S&W Model 13, FBI-spec 3” .357 Magnum

[Baxter6551]

Helmsp - that is a beautiful “combat revolver” and you have quite an impressive collection shown on your Flickr site. Very impressive. I am awaiting the arrival of a set of those same VZ grips I just purchased here on the forum.
I sent my 65 back to S&W for their “combat revolver package” which I highly recommend. Later polished the screw heads and sides of hammer and trigger for a touch of bling. My gunsmith has duplicated the package on some of my other revolvers. The last picture is my old duty revolver which we were allowed to by when we transitioned to Sig 9mm.

https://www.smith-wesson.com/customer-service/performance-center-precision-gunsmithing

 

[DR505]

I like the 3" 13s as well. This 13-4 had a target trigger and target hammer swapped into it when I found it at my LGS. I kept the hammer but got rid of the trigger. I carry it often. I swapped the original stocks for some VZ G-10s that really feel great.

One regret I have is prior to retirement I was going through the gun vault in my FBI office and ran across several old Pachmayr grip adapters in a box. I did not yet have the Model 13-4, and did not think of future acquisitions, so did not get one of them.

 

[EPVegas]

Here's a PC13 with some elk

 

[st regis]

I was going to sell mine. Yall changed my mind.

 

[sigp220.45]

Here's a PC13 with some elk

That shrouded ejector rod looks great.

 

[Model 15-4ever]

OP, I think you have either an N-frame or a K-frame square butt Pachmayr grip adapter on there... it's a bit too long and splaying out from the bottom. Those things are hen's teeth but they do come up on ebay now and then.

The only other FBI-issued grip I ever saw on a Model 13 was the Pachmayr Professional Compact. They started putting it on the guns for new female agents at the Academy whose hands were too small for the usual grip+adapter. Three girls in my class in 1986 had them, and later as an instructor I recall seeing about a half dozen others. Not all female agents had them.

Beautiful find!

PS. Not sure if I told this story previously, but I ended up returning my Model 13-2, in lieu of carrying my own personally-owned revolvers. My issue gun broke it's hammer nose twice in the 13 weeks of the academy during firearms training. I wasn't new to shooting and I thought something else must be wrong with that specimen to keep breaking hammer noses.... that revolver wasn't new to me either as it had some slight muzzle blue wear. After graduation, during my third quarterly field qualification, the hammer nose broke for a third time. That was enough for me! Turned it in and started carrying these:

 

[ThirdGen9623]

OP, I think you have either an N-frame or a K-frame square butt Pachmayr grip adapter on there... it's a bit too long and splaying out from the bottom. Those things are hen's teeth but they do come up on ebay now and then.

The only other FBI-issued grip I ever saw on a Model 13 was the Pachmayr Professional Compact. They started putting it on the guns for new female agents at the Academy whose hands were too small for the usual grip+adapter. Three girls in my class in 1986 had them, and later as an instructor I recall seeing about a half dozen others. Not all female agents had them.

Beautiful find!

PS. Not sure if I told this story previously, but I ended up returning my Model 13-2, in lieu of carrying my own personally-owned revolvers. My issue gun broke it's hammer nose twice in the 13 weeks of the academy during firearms training. I wasn't new to shooting and I thought something else must be wrong with that specimen to keep breaking hammer noses.... that revolver wasn't new to me either as it had some slight muzzle blue wear. After graduation, during my third quarterly field qualification, the hammer nose broke for a third time. That was enough for me! Turned it in and started carrying these:

I believe you are right, sir! That one came off a Model 10, so it may be a bit large. I have a #6 Small Pachmayr adapter on the way to replace it (thanks again to those who PM’d me to offer theirs, your generosity was not lost on me) hopefully by the end of this week!

This is actually one of the few revolvers I prefer the Magna grips and grip adapter feel on over my usual preference of Pachmayrs; I have a set of Compac grips for it and don’t care for the feel. I can see why most of the agents kept the wood grips, they just work on the round butt K-Frame.

 

[charlie sherrill]

I was in a shop one day when an off duty deputy came in with a 3" model 13. He traded it for an engagement ring for his girl friend. I waited until the transaction was over and bought the 13. I paid the $300.00 for it on the spot. I had to wait three weeks to pick it up because the shop couldn't sell it until then. A couple of years later the deputy tracked me down and wanted to know if I still had the 13. He offered $400 to buy it back. His wife had left him. I probably would have sold it to him. I've done things like that before, but I had already traded it for a 3" model 65 marked "BRPD" (Baton Rouge). At that time my financial situation was that if I wanted a new gun I usually had to sell or trade another one first. I've still got the 3" 65 and still carry it some. I can't tell much difference in the feel of the 13 or 65, both shoot and feel great.