Smith & Wesson Model 13

Smith & Wesson Model 13
S&W Model 13-4; blued steel, 3" barrel, round butt, aftermarket Pachmayr grips
Type	Revolver
Place of origin	United States
Service history
Used by	United States, Hong Kong
Production history
Manufacturer	Smith & Wesson
Unit cost	$242 (1983)[1] $547 (2004)[2]
Produced	1972–2004
Variants	Model 65 (stainless steel) Model 65LS (LadySmith)
Specifications
Mass	31 oz. (3" bbl)
Length	11" (with 3" barrel) 12" (with 4" barrel)
Barrel length	3" or 4"
Cartridge	.357 Magnum, .38 Special
Action	Double-action
Feed system	Six-round Revolving cylinder
Sights	Fixed (rear notch; front ramp)

The Smith & Wesson Model 13 (Military & Police Magnum) is a .357 Magnum revolver designed for military and police use. It is based on Smith & Wesson's K-frame—specifically, it is a .357 Magnum version of the heavy-barrel variant of the .38 Special Model 10 (originally called the Military & Police).

Design

This is a double-action revolver with a capacity of six rounds. Barrel lengths are 3-inch and 4-inch with fixed sights. Both round-butt and square-butt versions were produced. The Model 19 is essentially the same gun with adjustable sights and a partial underlug. The Model 13 has a blued finish; the Model 65 is a variant in matte finish stainless steel.

The Model 13 was manufactured from 1974 to 1999. The Model 65 was manufactured from 1972 to 2004. The Model 13 should not be confused with the M13, which was a lightweight alloy revolver produced from 1954-56 for the U.S. Air Force, known as the Colt Aircrewman.

Model Variations

Engineering and production changes of the Model 13, indicated as a dash after the model number stamped on the frame:

Model Designation	Year Introduced	Changes
13-1	1974	Introduced for the NYSP with model # stamping[3]
13-2	1977	Changed from gas ring on yoke to cylinder
13-3	1982	Eliminated cylinder counterbore and pinned barrel/small change in cylinder length to 1.62"
13-4	1988	New yoke retention system/radius stud package/floating hand/hammer nose busing
13-5	1997	Changes to frame design - cylinder stop stud eliminated/change to MIM hammer with floating firing pin/changes to internal clockwork

Service

Both models were issued by police agencies and federal law enforcement agencies in the United States.

The Model 13 was requested by the New York State Police in order to have a .357 Magnum revolver to replace their Model 10 .38 Special. The Model 65 in stainless steel came about at the request of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

The FBI issued the Model 13 with round butt and 3" heavy barrel shortly before switching to semi-automatic pistols.^[4] The Model 13 was the last revolver issued by the FBI. It was an unqualified success with Special Agents. The round-butt K-frame with 3” barrel in .357 Magnum proved to be an ideal sidearm for an investigative agency.^[5]

Apart from the USA, the ICAC of Hong Kong issued the revolver for replacement of the Smith & Wesson Model 10 revolver and the Colt Detective Special to the Arms Issued Officers, which they replaced in late 2005 with Glock and SIG Sauer semi-automatic pistols.

The Model 65 is used by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Users

•  United States
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation Last revolver issued to FBI Agents, carried with .38 Special +P ammunition. ^[6]
  • Maryland State Police^[7]
  • New York State Police
  • Oklahoma Highway Patrol
  • San Antonio Police Department^[8]
•  Hong Kong ICAC

References

1. "Smith & Wesson Advertisement". Handguns Magazine: 213. December 1983. Archived from the original on May 31, 2024.
2. "2004 Smith & Wesson Advertisement". Handguns Magazine: 339. December 2004. Archived from the original on May 31, 2024.
3. Supica, Jim; Nahas, Richard (2016). Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson 4th Edition. 700 East State Street, Iola, WI 54990: Gun Digest Books. p. 210. ISBN 978-1-4402-4563-3.
4. Ayoob, Massad (May 2003). "Small handgun attitude". Guns. Archived from the original on 2007-02-21.
5. Vanderpool, Bill (1 September 2011). "Draw & Fire: A History of FBI Handguns". American Rifleman. p. 67.
6. "Guns of the '86 Miami Shootout". Gun Mag Warehouse. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
7. Nonte, George (1980). Combat Handguns. Stackpole Books. p. 345. ISBN 0811704092.
8. "San Antonio Police Issued Smith & Wesson Model 65-2". Guns International. Retrieved 2024-05-31.

External links

• "Smith & Wesson Model 13 / Model 65 / Model 65LS". Netbook of Modern Firearms. 2001. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27.