"New" Model 13-2 questions

[blackhawks_762]

Hi Guys.
I was recently lucky enough to have my dad give me his model 13-2 pinned barrel S&W revolver. It has the nickel finish. It has very few rounds through it. I'd say maybe 100. He bought it off a guy back in the early 80's who had just bought it and needed cash.
Anyway, I have 2 questions.
Should i treat this as a safe queen and avoid shooting it. I really dont want to. I want to shoot the heck out of it.
And my other question is, Is there anything special I need to care for the nickel plating? Is hoppes solvent and regular gun cleaning oils safe to get on the finish?
Thanks for any help!

 

[armorer951]

Other than the fact that you received the gun from your dad, the model 13 is not considered rare or collectable.

Since Hoppe's #9 contains ammonia, I would not use it on the plated surfaces of your gun, as it can harm the nickel if left on the surface too long. There are many fine cleaners and CLP products out here that do not contain harmful chemicals.....like M-Pro7, or Break-Free for example.

Those who think otherwise, and believe Hoppe's #9 is harmless to nickel will be along in a moment.....

 

[blackhawks_762]

Thanks armorer.
I use CLP break free occasionally so I will use that on it to be safe.

 

[ken158]

What good does it do you if you bury it in a safe?

 

[g8rb8]

A bunch of us have used Hoppes No. 9 Solvent for cleaning nickel guns over the years with no ill effects however we've not soaked our guns in it. We've just swabbed the bore and chambers, probably not getting much on the finish, and wiped the guns down within a few minutes. On the other hand there are stories of soaking nickel finishes in Hoppes No. 9 with bad results. With so many products that are safe on nickel, regardless of exposure time, it makes sense to use them over Hoppes No. 9.

CLP Break Free should be safe. I've used it on nickel will no adverse effects.

 

[max]

You might not want to shoot a lot of 125gr magnums through it as the forcing cone is a bit thin.

 

[Ashlander]

I'd shoot it -- a lot. I'd shoot .38 Special out of it though. I have other revolvers I can shoot magnums with, so I'd take in easy on the 13-2 (as I do with my 65-3).

 

[blackhawks_762]

Thanks Ashlander and max. I have heard about shooting the .38 special through it and that's what I was planning to do.

 

[sodacan]

Once a gun has been fired, it can be a safe queen, but not a safe queen virgin. Shoot it and take care of it. It will hold its value, but it's not a rare or highly collectible model that will see a lot of increased value. Enjoy the gun.

 

[gmborkovic]

Mr. Blackhawk, what a nice gift from Dad. Shoot the darn thing.
I thought we had resolved the question about the nickel on S&Ws
and #9. Well I guess not.

 

[bananaman]

Congratulations! I picked up a beautiful 13-2 at Sept. gun show. I was not looking for 1. It just called out to me. Rumored to have had less than 50 rounds of .38 through it. (a sellers story, but it looked it) The price was good also. Shoot & enjoy that 13! Bob
I am posting pics because you didn't! Some day I may learn to take better pics!

 

[blackhawks_762]

LOL. Sorry bananaman. I'll post a pic.
(nice firearm you have there, BTW)

 

[chief38]

Although I use to ( 35 years ago before I knew better) use Hoppes on Nickel plated guns I have not had any damage done to them. Since learning that any Ammonia based product is a no no for Nickel plating I have not done so - guess I was lucky back then and do not want to push my luck!

I now use Rig #2 oil which will not harm Nickel, wood, plastic, rubber or any material commonly found on any firearms. I still on occasion will pull out the Hoppes but ONLY for Stainless or Blued guns just acquired and need a hell of a cleaning. After that - it's back to the Rig #2 Oil.

As far as the "safe queen" thing - I am on the SHOOT IT side. I don't own any safe queens and would not own a gun I would not shoot - unless I just bought one as a paper weight or wall hangar of course.

 

[EOChief66]

I just saw a 13-2 at a LGS this afternoon. Didn't handle it but it looked in nice shape.
How much are these guns going for? The tag had $388 on it.

 

[opaul]

You can't go wrong with a nickel S&W model 13. I don't think there is an over abundance of nickel 13 out there. However, I was lucky enough to snag this little beauty.

 

[wbraswell]

I have a 13-3 3" just like the one opaul has. I have shot it many times, cleaned it with Hoppes, and it rode loose under the seat of my car for a few years, and it still looks great!

 

[jagwalkley]

You can't go wrong with a nickel S&W model 13. I don't think there is an over abundance of nickel 13 out there. However, I was lucky enough to snag this little beauty.

Got one early this year for$650 and was very happy.They don't make them anymore,and they are wonderful to shoot.

 

[Pisgah]

Some manufacturers used to use copper plating as a base for the nickel plating. Guns finished in this manner may be damaged by ammonia. BUT --- S&W has never used this method. Hoppe's has always been okay for use on them, and nowadays Hoppe's formula has been changed and the ammonia content reduced. This is but one of the many myths I see repeated daily on this and other forums.

Treat your nickel-plated 13 just as you would a blued one. And shoot it!

 

[armorer951]

I think the manufacturer of Hoppe's #9 came up with this "myth" about ammonia when they published the explicit warning on their bottle label concerning it's dangers with respect to nickel plating. Frank (Frank Hoppe) apparently knew a thing or two about ammonia.

I have seen this damage occur many times during my years as a department armorer, including one occasion when an officer soaked the cylinder from his nickel model 27 in a container of Hoppes #9 overnight. All of the plating on the cylinder was completely removed by the product, and the cylinder had to be sent back to S&W to be re-plated.

Please follow the label directions carefully on any cleaning product, especially solvents. Products that contain ammonia can damage and/or remove nickel plating from metal surfaces if the suggested protocol is ignored.

 

[Jack Flash]

I just saw a 13-2 at a LGS this afternoon. Didn't handle it but it looked in nice shape.
How much are these guns going for? The tag had $388 on it.

That's a good price. Was it blue or nickel?