The great Model 13, 357 Magnum

[gkitch]

A blued 3" 13 has always been a "grail gun" for me. In all my years of puttering in gun shops and shows I have never even seen one for sale. I detest stainless and have never had issues with rust on my blued guns even when I lived in a very humid region. I very seldom see a 3" 64 or 65 but the blued guns seem much more scarce

That's because a 3" Model 13 in average shooter condition is worth only $500-700 or so. Most anybody with any sense would rather have a 3" 13 than $600 cash. So why sell?

 

[DR505]

Quote:The FBI agreed with you for about 10-11 years until they decided to issue the 1076 in it's place and crushed, burned and buried in a pit at Quantico this great service revolver. It's still an awesome CCW weapon.
Chuck

Thankfully not all were destroyed. We had a beautiful Model 13 3" specimen in our vault that I would shoot as much as I could. Also had a couple of 1928 Thompson's, a Model 19, a Model 60, several 1076's, and a 1911 in "Super .38". The vault at Quantico has even better firearms.

 

[crsides]

Got this one cheap from Bro in law. I bobbed it and found some really funky but great feeling grips off ebay. Man, it rides so well in a hip pocket.

 

[grip frame]

Minty 13's are much harder to find than 65's.

I predict the 13 will surpass the 65 very soon in desirability and value. Even more so than 19's and 66's.

 

[stansdds]

Got this one cheap from Bro in law. I bobbed it and found some really funky but great feeling grips off ebay. Man, it rides so well in a hip pocket.

Very nice carry K-frame.

 

[kmyers]

A favorite model of Smith here for sure.

 

[grip frame]

I also forgot to add the fact that the blue on blue sights are much better for shooting than the SS on SS presentation on the 65. Much better sight picture on the 13.

 

[UFGator]

I carried a Model 19, 2.5" from 1975 until 1992 when we transitioned to the SIG P228. I never liked the Model 19. It didn't balance well, didn't ride well in a holster, and I tried many. I never understood why it was chosen. We did NOT carry .357 cartridges. Issue was Federal LE .38 +P. I would have taken a four inch Model 10 or three inch over the Model 19. My "off-duty" firearm was a Model 60. It was carried a lot "on-duty." I have never handled a Model 13. I'm still looking for a Model 10 or Model 13 with a 3" barrel.

So far, the most comfortable revolver I have fired/carried is a Model 10, 4" pencil barrel with round butt. My hands aren't large and this is the one for me. I'm thinking the 3" might be better, with a RB.

 

[Muley Gil]

I carried a Model 19, 2.5" from 1975 until 1992 when we transitioned to the SIG P228. I never liked the Model 19. It didn't balance well, didn't ride well in a holster, and I tried many. I never understood why it was chosen. We did NOT carry .357 cartridges. Issue was Federal LE .38 +P. I would have taken a four inch Model 10 or three inch over the Model 19. My "off-duty" firearm was a Model 60. It was carried a lot "on-duty." I have never handled a Model 13. I'm still looking for a Model 10 or Model 13 with a 3" barrel.

So far, the most comfortable revolver I have fired/carried is a Model 10, 4" pencil barrel with round butt. My hands aren't large and this is the one for me. I'm thinking the 3" might be better, with a RB.

I also have a 4" pencil barrel .38 M&P. I agree, it is a good handling revolver. I bought mine from a fellow forum member a few years back.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

The reason I was able to give my Model 13-3 to my son-in-law is right here, a 4 inch Model 65-1 with Thai grips and a BK Grip adapter.

Sent from my XT1710-02 using Tapatalk

 

[gerhard1]

This model 65 has been tuned and is smooth as silk.

Here is my 65. It started life as a SB but a trip to Mag-Na-Port took care of that in addition to the porting that they did. The trigger pull is also smooth as any of my other S&W revolvers.

 

[Tricha1-74]

Great looking guns.i have a model 13-1 4 inch nickel . Great shooter

 

[71vette]

I do not have a 13 or 65, but I helped my mother get a 4" 65 a bit over a decade ago. Sometime, hopefully a long time in the future, it will move to my safe.

In the mean time, I've got my eyes open for a nice 13.

 

[Baxter6551]

Never had a 13, but carried a personal 65 and then an issued model 65 as a duty gun with .357 Remington 125 gr. jHP. When we transitioned to Sig P226, we were allowed to buy our revolvers for $100. I picked up a finish worn 3 inch 65 and took it to Factory for their "Combat Revolver Package" which I highly recommend. It's an awesome carry revolver. My gunsmith duplicated the package on my 4 inch 65 and some of my other stainless revolvers adding polishing of the hammer and trigger and smoothing the groves out of the triggers.

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

 

[JP@AK]

I own two Model 10-6 .357 Magnum revolvers, both formerly owned by the New York State Police. These were the predecessors to the Model 13-1, as most people on this forum know.

I don't plan to ever own a Model 13-1 (or higher) because I'm content with the 10-6. The are fun revolvers to play around with at the range. Both shoot where you point them.

Several years ago I did almost buy a Model 13-1 chambered for the .38 Special. Yes, they do exist, but they are extremely uncommon. I'm rather sorry I didn't pick that one up, but it was clear across the country from me and I just didn't feel like messing with the transfer procedure. Probably a big mistake. I've never seen another one since then.

 

[spin132]

Love the 13! There's something about the fixed sights that make it so easy for me to get on target. Reminds me of the 681 in that respect. Also like the simple, clean profile. This one is a -1 with Spegel's.

Sent from my SM-G996U using Tapatalk

 

[Retired W4]

I too am a fan of the 13 and it's big brother, the 58. I don't have a 3" but never say never. Here is an example in nickel.

 

[CH4]

Although I really have a soft spot for the 2.5" 19/66, the runner up in the K frame snubbie classification is the 3"13/65.

Here's my model 13-3

 

[kraynky]

More love for the model 13 here. 13-2 nickle with numbered matching magnas.

 

[Retired W4]

Another nickel 13 I used to own and an illustration of two 13-2's. A blue pinned and nickel not pinned.

 

[soFlaNative]

Thanks for the thread resurrection, love looking at 3" 13's.

 

[SouthNarc]

My 13-3 with factory bobbed hammer and Spegel extended boots in high grade cocobolo.

 

[gkitch]

!!!

My 13-3 with factory bobbed hammer and Spegel extended boots in high grade cocobolo.

You are a man of refined taste.

 

[samandglove1]

I ran into a strange one at one of my local haunts. A 6" (yes, 6") Model 13-3 with a pinned barrel (pinned barrels on Model 13's ended with the 13-2), an adjustable rear sight (yes, not fixed) and target hammer & trigger. It doesn't make any sense to me, but it looks all original and is properly stamped.

I'm guessing it was a custom job, but I don't know why someone didn't just get a model 19 in the exact configuration. I'll head back and take some pictures.