What's been done to this Mod 13?

[Sixenough]

A have a 3" barrel model 13-3 that at first glance appears to be brushed stainless, but there was never such a model 13, I believe. So what has been done to this beauty? The finish is absolutely uniform, even under the side cover plate.

The piece is very nice and tight, perfect timing, little cylinder play, tight front gap. Someone appears to have taken nice care of it. It may have had a trigger job, as it is exceptionally crisp.

Serial is 9D644xx. I attach several photos that I hope you experts to explain what I have. If you know the date of manufacture, that would be interesting.

Thanks.

 

[Doubless]

Looks like Robar's NP3 finish to me... absolutely incapable of being harmed, as best I can tell, and it takes a file or blasting cabinet to get the finish off the revolver.

 

[P&R Fan]

Welcome to the Forum.
The Catalog says it was born in 1982.
When I first read your post I was assuming it was nickle plated. From your pictures it does indeed appear to be stainless.
Darned if I can figger it out.
You've got a really nice carry gun though.
Jim

 

[Watchdog]

It kinda looks like Cerakote's Crushed Silver finish. Just guessing. And of course the hammer and trigger have been jeweled. Haven't seen a jeweled hammer since the seventies ...much less a jeweled hammer and trigger. Someone did a good job on the finish, though. I'd like to have seen it "before".

 

[Goblin]

It also looks like it could be Metalloy, another tough finish similar to hard chrome. I assume Metalloy is similar to Robar but I have no experience with Robar.

 

[gwpercle]

As Doubless stated it looks more like Robar NP3 , that is one sweet set up, wish I had one myself. 3 inch , round butt, NP3 finish, trigger job (more than likely)... perfect for holster carry in field or just carry. Don't have to worry about rust or wear.....you lucky dog!
Gary

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Sixenough:

Welcome to the Forum. 3.0 inch barreled K-frames are nice, and a Model 13 even better. By the way, before reapplying the grips, don't forget to tighten your mainspring strain screw.

Regards,

Dave

 

[opaul]

eye for detail

I love an eye for detail..........good catch.

Sixenough:

Welcome to the Forum. 3.0 inch barreled K-frames are nice, and a Model 13 even better. By the way, before reapplying the grips, don't forget to tighted your mainspring strain screw.

Regards,

Dave

 

[Waywatcher]

By the way, before reapplying the grips, don't forget to tighted your mainspring strain screw.

Yep! I noticed it too. That screw putting tension on the leaf spring needs to be all the way snugged down. The screw is called the strain screw and the leaf spring is the mainspring. Left loose the action will feel smooth and light, but will give misfires some or all of the time.

The strain screw is not an adjustment screw, it must be tightened all the way!

 

[Sixenough]

Thanks, guys!

Thanks for all the helpful info. Reading up on Robar NP3, it does look like that is what I have. Thanks too for the tip about the spring screw. On reading Double-O-Dave's tip, I was just about to ask what is the proper amount, when I saw that Waywatcher had already answered that question. What a helpful forum.

BTW, because of the nice condition of this piece, I paid $500, even though I think that is pretty rich. As my grandpa used to say, You remember a fine meal long after you forget the price.

 

[Double-O-Dave]

Yep! I noticed it too. That screw putting tension on the leaf spring needs to be all the way snugged down. The screw is called the strain screw and the leaf spring is the mainspring. Left loose the action will feel smooth and light, but will give misfires some or all of the time.

The strain screw is not an adjustment screw, it must be tightened all the way!

Waywatcher: this was one of the first things I learned about K-framed S&W revolvers. I had a buddy once who bought a S&W revolver that had a "custom trigger job". Yep, you guessed it - someone had backed out the strain screw prior to selling it to him. He experienced the misfires, and asked me for an opinion. After reading Kuhnhaussen's book, I suggested he snug down the strain screw. He did, but then complained that it ruined his "customer trigger job". Of course, it also cured the problem with misfires. Sheesh! Some people are hard to please.

Regards,

Dave

 

[Hapworth]

NP3's a possibility indeed, but don't rule out matte hard chrome.

 

[eyegots2no]

There was once someone in North Dallas doing "nitex" that looked almost like satin stainless, which to me seemed to have a orangy hue---kind of like nickel has a slight yellowy hue. The guy moved to Uvalde TX in 1980's.

That does not quite look like nitex but I am not seeing it in person.

Just thought I would through this in just for the heck of it.

 

[Kernel Crittenden]

I'd say industrial hard chrome, but I don't know enough about Robar to say or spot how it's different.

 

[ddixie884]

Armalloy was an early Industrial Hard Chrome finish used on guns. It looked a lot like Stainless, and was used on carbon steel hammers and triggers for early Stainless guns.

 

[Sixenough]

The screw is called the strain screw and the leaf spring is the mainspring. Left loose the action will feel smooth and light, but will give misfires some or all of the time.

The strain screw is not an adjustment screw, it must be tightened all the way!

Happily, this gun produces excellent primer impressions, and even when the screw is tightened home, the trigger is exceptionally smooth.

 

[BudMan5]

I carried a Model 13 as a cop for a number of years.

Yours is ....exquisite.

If it had been at auction I would have bid you you up quite a bit because i would really like to have one just like it. You did real good.

 

[xssv]

I've stared more at the trigger and hammer than the bewbs on Big Brother right now. Nice gun.

 

[Black_Sheep]

BTW, because of the nice condition of this piece, I paid $500, even though I think that is pretty rich. As my grandpa used to say, You remember a fine meal long after you forget the price.

I don't think 5 bills is out of line for any nice 3" K Frame. Model 13's seem to be more scarce than 3" stainless Model 65's which routinely sell for $500+

You did well...

 

[Sixenough]

Thanks, guys!

I attach a macro photo which may help identify the finish on this gun. The color is different from the earlier photos, as this one is under artificial light, while the others were in daylight.