The Model 13 3" (.357) was supposedly first requested by the New York Staties. The stainless version, the Model 65, was first made for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (their staties). Fart, Barf and Itch issued 3" Model 13s.
The rarest of the 3" sixguns seems to be Colt Detective Specials in 3" and they are priced accordingly. Model 19s and 66s in 3" are very pricey. The others (10, 64, 65, 67) are less so, but they're still not very common. What I was thinking of doing was finding a somewhat beater Model 10 heavy-barrel and having it cut down to 3" and have the butt rounded if possible (depends on where the serial numbers are stamped on the butt ).
So when I found out about a small offering of Model 65s in 3", I ordered one:
The gun was supposed to be G-VG condition with good timing. At least the timing was good. Probably my first clue should have been that somebody put square-butt Pachs on a round-butt gun.
The barrel was "clocked" (out of alignment) and may have been that way since Day 1:
Worse, it seemed that some nimrod had tried to remove the yoke and cylinder without first removing the retaining screw:
Doing that, of course, damaged the shit out of the button on the end of the yoke:
The good news is that whatever sub-par IQ Bubba had done that had not otherwise damaged the yoke. The alignment was good.
Still, therein lies the dilemma of buying a gun online. If there is a problem, you're going to be out two sets of FFL fees, as well as shipping each way. And, if the seller is a commercial entity, they may very well say "it was a used gun and sold 'as is', Bucko, so you're going to pay a restocking fee iffn you send it back."
Shipping each way (handguns go 2nd day air) and FFL fees for each way and you're looking at $100 or so.
What I did was trot the gun over to my local smith. He looked it over and said that he could retorque the barrel and fix the damage to the yoke button for a bit less than $100.
Seemed to be the better option, especially since I'd rather keep the gun.
Updates once I get the gun back.
And thereby comes the frustration from any number of internet/mail order sellers who misrepresent their goods in a more than minor and less than major way. They know that the buyers are unlikely to deal with the frustration and cost of returning items, when the cost to make good the item isn't more than about five times or so the shipping costs. If they then get hammered in reviews, a new seller pops up and the old seller fades away...
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear the local gunsmith gets the job and it doesn't cost too much to fix moronic damage.
this is why you should learn metalworking and forge your own guns.
ReplyDeletewell within the parameters of public safety and personal self-enlightenment.
The 3 inch bbl medium frame .38 special would seem a natural, full ejection, longer sighting radius but you never see them. Like the electric bicycle, the motor-sailor and the station wagon, too obviously useful to be sold like soap or sex I guess. Practicality is so dull. Important to know a gunsmith you trust.
ReplyDeleteWell, the GOOD news is, it's repairable and you're not out the 2 way FFL fees...
ReplyDelete