The saddest Model 13-3 you will ever see.
- Thread starter sigp220.45
- Start date
That one would have been a firm "oh, h-e-double toothpicks no" for me too. I know the scarcity of the 2 1/2" Diamondback's, but with the original finish and stocks gone and who knows what Bubba might have done to its innards, that's just way too much $.
And to think that such a piece would have fetched less than that two years ago. Still, you are not in too deep for $285 for a 3 inch Model 13. That one is in rough shape. See how it cleans up, but if it is pitted, then this one might look good in a bead blasted, blue finish.
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Jack Flash
Member
That would be a good one for a refinish in stages. I like the idea of cleaning it up all you can then applying cold blue. Finish off with a coat of wax and see how it looks. For just a few bucks, that may be plenty good enough. You will have a no worries gun that shoots great. That's well worth what you paid.
You can always go the professional refinish route down the road. But then the question is why didn't you put all that money into a better condition gun to start with?
You can always go the professional refinish route down the road. But then the question is why didn't you put all that money into a better condition gun to start with?
I think you got a good deal on a great gun and finished it off with pre-panic ammo prices. I suspect 100 rounds of that ammo is going for twice in most places. The screw heads look unmolested to my untrained eye. Are you planning on taking the side plate off to look at the internals?
Congratulations on picking that one up. I would have grabbed it in a second at the price you paid.
Congratulations on picking that one up. I would have grabbed it in a second at the price you paid.
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Please show us the end result when you finish. 
River found guns..cosmetically and mechanically challenged
At least the OP's gun is "savable"! Looks like a great buy for under $300 and with ammo too.
Not like these beauties pictured below...I'm thinking even bead blast and welding won't bring these guys back from the dead.
The de-milled and police dumped guns were supposedly drug up by a teenager out with his submersible metal detector looking for treasure.
At least the OP's gun is "savable"! Looks like a great buy for under $300 and with ammo too.
Not like these beauties pictured below...I'm thinking even bead blast and welding won't bring these guys back from the dead.
The de-milled and police dumped guns were supposedly drug up by a teenager out with his submersible metal detector looking for treasure.
Attachments
But, are you gonna shoot it??
The question we ask for all safe queens...
Robert
The question we ask for all safe queens...
Robert
LAWMAN662
Member
I'd contact S&W with your story and see what they would charge a LEO to put your "dream" gun back original.
Nice! You checked it and it worked fine. Outside needed work which you are doing, you should end up with a decent gun when done.
It may not be a 10 like on the Bo Derek scale but it will be something you prize.
Years back (mid 70s) I bough for a very good price a beat up model 15 2''.(a cops gun) Mechanical s were real good and the gun was quite accurate. Did some work but not to the level you are doing.
Have fun and keep us in the loop!
It may not be a 10 like on the Bo Derek scale but it will be something you prize.
Years back (mid 70s) I bough for a very good price a beat up model 15 2''.(a cops gun) Mechanical s were real good and the gun was quite accurate. Did some work but not to the level you are doing.
Have fun and keep us in the loop!
$285??? I'd pay that too.
I'm sure it'll look a lot better when you're done and make a great worry-free shooter/carry gun. There's something about a 3" fixed sight .357 that screams "all business"!
I'm sure it'll look a lot better when you're done and make a great worry-free shooter/carry gun. There's something about a 3" fixed sight .357 that screams "all business"!
Sounds like you have the knowledge and skills to at least partially revive that M13.
If it had been me, I would have bought it also but would probably have had to send it out for a professional job.
Good luck and please post some after pictures.
If it had been me, I would have bought it also but would probably have had to send it out for a professional job.
Good luck and please post some after pictures.
Old Corp
Member
Not that many years ago, many revolvers were coming in to the US market as surplused goods from other countries. Many of the revolvers looked not too far off from the appearance of yours. Kinda like they were begrudgingly carried for years and then tossed into a steel drum somewhere for storage.
Good rescue - that'll be a fun project. Glad you found it.
Good rescue - that'll be a fun project. Glad you found it.
Sistema1927
US Veteran
Good buy.
Scrub off the rust, get used to the truncated hammer, and shoot the snot out of it.
Scrub off the rust, get used to the truncated hammer, and shoot the snot out of it.
I'm amazed and in disbelief. This must be the 1st thread re reviving an externally beat-up revolver where no one has mentioned the word "character" and suggested to leave it in its present state. The prices of the other revolvers were way out of line but, then again, my LGS showed me a page from a national distributor's website. There was only one revolver available...
Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
P.S. In the consignment case of the LGS, there was a Glock 26 whose slide was in deplorable condition, completely bereft of finish. The owner had it priced at $500.
Kaaskop49
Shield #5103
P.S. In the consignment case of the LGS, there was a Glock 26 whose slide was in deplorable condition, completely bereft of finish. The owner had it priced at $500.
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Nice find and great project gun!! I would have jumped on the deal too.
I always wondered how a model 13 3" would look really good with a case hardened frame and blued barrel and cylinder. This seems like a great candidate for that.
Cheers,
686PC
I always wondered how a model 13 3" would look really good with a case hardened frame and blued barrel and cylinder. This seems like a great candidate for that.
Cheers,
686PC
Grayfox
US Veteran
I woulda been all over that! Nice catch.
Clean it up, apply a home blueing job and enjoy.
Who doesn't love a 3" K-frame?
Clean it up, apply a home blueing job and enjoy.
Who doesn't love a 3" K-frame?
kbm6893
Member
2 years ago, I saw a Model 10-8 that was pretty rusty. $200 out the door. Fully disassembled, submerged in ATF for a week, and scrubbed with 0000 wool. Looks much much better. Brought it back to the shop to show the owner and his eyes narrowed and he said "guess you got a good deal, then".
I'm sure that gun will look far better. I see the main spring. Did you pop the side plate and fully disassemble it? Gotta think there's rust behind the parts inside. I'd also fully submerge the gun. I'd also submerge the grips in acetone overnight and then apply some boiled linseed oil once a day for 4 or 5 days.
I'm sure that gun will look far better. I see the main spring. Did you pop the side plate and fully disassemble it? Gotta think there's rust behind the parts inside. I'd also fully submerge the gun. I'd also submerge the grips in acetone overnight and then apply some boiled linseed oil once a day for 4 or 5 days.
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SuperMan
Member
That is a tremendous find...to me at least while in "sad" shape it looks like it should be completely serviceable after some TLC...
If the gun is solid and I wanted something all-weather, I'd send it to Accurate Plating, have it bead blasted to even out the surface and then hard chrome... My daily carry 1911 was done by them in 2006 and after going on 14 years of daily carry still looks like new...
Congratulations of a great find...Bob
If the gun is solid and I wanted something all-weather, I'd send it to Accurate Plating, have it bead blasted to even out the surface and then hard chrome... My daily carry 1911 was done by them in 2006 and after going on 14 years of daily carry still looks like new...
Congratulations of a great find...Bob
ColbyBruce
Member
That gun reminds me of a Mickey Gilley song.
kbm6893
Member
I wouldn't hard chrome, bead blast, or parkerize that at all. The OP wanted one because he wanted an FBI type Model 13. Doing any of that ruins it. I'd clean it up as best as I could, use some cold blue on what was left after the cleaning, and then if I still wasn't satisfied I'd sent it to S&W for a re-blue.
But I think a lot of the rust is gonna come right off in the ATF and we're all gonna be surprised at the result. Provided the gun is fully disassembled and cleaned inside and out. Lord only knows what the insides look like.
By the way, I've pretty much reached the point of having any gun I really have a burning desire for. Sure, new toys are always nice but I pretty much have all my bases covered, but I do not have a Model 13 3" and I very much want one. I wouldn't have even tried to talk the guy down to $285, and I'd have a lot of fun trying to revive that gun.
But I think a lot of the rust is gonna come right off in the ATF and we're all gonna be surprised at the result. Provided the gun is fully disassembled and cleaned inside and out. Lord only knows what the insides look like.
By the way, I've pretty much reached the point of having any gun I really have a burning desire for. Sure, new toys are always nice but I pretty much have all my bases covered, but I do not have a Model 13 3" and I very much want one. I wouldn't have even tried to talk the guy down to $285, and I'd have a lot of fun trying to revive that gun.
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