Should I Make a 3" Round Butt 13-2 out of a Four Inch

Yes!
Let the sparks fly!

The only caveat would be to make sure any portion of the serial number on the bottom of the grip won’t be removed when you re-contour the grip frame.
 
Go for it! I have a 3 inch 65-2 round butt that stated out as a 4 inch square. Work done by Mike Larocca with bead blasted finish, stippled back strap and trigger job to boot.

My three inch 65 was done over by S&W with the “combat revolver package”. I have had Mike LaRocca (Worcester MA) do a lot of work for me including a new 4 inch barrel and bead blast on my 4 inch 65. He does great work for any one in that area needing a good gunsmith.
 
Go for it, a somewhat easy job. I doubt if a 4” model 13 will be a high demand collectible. If you do it, carry it and enjoy it. Have a model 15 that is now a 3” full lug in .327. Here’s pics with different grips, Larry

That is a great looking piece of work you have there.
 
I'd go for it. I have done a model 10-6 swapping in a 3" model 10 barrel and a model 13 swapping in the 3" barrel. It is an easy piece of gunsmithing. On both of mine there was plenty of serial number clearance. It is also helpful to have a junky pair of k-frame round butt grips.

The model 10 had belonged to a guard company. Had almost no finish. It also got parkerized.
 
Is the gun done yet?? The gun in post 19 was round butted by me with a hack saw and file. Made it fit a set of round butt grips. Larry

Not done yet. I got the barrel today, $2.25 (had to pay shipping on top of it!). Got the old barrel off and the new one went right on and fit fine. I still need to open up the barrel pin slot as the barrel didn't have one. Looks pretty good with a set of magna square butt grips and a T-Grip. I may try to hold off on rounding the frame for now.
 
Last edited:
I used a set of round butt grips to scribe marks on the frame to show where to file to. Used a hacksaw to cut a chunk off to get started with the file. Use coarse file first. When I got close to the scribed lines I fit the grips many times and used a fine cut file. The first one was a K-22 and I used the edge of tape for a guide to all 6 grooves with the edge of a half round file to slowly re groove the back strap. Played with my eyes after about an hour a nite, used a opta visor to carefully file the grooves switching from groove to groove. This is a bulged barrel K-22 cut to 3” by myself.

The 3” .327 pictured above I went smooth with the back strap. I filed the grooves out of the top of the grip after completing the lower round part. The grips had to be sanded slightly to fit because the back strap was actually smaller after removing the grooves.

Andy Horvath completed the caliber conversion and bead blasted the entire gun before hot tank bluing the entire gun. Larry
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0622.jpg
    IMG_0622.jpg
    63.6 KB · Views: 14
  • IMG_0616.jpg
    IMG_0616.jpg
    63.2 KB · Views: 16
  • IMG_0612.jpg
    IMG_0612.jpg
    72.2 KB · Views: 15
Nedroe I too prefer the shrouded barrel so I bought a pair of 3 inch Lady Smith M-65s. I prefer them to my 3inch M-66. I like your 19 barrel, blue is better.....
 
Last edited:
Update on post 33. Made a woods gun, bought the K-22 cheap with a bulged barrel. If it dropped in a mud puddle, pick it up and shake it off and keep going. The grooves are not perfect but looks OK at 10ft. The front sight is epoxied on and the crown and back strap cold blued. Did the crown with a brass screw and valve grinding compound. Modified some junk K square grips to fit. Actually shoots good Carries nice in the 3” holster.

Fun project and enjoy it when hunting in the woods, Larry
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0096.jpg
    IMG_0096.jpg
    71.9 KB · Views: 20
  • IMG_0099.jpg
    IMG_0099.jpg
    59.5 KB · Views: 17
  • IMG_0100.jpg
    IMG_0100.jpg
    103.5 KB · Views: 14
Model 13-2 with the new three inch barrel. I have to cut the slot for the barrel pin a bit more as the pin won't go in. I like the looks of it and it fits better in my pocket.

Added:

Opened up the pin slot and re-fit the barrel. Also epoxied a melted piece of red aerosol spray tube to the front ramp to raise the sight a bit to hit POA with 158 SWHP "FBI" loads. I don't think I need to round the butt frame for my purposes.


BEFORE:
attachment.php


AFTER:
attachment.php
 

Attachments

  • M13-2-3a.jpg
    M13-2-3a.jpg
    147.6 KB · Views: 19
  • IMG_0111.jpg
    IMG_0111.jpg
    90 KB · Views: 24
  • IMG_2404.jpg
    IMG_2404.jpg
    101.1 KB · Views: 24
Last edited:
Back
Top