They were replaced not by better revolvers, but by auto pistols. The 13/65 revolvers were the last of their type, and arguably the best — elegantly simple, reliable, an ideal balance of size, weight, accuracy, controllable recoil and power.
-Alemaster
*****
Here's an email I sent to Alemaster when he passed this article on to me:
Back in the mid to late 1980s, one of the Tool & Die makers that worked with me and my dad at the ammo plant had an FFL and saw an article in Shotgun News where the FBI was switching over to the 10mm and was selling their 65s to the public. Jim ordered something like 20 of them to sell to his friends at cost. Dad bought one for 200 bucks, then sent Jim over to me. I had visions of some shot out, beat up revolver, so I passed.
When Dad got his, he came over to my place and showed it off. The barrel had been replaced, the lockwork cleaned and polished and everything tightened up. It was basically a new gun except for some very minor cosmetic dings.
I immediately called Jim and asked if he had any left and he just laughed, saying they were all long gone, so I told Dad that I wanted his when he died. He remembered that and made sure Mom knew. About a week after he died, Mom gave it to me.
That 65 is by far my most favorite gun, not only because my father passed it on to me when he died, but also because it's just one sweet shooting sonofabitch.
