-designed Uncle Mike's boot grips. Two coats of white paint and one of fluorescent red/orange on the top third of the front sight completed the makeover.

I've got close to a couple thousand rounds through it, including doing Tom Givens' revolver class. It's my favorite carry revolver.

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Regards,

Chuck

Most of the ex Australian police S&W M10's on the US market do not have import marks because they were traded back to S&W, S&W then sold them to US distributors, it is a quirk in the US import laws about deals back to a US manufacture that do not have to be import marked as they were not imported by a separate company. There are others here that most likely know more details

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Life NRA, Life TSRA, C&R FFL

Pull the sideplate and clean inside, shoot it to check POA, clean again and carry often.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

My brother gave me a very ugly Winchester 94. Somehow, the frame got corrosion on it. Barrel, lever, mag tube are all fine.
I've done a great deal to improve it by working away with steel wool and some touch-up bluing from Brownells. There's hope for that Model 13. Just be patient with it.

Bore is good. I am going to do some clean up on it them may have a local place hot blue it.

I havent rust blued anything in awhile. I have the time so that may be the ticket.

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Gary SWCA 3669

It looks like the one I got a couple of years ago from the Great Rusty Gun Tide that swept over Sportsman Warehouse stores around the country. The guns came from a massive buy of Puerto Rican Police old duty and evidence guns that had been stored for years in a leaky warehouse.

Mine cleaned up ok, and shoots great.

The saddest Model 13-3 you will ever see.

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“What you got, ain’t new.”