S&W Model 13 in .38 Special?

[CA2005]

I saw a NIB (from the mid 90's) Smith & Wesson 4 inch blued Model 13 today. The odd thing about it...it was marked .38 Special and not .357 Magnum.

Anyone ever heard of such a beast?

 

[armoredman]

Replacement barrel?

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Removed

 

[TT]

Haven’t heard of .38 Special M13s specifically, but I have seen .38 Special M686s. Apparently some agencies want a .357 frame but don’t want their officers loading them with .357s- they get special order guns from S&W.

 

[CA2005]

Nope, not a replacement barrel, even the original box label says M13, and .38 Spec.

 

[woodsltc]

Per the "Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson" 3rd edition. Variations of the Model 13.

I quote:

"Thailand Police: Small quantity of chambered .38 Special for Thailand police order, this unusual order has a serrated backstrap and forestrap hidden under Uncle Mike's synthetic grips, round butt, fixed sights. Product Code 100312, marked Mod 13-4." End of quote.

Check your box and see if it has the above referenced product code -- if so, then you have your answer..

Don

 

[CA2005]

That's the one....thanks!

 

[SwampWolf]

Well done. woodsltc!

 

[Bezoar]

Question on this an other special order run revolvers for foreign government agencies.

If the revolver was made for a foreign agency/government, why is it on the shelf in original package in an american gunstore, and not on a dirty shelf in Thailand, or being used to beat up budhist monks?

 

[Old Fuff]

Two possibilities. It may have come back to us as surplus following a trade for something newer, such as a 9mm pistol
or....

It might be part of an overun that wasn't delivered and later was released to some commercial distributor in the United States.

 

[Oro]

As Old Fluff said, most likely an overrun sold to a US distributor. This is not uncommon.

 

[woodsltc]

CA2005, is this the one you saw??

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=94273179

Listed on Gunbroker as of 3/7/08 !!

Don

 

[Cosmoline]

If the revolver was made for a foreign agency/government, why is it on the shelf in original package in an american gunstore, and not on a dirty shelf in Thailand, or being used to beat up budhist monks?

Probably because they made too many, or because the monks refused to pay.