S&W 13-4 Performance Center Gun?

[rWt]

I saw an add for one of these for $650. It had a 3" barrel, 4 magnaports, bobbed hammer and special wood grips.

Is this a good gun? Great gun? Rush to buy gun? Run away from gun?

If I buy a stock Model 13 or 65 and get the hammer bobbed, have I " destroyed" it"? What gunsmiths would you trust to bob the hammer on such a gun?

Thanks.

Dick

 

[Marko Kloos]

Rush to buy. There are only 400 PC-13s in existence, and they are very hard to find. I owned one for a while, but gave it away to a friend in a moment of insanity.

There is no finer carry revolver in existence than the Performance Center PC-13.

 

[tomkatz]

Buy it now!!! Or send me a pm and let me know where to find it ......tom

 

[Cosmoline]

Or you can get a Model 13 no-dash with a superlative trigger for $250 and have the performance center do whatever you want to it. I'm going to have my trigger guard expanded and night sights put on.

 

[Old Fuff]

I would say yes and no. From a collector's point of view, and as an investment the answer should be, "absolutely yes!" But from a personal point of view I don't like to have the barrel ported on a defensive handgun. You may or may not feel the same way. Custom features only work if they are what YOU want.

The easy way to despur a hammer is to order a replacement from Numrich/The Parts Corporation (www.e-gunparts.com) that is bobbed in the first place and have it installed in your revolver. This way you have destoyed nothing, and can always switch the original hammer back in.

As for the grips: Do YOU like them or not? If you are going to carry/use the gun the grips - as well as other features - have to be right for you, and not necessarily anyone else.

If you choose to modify another gun there are a number of 'smiths that are qualified to do the work. Jimmie Clark's sons as well as Cylinder & Slide come to mind, and there is the S&W factory as well. Cross that bridge after you get a revolver.

 

[rWt]

Tomkatz-Pm sent. There are 2 for sale on Gunsamerica.

Old Fuff-Thanks as always for the advice!

I'll keep looking for a stock 13 or 65 with a 3" barrel.

Dick

 

[FPrice]

I maybe mistaken, but I thought that Tamara has a S&W PC M-13. She posted a mighty nice pic of it. If I am correct, hopefully she will see this thread and re-post it.

 

[tomkatz]

Yes Tamara has one and I have wanted one ever since she posted the pic ......tom

 

[DHart]

Personally, I wouldn't want ports on any defensive revolver... I want all the noise, flash, and blast going straight out at my target, not blowing straight up into my line of sight. Plus, if you found yourself having to discharge the gun while it is very close to your body, having that blast coming straight up toward your body and face wouldn't be too cool.

As Old Fluff said, for collector's value, that PC gun would be great. But for a gun you would own, fondle, shoot, and carry, I'd go with a stock 13 or 65 and do a few minor mods, like installing a bobbed hammer and recountouring/polishing the trigger. I found this one on Gunbroker and bagged it for $301! It had already been customized by Brad Lewis of New Hampshire! What a find. It's a very sweet six gun for sure! Now it wears a pair of Spegal cocobolo boot grips for slick carry duty.

Smith & Wesson Model 13-3 .357 Magnum 3" barrel

I also found this M65 online for $275. What a deal! I love it. This gun wears a pair of Pachmayr Compac grips (NOT Compac *Professional* - which are thinner, no backstrap coverage and less absorbing) which absorb recoil like a sponge - very comfortable and hand-filling grips:

Smith & Wesson Model 65-5 .357 Magnum 3" barrel