Educate me on SW3913

The only handgun I ever sold that I truely regreat. Have never found one for the price that I want to pay to replace so one of these days I am just gunna have to bite the bullet. I had one new in the early 90's. Sold it in the late 90's when I moved back to a state that at that time did not have concealed carry and wanted a hunting hand gun more. I litterally put 1000's of rounds thru that little smith with never one problem. Single stack, not to heavy, liked the decocker. Easy on the hand and very comfortalbe to shoot. I can honestly say that I have not one bad thing to say about that gun and $350 for one in good/great shape would be a good deal. Rarely do I see them around me in good/great shape for less then $450. Mags are still very easy to find along with holsters.

I have one and it is one of my favorite single stack guns in 9mm, along with the SIG P225, Walther P5, and the S&W 3914. It is as good as the SIG and Walther in my opinion and I like carrying it. It is very easy to rack the slide with a 14 lb spring and is a favorite with the elderly like me and women as well. They are a bargain for $350-$450 in very good to excellent condition. That is one of the best semi-autos that S&W ever made. I have four 3rd gen guns 3913LS, 3914, 5903, and 6906 and they are excellent guns.

I don't have a 3913, but I have it's big brother in .45 and love it. The 3rd gens are very nicely made pistols, they are very reliable (they are know to be able to feed empty cases) as well as very accurate.

Go get one, you will love it!

JonB said:

Anyone have experience or knowledge on them?

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I really like mine. It's the NL model. Fits my hand very well, accurate, eats all manner of ammo I've fed it w/o indigestion. I like the sight picture and the DA/SA feels right to me. As with any handgun, it's all very subjective. The 3913 is a fine pistol for me.

YMMV

The 39XX series in general and the 3913 from that series in particular, are widely regarded as the finest handguns to ever come out of S&W.

Thin, accurate, reliable, easily concealed. The 3913 was ahead of its time. It still bests anything made by S&W today.

The closest gun produced today that even comes close to a 3913, in performance and quality of construction, is a Sig 239 - IMO of course.

Locally 3913's are scarce. When they do appear, they can bring anywhere from $450 for a well used example with one mag and no box, to $600+ LNIB with two mags.

I recently examined an early production example with flash chromed hammer and trigger. It was NIB unfired from the factory. Still wearing its inspector sticker. $550 + tax OTD. By the time I went and got a trade out of the safe and got back to the store - it was sold.

No matter as I have a well used 3913, early production in my holster. I carried it in soft clothes and off duty for many years. I will never part with it.

Buy a 3913. You will never regret doing so. Good luck! TJ

Concur with Mr. Jones.

Best 3rd Gen S&W ever produced. Great pistols.

I wouldnt hmm about it. You wont regret buying it. I would pay 500 for one in a heart beat

I have one, and it is a great gun. I witnessed one sell locally for over $500. If you can find them, they are generally over $450 around here easy.

The double action is great, the single action is great.

You will never regret buying a 3913!

Slim, accurate, reliable. Great carry gun, comfortable enough to shoot at the range all day.
Mine isn't going anywhere.

I see one on GunsAmerica for much more than $450. How do they compare with a 6906? I also see a 915. Is that a comparable gun?

I have to agree with all who say that the Third Generation S&W autos were some of the best pistols they ever built and the Model 3913 was a great example of that. At various times I have had several different versions of the compact autos and found them to be well made, reliable, and accurate.

My two part response:

http://www.christiangunowner.com/smith-and-wesson-3913-review.html - a review of the 3913 , and my statement (again) that the 3'rd generation S&W semi autos are extremely underrated. Go for it.

Single side safety

The 3913LS has a single side safety and might be, marginally, a skinney (er) carry option than the std 3913 ambi safety. There is a transition from DA to SA, in both models but its not a big deal unless someone wants to make it one. Likewise, good or maybe not, it has a magazine disconnect.

I like the one that I have custody of. But now when I carry a single stack 9mm, its a Kahr.

salty

Thanks 9mmepiphany.
The Lady Smith 3913 is a little pricey for me but the 6906 is selling for a good price. It seems to be well regarded also.

I agree with previous comments made by Thaddeus Jones & 9mmepiphany.

The 3913 (and variants) are probably as close to being examples of a single stack, metal-framed production 9mm compact being 'state of the art' as we're ever likely to see in a mass production pistol.

It was heavily influenced by the custom production ASP.

Excellent example of a lightweight traditional double action (DA/SA) compact pistol. Decently accurate, nicely balanced, durable and about as ammunition-tolerant in the way of reliability as you could reasonably ask. (It was the benchmark I used for comparing feeding & extraction/ejection in other compact 9's I tried and bought over the years.)

It was the first S&W I ordered after my first S&W pistol armorer class.

The only way the standard 3913 could be improved upon was S&W eventually making a TSW version (heavier box-type frame & slide rails, delayed unlocking, loaded chamber inspection port, TSW barrel refinements).

The budget 908/908S & NL/LS versions were also very good bargains.

The subcompact CS9 is a bit shorter & lighter, with an understandable slight increase in felt recoil/muzzle snap, but it's every bit as accurate as the longer/heavier 3913, for me. The hand-filling Hogues on the CS9 (which were standard on the CS pistols), and having the balance a bit more rearward in the hand, helped make them a fast-handling 'lively balanced' little 9mm.

I eventually turned in my issued new-production 4513TSW for a new production 3913TSW.

You will never regret buying a 3913!

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But you will if you sell it. I know been there done that .

I had one and let it get away. One of the three or four regrets I have in trading guns. Flat, felt good in my hand. Never had one problem with it. A wonderful carry gun. I found one last year and got all excited. Then I see they wanted $800 for it. If I found one for a reasonable price I would be all over it.

I never particularly cared for the looks, but the ones that I shot all worked. Thinking about it, its a shame I never picked one up. I used to see them all the time,not as much anymore and never at that price. Ah, the folly of youth!