13-3 with lots of Stampings

[robertwhite]

OK, maybe someone can help me decipher all the markings on this Nickel, bobbed hammer 13-3 I picked up as a cheap shooter. It's in great shape.

Obviously, the left side bears soft assembly numbers 37x2x (match the crane assy), but I don't know about all the other numbers & symbols, especially on the right side.

Serial is 17D12xx

 

[Sgt 127]

"N" Nickel....The rest? Gibberish except to the folks assemling the gun and keeping track of it as it goes through assembly and inspection as far as I have ever been able to determine...

 

[robertwhite]

"N" Nickel....The rest? Gibberish except to the folks assemling the gun and keeping track of it as it goes through assembly and inspection as far as I have ever been able to determine...

But I would think the D inside triangle and the T inside circle would have some meaning, no? There is no factory return date stampings, so all these excess stamps have me scratching my head.

 

[bamabiker]

While you're scratching your head trying to figure out the impossible how about posting some pics of the whole gun. I like M13s.

 

[robertwhite]

While you're scratching your head trying to figure out the impossible how about posting some pics of the whole gun. I like M13s.

Thats funny enough to make me go out to the safe and get it just to snap a photo.

Stand by.........................

Don't pat any attention to the hideous Pachmeyer's. Need to hunt down some RB targets for this puppy.

Also don't pay attention to the dirt & grime, I just got it and still need to clean it as it should be.

 

[tac803]

I haven't heard the phrase 13-1 and "cheap shooter" used in the same sentence in a long time! If you come across any more of them, please let us know!!!!! One of the best all around guns out there, IMHO.

N is factory nickel (although if I remember correctly, my nickel 13 had the N in a circle) and it was born in 1983 according to SCSW 3rd ed.

 

[robertwhite]

I haven't heard the phrase 13-1 and "cheap shooter" used in the same sentence in a long time! If you come across any more of them, please let us know!!!!! One of the best all around guns out there, IMHO.

N is factory nickel, and it was born in 1983.

Wish it was a 13-1, but it is a 13-3. Still a cool little pistol though.

So the circle and the triangle with letters inside are just factory assembly/inventory/whatever marks, huh?

 

[bamabiker]

Wish it was a 13-1, but it is a 13-3. Still a cool little pistol though.

So the circle and the triangle with letters inside are just factory assembly/inventory/whatever marks, huh?

And inspector's marks.

 

[Sgt 127]

If you actually plan on shooting it, leave the rubber grips on. Its a working gun, I can get past the rubber on a gun thats meant to be used.

After a good cleaning (avoid Hoppes, bad for the nickle plating) use Ballistol or CLP instead. Then get some Mothers Billet Polish. Lightly (LIGHTLY) buff up the gun with a microfiber towel. Flitz, Semichrome Mothers are all abrasive, the finish is only a couple thousands thick, but, buffing off the hazing will do wonders for the gun. Just go really light. Mothers Billet polish is the least abrasive I have ever found.

The rag will turn black as you polish. Thats not dirt coming off, its the plating. Remember to stop when it looks shiney. Thats a great old gun. The stainless version (65) is in my waistband as I type.

 

[robertwhite]

Well, she cleaned up really well. A little Flitz (and no Sgt127, Flitz is NOT abrasive, its chemicals do the cleaning), a new set of Ahrends cocobolo with several coats of Tru-Oil, and finished of with a coat of Ren wax. Looks like an entirely different gun than I got from the pawn shop.

 

[Sgt 127]

Well, she cleaned up really well. A little Flitz (and no Sgt127, Flitz is NOT abrasive, its chemicals do the cleaning).....

Sigh....I should just save this...

http://www.flitz.com/images/document/MSDS - Flitz Metal Plastic Fiberglass Polish-Paste_16pt.pdf

Aluminium oxide - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thats the compound in Flitz that makes it work.

The one on the left is my wallet badge, I never polished it. The one on the right is my breast badge that I polished daily with Flitz and a microfiber rag. I now use Mothers because it is LESS abrasive, but, still abrasive. Thats how metal polishes work, they remove the top layer of oxidation, and, a couple microns of the base metal.

 

[jsfricks]

I use Mothers for the initial cleanup only but not after that. If you use a white rag, you'll see the bluing coming off. Not unlike getting the dead paint layer off on a car. Nice shiny paint underneath. But you are removing paint.

 

[robertwhite]

Yes, but they are not removing metal, bluing, etc. with abrasive such as found in rubbing compounds. They are removing the "dead" layer by using caustic chemicals. Same end game, just a different way to get there. And I have used Mothers for years on wheels. It definitely is not mild by any means. I personally like Flitz, because a tiny bit will do the job. I guess its just what you like.

And btw, I never, ever polished my shield, no matter what the bosses said. Just bad mojo