The S & W Model 13 appreciation Thread

[jad0110]

Although the 19 has adjustable sights, there are advantages to fixed sights. The 13 is as close to a trouble-free gun as possible. I really wish I had one. I did at one time and really didn't know where my head was when I sold it.

3" .357 K Frames are certainly special guns. I hope you find a 3" 13 again one day, for the right price. As for the sights, each have their pluses and minuses. I can do either. The fixed sights are more reliable/rugged, whereas the adjustable sights with their taller front blade are easier/quicker for my eyes to pick up.

They are getting tough to find though. Interestingly, up until the last few months 3" Model 13s had been undervalued in the marketplace relative to Model 19s and 66s, IMHO. They seemed to be selling for the same or not much more than 3" .38 Special Model 10s. Maybe it is because they look identical to a 3" heavy barrel Model 10. But from what I'm observing on a few different message boards and auction sites, prices are rapidly rising to parity with the 19 and 66. It's as if buyers suddenly discovered that there is another .357 K Frame out there. I'm not familiar enough on 65 prices to comment on them though.

I'd also like to find a 3" Ruger Six of some type too.

Beautiful 13 with the box. I just bought a model 65 3inch. Gave 465 plus shipping; no box, no tools. I'd pay that for a 13 in a heartbeat.

A few more pics ...

 

[kansersurvivor]

I just traded an antique koken barber chair that my father had brought back from Coronada, CA when he got out of the SeaBee's in 70, for my first 13-1.

Barely shot one owner, Nickel gun. One chamber in the cylinder has no powder burn marks and seems to corelate with the PO's claims that its been shot VERY Little. Reguardless...I love it.


S&W Model 13-1 4" Nickel

 

[MagnumDweeb]

I hate to ask the dumb question but isn't the 13 not able to stand up to a steady diet of .357 magnum 158 grains at around 1250fps being an early .357 k-frame. Maybe with more modern metallurgy it'd hold up better. Maybe someone can better enlighten me please.

 

[BullfrogKen]

I'm not aware of 158 grain magnums being a problem. My understanding was the 125 grain Super Velocities were tough on K-frames, causing quite a bit of flame cutting and could cause a crack in the forcing cone.

 

[kansersurvivor]

This is a much debated topic. These guns can shoot magnums just fine. Some say they do not hold up to repeated mag loads but they do. The main problem area is in the forcing cone. If you own one, look at it and you'll see that the 6'oclock area of the cone is actally cut or shaved. This makes this area of the cone marginally weaker and they tend to crack here, if they are going to crack at all. If you can look at a larger N frame magnum the cone is MUCH thicker and perfectly round.

Some say since these were M&P designated, they they were carry often and used little. More like practice with .38 and carry .357.

I've seen some with thousands of rounds through them with .357 and no issues. Others have cracked. I think if you stay with 158gr mag loads you'd be just fine. I'd stay away from lighter grain weight and hopped up loads as the extra pressure created will definately work on the weak area of the cone.

Also, some continue this debate also because some smaller frame magnum barrels are not availible anymore, and if you break the forcing cone then you cant find a replacement for it...and your gun is broken for good. More precaution and protection of investment than the gun not able to handle the mag loads.

My .02 on the issue.

Still love mine.

 

[Confederate]

3" .357 K Frames are certainly special guns. I hope you find a 3" 13 again one day, for the right price. As for the sights, each have their pluses and minuses. I can do either. The fixed sights are more reliable/rugged, whereas the adjustable sights with their taller front blade are easier/quicker for my eyes to pick up.

The 13/19 is becoming so expensive in my state that I'll probably never get one. I suspect that I'll have to live with my 3-inch Ruger Speed-Six, which is fine. It's about the same size, weight and has a similar action (at least mine does).

The bluing of the older model S&Ws is gorgeous and the old wooden grips are ineffective but beautiful.



Ruger Speed-Six

 

[wnycollector]

I picked up my 1983 S&W 13-3 4" SQ butt from my FFL Saturday am. I paid a whopping $300 for it ($250+25 shipping+25 transfer) The strangest part was that I picked it up via gunbroker. So deals are out there if one looks hard enough. Once I get it cleaned up pics will follow.

 

[MK11]

I'm a big fan of Buffalo Bore loads in my Model 13, both their 158 grain +P .38 screamer and their mild 158 grain "short barrel" load in .357. There's only about 100 fps difference between the two and they're very manageable in a K-frame.

 

[ky40601]

Here's the 13-1 I got earlier this month.

 

[Confederate]

I think if you stay with 158gr mag loads you'd be just fine. I'd stay away from lighter grain weight and hopped up loads as the extra pressure created will definately work on the weak area of the cone.

Well, there's no doubt that some will hold up better than others, but the heavier bullets will warp the lighter frames if they're loaded to magnum pressures. You've got a little more protection with stainless steel than blued steel. Stainless resists gas cutting but not warping. And I have seen cracked stainless steel forcing cones.

 

[kansersurvivor]

Mine is actually Nickel...so I'm still in the same boat as the Blued 13's!