F.B.I. Model 13

[Old Fashioned Six Shooter]

The Bianchi Lightning grips were made to fit round butt K and J frames and discontinued several years ago. The Bianchi Lightning #55L holster was designed to fit revolvers equipped with the grips, and also for J frame Centennial style revolvers. I believe the holster is still available.

That is the holster that Tubbs carried his S&W Model 38 Bodyguard in on Miami Vice.

Sorry...I couldn't resist, but it is true.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

I appreciate the info on the grips.

Is it just me, or is anyone else thinking Crimson Trace would have something if they incorporated a laser into those grips?

Wowser! Put the laser in the top of the right-hand grip and shine it right down the side of the barrel!

I've also thought about having the neoprene grips replicated in some showy wood with lots of figure. They might need a liner of some sort to support the hammer shroud, though. I'm certain someone could do it.

ECS

 

[ElectroMotive]

I'm new here, so I dunno what would have to be done, but I wonder if Bianchi and/or Pachmyar would consider a special run.

 

[ElectroMotive]

Here are some pictures of a gun that a friend bought used at a gunshow. It is a 13-3 with an ANF prefix serial number. It came as pictured with a bobbed hammer and some type of baked on finish. We're trying to figure out what type of cylinder release this is:

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Electromotive:

It's an extended cylinder release latch made by Hogue and offered in, among other places, the Brownell catalog:

S&W REVOLVER EXTENDED CYLINDER RELEASE LATCH - Brownells for $64.99.

Regards,

Dave

 

[1713]

I'm happy with mine.

 

[bigtubby]

The Bianchi Lightning grips were made to fit round butt K and J frames and discontinued several years ago. The Bianchi Lightning #55L holster was designed to fit revolvers equipped with the grips, and also for J frame Centennial style revolvers. I believe the holster is still available.

Are you sure on the holster I have a set of the lightning grips but the holster is listed for 2" J frames?

 

[ICEMOH1]

My Model 13-3 3" HB

This is my Model 13-3. I purchased it Brand New in March 2012. I only fired a few shot, it is a wonderful shooter. I painted the front sight, but I guess I can do a better job
I heard that I should not fire Magnums in this revolver, is this true ?

 

[P&R Fan]

This is my Model 13-3. I purchased it Brand New in March 2012. I only fired a few shot, it is a wonderful shooter. I painted the front sight, but I guess I can do a better job
I heard that I should not fire Magnums in this revolver, is this true ?

Absolutely not. Shoot all the Magnums you want. S&W wouldn't have chambered it and marked it S&W .357 Magnum if they didn't intend the owners to use those loads.
The K-Frame is not as strong as the L or N-Frame, so if you put thousands of rounds through it, it will wear a bit faster than the bigger frames. Also, the use of 125 Grain loads is said to be hardest on them. That said, all my K-Frame carry revolvers, a 2 1/2" M66-1, a 4' M19-3 and a 3" M13-2 are always loaded with Federal 125 Grain loads. I just don't shoot a lot of them. For extended range sessions I stick to 158 Grain loads and just shoot enough of the 125 Grain loads to stay proficient.
Shoot it with Magnums and enjoy it.
Jim

 

[ICEMOH1]

Absolutely not. Shoot all the Magnums you want. S&W wouldn't have chambered it and marked it S&W .357 Magnum if they didn't intend the owners to use those loads.
The K-Frame is not as strong as the L or N-Frame, so if you put thousands of rounds through it, it will wear a bit faster than the bigger frames. Also, the use of 125 Grain loads is said to be hardest on them. That said, all my K-Frame carry revolvers, a 2 1/2" M66-1, a 4' M19-3 and a 3" M13-2 are always loaded with Federal 125 Grain loads. I just don't shoot a lot of them. For extended range sessions I stick to 158 Grain loads and just shoot enough of the 125 Grain loads to stay proficient.
Shoot it with Magnums and enjoy it.
Jim

Thanks a lot for the great advice. Its just tons of posts everywhere are warning about firing magnums in K frames. I will stick to 158 gr Magnums.

 

[Dogmann]

So is the issued FBI M13 a RB or SB?

 

[Muley Gil]

So is the issued FBI M13 a RB or SB?

It was a round butt.

 

[hotrod150]

Are you sure on the holster I have a set of the lightning grips but the holster is listed for 2" J frames?

I have a 1987 Bianchi catalog, they list the #55L "Lightning" holster as being for "2"-3" small & medium frame revolvers". The selector chart in the back of the catalog indicates it was available for 2" S&W Chief and Bodyguard, 2-1/2 S&W Combat Magnum, and 2" Charter Arms. The Lightning grips were available for round butt models 36 & 60 (#650) and round butt models 19 & 10 (#655). Not listed but I assume they'd fit any standard hammer RB j or K frame.

 

[ruger-p94]

This is the holster I got with my 13-3. It is very comfortable and holds the gun very nice.

 

[dscampbell]

This is the holster I got with my 13-3. It is very comfortable and holds the gun very nice.

Neat holster. Who is the manufacterers and model number?

 

[ruger-p94]

Neat holster. Who is the manufacterers and model number?

I saw one on the internet a while back and said it was..... Smith & Wesson Manufactured Combat Paddle Holster for S&W K frame revolver. It really fits the gun and can be adjusted as needed.

 

[sw44spl]

I really like mine it is a great shooting gun.got the grips on it last year thought they looked nice on a blued gun.they were $15.

 

[exfebee]

Remember guys before the Air Marshal Service started the Bureau wanted us to load our revolvers with "wad cutters" whenever we went aboard an aircraft ? That was my time starting in the 1960s.

 

[TheGreatGonzo]

While it was not my "primary issue", I did have a 13-3 on my card when I was the Bureau and I carried it quite a bit in lieu of my 1076, which I also loved. The Gun Vault had to pry both of them from my hands under loud and, according to my SSRA, somewhat juvenile and childish protest. LOL!
Gonzo

 

[shawn mccarver]

Nice gun.
It would be worth it to me to know. I think I'd try to find out if the FBI issue guns were marked as FBI guns. If you can find that they were marked FBI when issued, you'd know it probably wasn't & save the $50?
If it were mine I'd probably explore that avenue first, them maybe letter it.
Thanks for sharing.
Frank

FBI Model 13s had no agency markings. They were three inch round butt and agents carried them in (usually, depending on who got the bid) a brown holster made by J.M. Bucheimer. Bucheimer also made the ammo pouch, a single snap flap design holding 6 cartridges in "two by two by two" arrangement so that reloads could be accomplished two rounds at a time.

 

[shawn mccarver]

I have a model 13-3 nickel. Was the nickel one only issued to civilians during that time period. I have never seen or any heard of any going to the FBI. My serial is 9D98xxx

Since they are not military, FBI agents are civilians also. Sometimes I think they forget in light of the quasi-military type "rules of engagement" and HRT and all sorts of cross training (contamination) with military special operations types. FBI agents are civilians, and the agency is a CIVILIAN law enforcement agency. Sorry to make a big deal about this, but the sooner they (and we) understand it is not an "us and them" scenario, the better off we will all be.

 

[ladder13]

They're out there. A member here has 3 13-2's that letter as being shipped to the FBI.

I found all 3 in a gunshop in NY years ago. They now belong to forum member 29-1, and the Missus.

A little behind the story. I was in said gunshop picking up another handgun at the time. The owners son said "look at what just came in, a guy dropped off some FBI guns". He had 3 of them together. I took a look, only one had wood grips and one of them had "pushoff", and all had the look of "being there", as I recall. Being broke at he time, and having just bought a whole slew of guns, I left the shop. There was a discussion on the foum about FBI guns at that time, and I dropped in to say "if anyone is looking for an FBI gun, PM me". The only guy to respond was Chuck Odom(who lives/lived some 1 hour from the shop), whose wife is FBI, and he wanted to know where they were. I gave him the info, he called the shop and they were still there. I "think" he may have called Roy Jinks with serial numbers to verify that in fact they were FBI guns. They were, Chuck bought all 3.
I was glad to help him get these guns, and don't regret a thing.
Here's the thread:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-revolvers-1961-1980/88188-price-check-m13s-fbi-guns.html

 

[ruger-p94]

Since they are not military, FBI agents are civilians also. Sometimes I think they forget in light of the quasi-military type "rules of engagement" and HRT and all sorts of cross training (contamination) with military special operations types. FBI agents are civilians, and the agency is a CIVILIAN law enforcement agency. Sorry to make a big deal about this, but the sooner they (and we) understand it is not an "us and them" scenario, the better off we will all be.

yea that would be me...sorry about that. 25 years in the army and 6 in the reserves kind of deadens the brain cells. I stand humbly apologetic. The wife still hits me when I call her a civilian.

 

[tc215]

Since they are not military, FBI agents are civilians also. Sometimes I think they forget in light of the quasi-military type "rules of engagement" and HRT and all sorts of cross training (contamination) with military special operations types. FBI agents are civilians, and the agency is a CIVILIAN law enforcement agency. Sorry to make a big deal about this, but the sooner they (and we) understand it is not an "us and them" scenario, the better off we will all be.

I don't really care about titles, but if you want to check the dictionary:

ci·vil·ian [si-vil-yuhn] Show IPA
noun
1.
a person who is not on active duty with a military, naval, police, or fire fighting organization.

 

[Boge]