S&W Model 13, FBI-spec 3” .357 Magnum

[S&WshooterFIN]

S&W 13-4 Military Police Magnum .357 mag​

I bought this new in the mid 1990s, it's still my favorite.

I have tried many grips over the decades

 

[Rakkasan13F]

My 3" 13 and 65

 

[otis24]

I would love to have another 3 inch fixed sight K frame. Actually the more rare 2.5 inch Model 10 would be absolutely fabulous!!!!

 

[BC38]

I picked up a 10-7 3" square-butt a couple of months ago.
Not nearly as pretty as the guns posted in this thread though.
Haven't even got to take it to the range yet.

 

[Baxter6551]

I too have tried various grips on my 65. I keep coming back to the Hogue Bantam absolutely the best for serious revolver work.

 

[CH4]

Congrats on finding your white whale and welcome to the 3" 13 club. Here're mine along with their stainless 3" 65-5 cousins.

 

[zeke]

Lucked into at local gun show years ago, when things were relatively less expensive.

 

[Daimler1989]

a short story, but from Germany:
bought a Model 13 that was advertised on an online firearms broker back in 2019 for 200 Euro. seller said he was selling the estate of a huntsman, the gun would be looking rarely used. jumped on it. when I got it, it seemed as if it was used once (only for few rounds) and then stored away for the next 40 years. I had a nice set of Ahrends Retro Bananas which I put on. It's one of my favorites and the saddest part is, that I will be forced to sell it once I stop my business as a shooting instructor (German gun laws...)

regards from Germany
Ulrich

 

[Doug M.]

^^ That's a shame. Of course, you do set your own retirement age.

I have a vague recollection of NYPD experimenting w/ 3" RB duty guns as that allowed guns to get by with one gun. Less $$ and cross-training. It is easier to handle that uncommon practice when there only one duty holster allowed.

The only drawback to this platform FOR ME is that most S&W revolver fixed sights don't work with my eyes. There are custom options that if allowed would help a lot. If wanted to invest the effort (not worth it generally when I have my 4" RB M66), I would start w/a 3" M65 beater.

ETA: If I were going to that effort, a potentially better path is a 681 or 686 7 shot using a 3" barrel. The 686 would be easier to use as a basis because the sights can be changed much more easily. The only problem there would be the cost of trimming that awful full lug barrel to a half lug profile more like that of an M66. That would almost certainly be way more $$ than could be justified.

 

[helmsp]

I'm fortunate enough to own 3. Two in 3" and one with 4" barrel.

This one is mint with box and papers

S&W 13-3 by swaficionado, on Flickr

This one got quite the abuse from the pre-owner so I took the change and built myself my personal "ultimate combat revolver"

My "ultimate combat revolver" setup by swaficionado, on Flickr

Made a video too (unfortunately in German though): https://youtu.be/1ZdtlFrI8iE

 

[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.