First, let me say I have been lurking around this site for several months and you guys have some beautiful revolvers. Some of the collections and your knowledge base are pretty amazing! Now to my remorse of sorts. I picked up a 13-3,3" RB NIB with all the goodies including the original purchase receipt from 1986. I have been looking for a 3" RB for the last year or so. I was always hesitant to buy a 13 or a 65 used because they always look so beat up and the ones I would find in good shape commanded a premium. Now that I have a new one I am having trouble talking myself into shooting it. I want to send it off to the PC for a master trigger job and a bobbed hammer for CCW. Am I better off letting the PC work their magic with a used service 3" K frame and leaving this one in the safe? I already have a model 10-6 OSP anniversary unfired in my safe, but at some point I would like to enjoy a k frame.
K frame buyer's remorse
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bmcgilvray
Member
Use it in good health. Put it to work. A 3-inch Model 13 is one of the very best all-around handguns ever made.
Smith & Wessons tend to wear in, not wear out. I'd just shoot it and dry-fire it after an initial detail stripping, cleaning and lub'ing. As far as bobbed hammers, personally I detest them but then I like choices and the hammer spur gives one a choice when using the revolver. It's your revolver though and bobbed hammers are popular with some.
Smith & Wessons tend to wear in, not wear out. I'd just shoot it and dry-fire it after an initial detail stripping, cleaning and lub'ing. As far as bobbed hammers, personally I detest them but then I like choices and the hammer spur gives one a choice when using the revolver. It's your revolver though and bobbed hammers are popular with some.
They made plenty of them... use it for it's intended purpose = shoot it!
My two cents: Shoot and enjoy it several hundred rounds before making a decision about a trigger job. Most K's have good triggers that get better w/use. Bobbing the hammer makes sense.
I offer this "wisdom" with the caveot that I don't have any safe queens and may not be the best judge. My revolvers are all either range or self defense guns and even the small J's see range time on a routine basis.
Congrats on this find. My 4" 13-3 is my favorite range piece.
I offer this "wisdom" with the caveot that I don't have any safe queens and may not be the best judge. My revolvers are all either range or self defense guns and even the small J's see range time on a routine basis.
Congrats on this find. My 4" 13-3 is my favorite range piece.
The last time I bought a new S&W from a dealer, who was also a trained S&W gunsmith, he told me to shoot at least 100 rounds through it then bring it back for a trigger job. It's like old cop said.
congrats on the gun i was standing next to you at the medina show, waiting for you to put it down so i could grab it. shoot it in good health and enjoy.
SpectrePilot
Member
Realistically the difference in a NIB and a lightly used K frame with box and all accessories as you describe is about what, $50? Enjoy this fine example, care for it and you'll have many years of good service. There were so many made a 13 is hardly a collector piece. Their price does reflect on their utility and desirability as a carry gun. Enjoy it!
BigBill
Absent Comrade
Why not collect them all? I have shooters and collectables. I do shoot the collectables but i'm very careful with them. To me they all will be collectable anyway someday.
Buyers Remorse??? Never we only pass this way once. I'm retired, the kids are grown and gone in there own houses and its my turn to party.
Buyers Remorse??? Never we only pass this way once. I'm retired, the kids are grown and gone in there own houses and its my turn to party.
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Everything's "collectable."
I've been collecting this stuff since I was 9 years old.
I'm at the point where I need to "un-collect" some of it if I want to collect any more of it.
I've even re-collected a bunch of stuff that I previously un-collected.
This habit is unflatteringly referred to as "churning."
I've been collecting this stuff since I was 9 years old.
I'm at the point where I need to "un-collect" some of it if I want to collect any more of it.
I've even re-collected a bunch of stuff that I previously un-collected.
This habit is unflatteringly referred to as "churning."
mkk41
US Veteran
I'd probably find another hammer and have that one fitted and bobbed , keeping the original.
M3Stuart
Member
I have a nearly-pristine 10-5 tapered barrel. It does not have a turn line. I'm working on that! Seriously, the trigger is extremely smooth so I don't dry fire it. But I do shoot it. I don't think it's going to be worth any less than the 300 beans I paid for it if I added a turn line to it.
That's it on the top right with the tyler t-grip. Oh, I wouldn't bob the original hammer as mkk41 said.
That's it on the top right with the tyler t-grip. Oh, I wouldn't bob the original hammer as mkk41 said.
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kdailey
Member
I struggle with the same problem from time to time. I try to keep a grasp of reality. A S&W revolver is not sacred (none). They are a tool to be used correctly, and enjoyed by those of us who are fortunate to live where we do. Not only shoot it, but shoot it as much as you want. Enjoy it.
Vulcan Bob
Member
What everyone else said! If you dont carry it in a holster you can range shoot it a lot and it will still be a nice and clean machien.
mkk41
US Veteran
Used is the key word! Not abused , defiled , buggered up or butchered.
carbofan21
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+1 that's what I did. I was fortunate to find a factory bobbed DAO hammer from one of the members here for a reasonable price. It dropped right in and fits perfectly. I can always switch back to the original hammer any time I want.
Shoot that 13 and carry it if you want. As someone else mentioned, the reason the prices run high on the 3" k frames is because they are so perfectly suited for concealed carry. The factory Master Revolver package will really clean up the action.
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Well, I think you guys have reinforced the fact that I need to spend more time shooting and less time collecting. Thanks, I needed that! I normally carry a 442 or a Glock 26 in the warmer months, but I bought this 13-3 just for jacket weather CCW. I will take the advice and put a few hundred round through it before I decide to send it off to the PC.
The way I look at it, you're starting with a clean slate. I'd say get an extra hammer and bob the living daylights out of it. Take it out shoot a couple hundred rounds through it and determine whether or not you need to spend the extra money on a trigger job or if a simple spring change would do. Maybe some new carry grips. Get a nice custom holster and be secure in the knowledge your snubby is dependable and personalized the way you like it.
I'd like to get one of those beat up old guns as a project gun.
A gun that spends all it's time in a lonely dark safe and never gets to go to the range and play is a sad gun.
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Arik
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Before dumping money into it try it as-is first. You can always get it customized. I love my 13-2, a Puerto Rican PD gun
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Frank V
Member
MVP
Welcome to the forum.
I'd spend time shooting before I sent it off for work too. Those are nice guns & usually come with a pretty nice trigger out of the box. I'd carry it & enjoy it, I think you will really come to like it.
Frank
Welcome to the forum.
I'd spend time shooting before I sent it off for work too. Those are nice guns & usually come with a pretty nice trigger out of the box. I'd carry it & enjoy it, I think you will really come to like it.
Frank
JeepinSoldier
Member
Ill be the lone detractor here.
A gun is only new in the box condition once and the few that remain this way are pretty valuable - especially with the way Smith revolvers are climbing in value overall.
Like most here - I will not own a gun I cannot shoot. I would sell the NIB Model 13 to a collector or sit on it and find a used but nice worn in 13 or better yet a 65. The 65 will not show holster wear as much as the blued gun. Several nice 65's have been for sale on this forum recently at resonable prices. If I decided to keep the 13 I would shoot it, but certianly would not bob the hammer or carry it in a holster.
For reference, I own both a 13 and a 65 3". Both were aquired gently used and no worry of loss of value by shooting them or carrying the 65. The 13 was found and traded for on this forum: http://smith-wessonforum.com/guns-sale-trade/259523-traded-its-goner-wtt-s-w-md-13-3-3-a.html
Its your gun, but you asked for opinions.
A gun is only new in the box condition once and the few that remain this way are pretty valuable - especially with the way Smith revolvers are climbing in value overall.
Like most here - I will not own a gun I cannot shoot. I would sell the NIB Model 13 to a collector or sit on it and find a used but nice worn in 13 or better yet a 65. The 65 will not show holster wear as much as the blued gun. Several nice 65's have been for sale on this forum recently at resonable prices. If I decided to keep the 13 I would shoot it, but certianly would not bob the hammer or carry it in a holster.
For reference, I own both a 13 and a 65 3". Both were aquired gently used and no worry of loss of value by shooting them or carrying the 65. The 13 was found and traded for on this forum: http://smith-wessonforum.com/guns-sale-trade/259523-traded-its-goner-wtt-s-w-md-13-3-3-a.html
Its your gun, but you asked for opinions.
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JeepinSoldier
Member
x2. If you are going to send it off for the hammer bob and trigger job anyway - why not find a holster worn gun and have it refinished.
We have an absolutely wonderful 3" Model 10 Victoria Australia Police trade in from Bud's gunshop. It was very holster worn but excellent mechanical condition overall.
Its at the Performance center right now getting a standard finish reblue and master trigger job. When it returns it gets Craig Spegel rosewood extended boot grips and will be my wife's home protection gun. She loves it!
C.S.63
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Shoot it!! enjoy it!! and care for it!! It will break in. Just don't butcher it up. Enjoy the fact you found such a sweet model 13 it will last a lifetime and if ya ding it wear the finish thin or get it dirty the real fact is you did it and the history of it will be yours and only yours. Maybe also get it lettered just to add to all the extra goodies you got with it.
dcopper
Member
13-3 3in
Agree with all of the above. I too have 2 65-5s' and a 13-3 3in. Also a 4in 65 with a 4in 13-1. I shoot all of them and love it. However, I only carry the 65-5 w/factory bobbed hammer in a holster. KEEP SHOOTING THOSE SMITHS'.
Agree with all of the above. I too have 2 65-5s' and a 13-3 3in. Also a 4in 65 with a 4in 13-1. I shoot all of them and love it. However, I only carry the 65-5 w/factory bobbed hammer in a holster. KEEP SHOOTING THOSE SMITHS'.
Maximumbob54
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I would just avoid the red hot thunder magnums like the 125 and some 110 grain stuff that is known to be the flame cutting culprit. If you want to go even easier on it then stick with lead bullet only ammo and that will help save the forcing cone area that much more wear and tear. If you want to go even easier then I think your M13 will digest a lifetime of .38's and never so much as burp on you.
ohiojerry
Member
Shoot it and bob the hammer yourself with a bench grinder.
Snapping Twig
Member
For @ $20 shipped, you can get a Wolf spring kit for it and lighten up the trigger, have total reliability, and switch back to stock any time you choose.
Shoot and enjoy!
Find or make a load 140g or above and use it - often.
Shoot and enjoy!
Find or make a load 140g or above and use it - often.
Problem with that is the bit about having to dumb down to a new Smith.
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