[pdh]

Took a look at my friend's 3913 Smith and it sure looks like a winner to me for conceal carry.Going to order me one in the near future and I want to thank you guys and gals for all the replies and advise on this handgun.

Paul

[PCRCCW]

Glad you like the gun. Just be careful when "ordering" one. S&W's retail pricing is, er....how do I put this? "What are they smoking?" High priced...
Find a clean one on www.gunsamerica.com or shop around at least.
Shoot well............

[Handgun]

You can occassionally get lucky at AutcionArms and GunBroker too:
http://www.forthehunt.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=12728350

[Bob F.]

pdh: Dont know where in WV you are but Flat Top Arms in Beckley, WV (southern part of state) had a 3913 (I think) yesterday when I was in there. Didn't pay much attention cause I wasn't shopping for a 9 auto! Their phone # is 304-255-9470. I might could get in Friday to scout it out for ya' and they'll hold till Saturday if I ask (on Fri), no obligation. That's about the only S&W auto I'd consider. Check the trigger out, I'm not familiar with that one but I have a 5904 for sale-DA trigger is about 2 feet long!

[Poohgyrr]

The used 3913's can be a great deal. Just know there have been a few versions, rail or not, 7 or 8 rounds, stainless (3913) or blued (3914), and some "minor" cosmetic changes. Then there are the blued and stainless 908's.

Or just buy a new 3913. Any way you go, they are all great single stack compact 9mm's.

[pdh]

Bob........thanks so much for your kind offer!I am in the Parkersburg area and Beckley is around 2.5 to 3 hrs from where I am at.Unfortunately I am working this weekend but thanks for Fat Top Arms' phone no.I will give then a ring. :) :) Thanks again Bob for your offer!

My friend knows 3 dealers in my area and he said he thought one of them had some police tradins.I will check them out.

Thanks again
Paul :)

[Dean Speir]

 

The Models 3913 (and 3914) are terrific little pistols… it's the only 9 X 19mm I've ever personally owned.

It's actually the no-longer catalogued 3913NL, which is a really slick-looking item… a 3913LS without the "LadySmith" laser-engraved on the slide which was offered for about 18 months, circa 1990-91.

I've had it for over 13 years now, and have over 7,000 rounds through it, having to replace only the trigger tensor spring around the 2k round count, and the trigger return spring at the 6k RC level.

It started out as a writing project between Bill Laughridge and myself, and when I saw what he'd done to it, it immediately became "a keeper." It has the sweetest trigger ever on a traditional DA/SA pistol, and, with an ARG "Slimline," is my "Summer Gun" when the weather gets real hot and damp in August.

Another nice thing is the variety of magazines available for the 3913… it comes new with two different eight-rounders, one with a butt-plate incorporating a finger rest a la the Walther PP-series. Then there's a nine-rounder from RamLine that gives the shooter a ten-round capability with no additional length 'cause it uses the "Negator Spring" technology. And finally, there's the absolutely flat-bottomed seven-rounder that seems to be only available with the DAO 3953 series. I rarely use it for anything other than a charging magazine at the range, but for that curious breed of CCW extremely fussy-type, it will reduce the signature an iota.

Great li'l pistol!

 

[Big Mike]

Try www.kyimports.com. Mike

[tiberius]

It's actually the no-longer catalogued 3913NL, which is a really slick-looking item… a 3913LS without the "LadySmith" laser-engraved on the slide which was offered for about 18 months, circa 1990-91.

That's the one I have. I inherited from my late step dad. I used to scorn the 9mm, but this is one sweet pistol.

[ScottS]

It's actually the no-longer catalogued 3913NL, which is a really slick-looking item… a 3913LS without the "LadySmith" laser-engraved on the slide which was offered for about 18 months, circa 1990-91.

I have the same one in blue, 3914NL. Guess I got it around 1990. Nice little gun, but mine turned into a safe queen. Probably only have about 200 rounds through it. Originally got it for my fiance/wife, but she decided she didn't want to shoot.

Scott

[pdh]

Hey Bob....my typing is at times is pretty bad.I know it is Flat Top Arms...not Fat Top :D :D

Thanks for the web sites fellas.Goodness....I got the fever bad.
Going to get on the phone tomorrow to see what's out there.
Thanks again for all the help. :)

[surfinUSA]

I believe that the 3913 is not only the best S&W semi auto made, I think its probably the best compact 9mm made. Followed by the slightly thicker and bigger 239 and chuckier G26.

[Pilot]

For $659 get one of the German Border Patrol P7 PSP imports. Or for around $400 get a CZ-75 PCR. 3913....please.

[SouthpawShootr]

I have a 3913TSW pre-rail. It has been an excellent performer and I did carry it for awhile. I now carry a Glock 26. No reflection on the Smith, I just like Glocks. Anyway, I'm keeping the 3913. It's been very accurate and reliable. It's much flatter than my Glock, BTW. Unforutately, if you don't like the rail (which I don't) you have limited choices since the regular 3rd generation autos are no more. Used is always a good option. They were very popular so there should be plenty around at good prices. The 908s are also a viable choice. Not quite as nicely executed as the non-budget autos, but in every other respect excellent guns.

[Handgun]

Pilot wrote:
For $659 get one of the German Border Patrol P7 PSP imports. Or for around $400 get a CZ-75 PCR. 3913....please.I own or have owned all three of these (one PCR and multiples of the P7M8/P7PSP and 3913). They are all very good guns. I feel that, for the money, a used 3913 (non-TSW in $300 to $400 range) is the best value of the three and could well be the best gun overall, depending on your selection criteria. The 3913 is my favorite of the three and is the one I would choose to carry.

By the way, I no longer own the PCR. I got a dud with a really bad trigger and decided not to mess with it. I may get another some day and I'd like to try a CZ75 Compact (used at a reasonable price). Too many guns ... too little time and money.

[mini14jac]

Don't know if it is nation-wide, or even still going on, but one local dealer had all Smith guns on sale, a couple of weeks ago.
I got the impression that the sale originated at S&W, so it wasn't just a local thing.

I could have saved $50 on my 457. :(

[Ala Dan]

Certainly a good report on the 3913; glad to hear good
things about Smith's. The only thing that might be better
would be a SIG P228? I love mine, but I wouldn't mind
having a S&W 39, 39-2, or 3913 to compliment it!:D

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[tiberius]

Certainly a good report on the 3913; glad to hear good
things about Smith's. The only thing that might be better
would be a SIG P228?


I suppose that is a matter of opinion, but the Sig 225 & 239 are more comparable to the 3913 than the 228 is due to their slimness and single stack magazines.

My girlfriend shoots a 225 and it is a nice gun, but still a bit larger than the 3913. I prefer the Sig's decocker action and spurred hammer over the S&W's Walther style safety and bobbed hammer. The S&W has the superior sights. Both are nice pistols.

[Penman]

The "Ladysmith" 3913's only have a strongside safety, IIRC, while the standard 3913's had ambidextrous units. Very night gun, I much prefer the Houge grip on it in place of the factory version. Makes for a much more secure feel, changes the overall handling of the gun in my hands.

[VG]

Bought a used 3913 a while back for $375, with box. It looks great. Great all-around pistol. Bought some more magazines on eBay for $18.

http://www.capinc.com/files/3913.jpg

[pdh]

Ordered my 3913TSW today.Will get it Tuesday.I know I have a winner here because of all your help and advice!
Still like my P90 Ruger.....I have 2 great guns.
Again.. big thanks!
Paul

[Dean Speir]

 

    Smith & Wesson Model 3913NL (http://www.thegunzone.com/3913nl.html)

I should've put this up long ago, but I've been lazy… the article on this I did for a Combat Handguns annual back in '95. where I range-tested and chrono'd 30+ rounds, has been locked on a FUBAR Zip disk for the past four years, and I don't know how to recover it!

So I shot some new images this afternoon, and here she is, 13½ years old, with 7,000+ rounds through it.

Penman, you're absolutely right about the safety/decocker… it's a single-side on the Models NL and LS. The original 3913 I did a piece on for Guns in 1990 was the last one of those I played with… the off-side operating lever seems stuck on there almost as an afterthought, and seemed rather flimsily attached. Plus it added an extra 0.17-inch in exactly the wrong place for an optimal "low-profile" pistol. I hope that S&W has improved that since then… whattya say, VG, what's your ambi-safety feel like?

And Pilot, take a look at the thread header, and stuff your PSP and CZ-75…. Jeez, Louise!

 

[VG]

Mine is a 1994. I shoot both left and right handed (mostly right) so it's fine with me. They are quite narrow and well rounded. The IWB holster I have has a flap., so there's no practical concern.

Here compared to a recent CS9


http://www.capinc.com/files/s_w_cs9_3913_rr.jpg

And Pilot, take a look at the thread header, and stuff your PSP and CZ-75…. Jeez, Louise!

Once he tries to sell a CZ, he won't be such a big fan.