Model 13 help

[Storm]

My apoolgies for not searching first, but my search function has been down for the past day and I have a chance to pick up a Model 13 (four inch) tomorrow AM and some info now would help. The gun is probably 90% and is in fine mechanical shape. I doubt the grips are original as they are target grips. The price is $200. Run or jump on it?

It would be in addition to my two M&P's, M19 and 581. I'm trying to put together a group of classic revolvers. Does the Model 13 qualify? It appeals to me quite a bit.

Thanks for any opinions.

 

[Iggy]

It's worth that much if it is in that condition... I would grab it.

 

[Old Fuff]

$200.00 would seem to be an excellent price, as they are now selling in the $275 to $300 dollar range. The revolver is similar to a model 19, except it has fixed sights, and doesn't have the heavier underlug around the ejection rod. Do check it for cylinder end shake (back & forth movement as opposed to rotational movement) and examine the screw heads for burrs.

I suspect that you are right about the stocks, but if they are S&W target stocks it is possible they came on the gun. Otherwise no. Non-original stocks can lower the value slightly, but at the stated price I wouldn't quibble.

 

[Storm]

That sounds great. The finish is about the same as my 581, which is just fine. I've already checked out the mechanicals but I'll give it another check. I still need to look down the bore. I like this shop a lot but they never have a bore light available and I had forgotten mine.

What I'm really trying to do is put together a nice group of older revolvers (and maybe a few newer ones) to have and mainly to shoot. No safe queens for me and a little wear is preferred. My M19 is almost a little too pretty as it is. Hopefully I'll come across the right two inch M&P, M29, M27 or 28, Trooper Mark III, and Python to round things out. There's great fun in the hunt.

 

[Brian Williams]

Nice find, they are nigh onto impossible to find around here. Forgot a bore light, pull out your Drivers license amd hold it in the frame opening to reflect the light from an over head fixture.

 

[JERRY]

$200.00 is a steal for any servicable S&W non locked wheely in descent shape....

 

[Storm]

I picked up the Model 13. It's actually a 13-3. The only surprise was that I had the price wrong. It was $239 rather than $200. They wouldn't come down on it any. I'm told that this gun and my 581 were police trade-ins. This one is also double action only. The holster wear is almost identical to the 581. The target grips (I'll look for a serial number when I get the grips off) look like they were a project for a gang of beavers. The butt is mince meat. The bore is bright and the rifling strong. I'll slip some Pachmyrs from my other guns on it until I can get some proper grips on it. this gun has a lot of potential to be agreat shooter. Photos to follow.

 

[mossy141701]

Congradulations on a great gun, you can usually find good used grips on Gunbroker.com if you're interested.

 

[wraco]

I picked up a S&W Model 13-1 a couple weeks ago on a straight across trade for a sporterized Savage made Mark IV Lee Enfield. The Lee Enfield had cut down military stocks but was in very good condition. The Lee Enfield was worth $150-$200 + $17 postage.

The Model 13-1 differs from the 13-3 just a tad. The 13-3 has the S&W logo on the left side of the receiver under the cylinder release, where as the 13-1 still has the logo on the sideplate. The 13-1 has a 4" bull barrel.

What I usually check on S&W revolvers is the clearance between the forcing cone and the end of the cylinder. This one measures 6 thou. Also, the blast line above the forcing cone and cyl gap is wise to check. The wider the gap between the forcing cone and cyl. end the deeper the blast line.

Mine came with 3 sets of grips. - rubber target grips that say Smith & Wesson K Square Butt on the inside top right - large walnut checkered target grips with the cut out for speed loading - standard small checkered walnut suare butt grips. The fellow mailed it to me in a shoe box and it was in a nice zippered case.

Haven't had a chance to shoot it, but I would expect it to shoot like my Model 19.

Regards:
Rod

 

[Moonclip]

Buy it. It's sort of redundant with your other .357 Smiths, but the price is right. I'm not really in to 13's and passed a couple at $300 but I'd have to almost surely buy it at $200.

 

[Old Fuff]

It's sort of redundant with your other .357 Smiths, ...

Not exactly...

The 581 is large, and heavy. The 19 has adjustable sights. I presume that both still have their hammer spurs. The 13 has no-snag fixed sights, and if the hammer has been bobbed it can be carried concealed without the likelyhood of covering clothing getting abraded or caught during a draw.

While it is unlikely, there have been cases where a bottom-feeding attorney claimed that a justifiable shooting was really accidental because the revolver had been thumb-cocked and a "hair trigger" had gone off causing a wrongful death. Subsequently many police departments had their revolvers modified to D.A only to end that issue. I presume that this model 13 is one of those revolvers, and the modification will protect the new owner from legal attacks just as well as it did the former one.

 

[Storm]

I also felt that a 13 was a bit redundant with my 581 and 19, but the sights and lack of a shroud offers enough differences. Plus, the 13 is aesthetically in the least desirable condition so it will probably see the most use.

As to DAO and liability, there is a vulnerability in terms of civil (and potential criminal with an overzealous prosecutor) liability when a gun is capable of being fired single action. I say "capable" in that I know of no way of actually proving that a gun has been fired single or double action so the argument that it was fired single action with the hammer cocked is always there with a SA/DA revolver.

BTW, I say this not to criticize single action but only to say that it does offer another means of attack to question a shoot and can serve as a means to impose liability on folks just trying to protect their lives. I know that the DAO police revolvers weren't a particularly popular move, but there was a basis for having them.

Below is the 13-3.

 

[Marshall]

Congrats. Nice gun.

I have a Model 13 with a 4" HB. It's a square butt, I put on the Presentation Grips from Pachmayr. You should really enjoy your new gun!

 

[Storm]

Thanks Marshall. Your gun looks to be in nicer condition than mine. I also have a set of presentation grips and will probably put them on this evening.

 

[dewidmt]

I sold my minty Mod 13 to my best friend about 10 years ago for $200, so that price is a steal today. But I still have dibs on the one I sold if he ever gets rid of it (I've tried to buy it back 3 times!).