S&W 3913 NL

[d31tc]

I don't have any 3rd Gen S&W's in my collection, but the 3913 has been on my list as well as a 5906.

A local gun store has a 3913 NL and is currently priced at $499, original box, but only one magazine. Seems like a reasonable price, but maybe not with only one magazine?

I'm no expert, but what are some things to check before buying?

 

[halfmoonclip]

Check the usual things; do all the parts function correctly, decocker, etc?
Had a 3913, nice gun, reliable, moved on from DA/SA autos.
How tough are magazines to get? What do they interchange with? Recently snagged one for a 439.
Good luck! You'll like the pistol.
Moon

 

[R_P_K]

Loved mine but made the switch to striker fired. The gun was utterly reliable. Hell it would feed empty casings. Enjoy that classic, the 3rd gen Smith's are fantastic pistols

 

[GEM]

Loved mine but made the switch to striker fired. The gun was utterly reliable. Hell it would feed empty casings. Enjoy that classic, the 3rd gen Smith's are fantastic pistols

Buy it!!

 

[armedwalleye]

That’s a good price. I’d buy it.
As to magazines, gun shows usually have a couple guys with a table full of magazines. Bring the original with you and match it up. Some of them won’t be able to identify which guns they fit.

I recently purchased a spare mag that appeared unused, one each for my 457 and for my 908: Table owner couldn’t tell me what they were for, but I knew. Told him I’d give him $20 total, and I’d take my chances, since he didn’t know what they fit. I was happy with the deal.

Sometimes you get lucky and know his inventory better than he does.

 

[Rock185]

Were I in the market, and it was a nice example, I'd buy it. I've had a boringly reliable standard 3913 for years, still carry it, etc.

 

[bannockburn]

d31tc

Had a Model 469, 669, and a 6906. All of them were exceedingly reliable and well built but I never cared for the slide mounted safety and the long DA trigger pull, though I will say the SA trigger was fairly decent. Magazines and spare parts will be your biggest hang-ups nowadays. Should make for a nice addition to your collection.

 

[Homerboy]

I have several 3rd Gen guns. I’ve owned several 3913’s. Excellent guns and a great addition to the collection. That being said, plastic is lighter and smaller so my beloved 3rd Gen’s are range toys and show off pieces.

 

[Rexster]

That is notably less than I recently paid, for a very nice 3913 NL, with only its one mag. Magazines will cost ~$80, on the evil bay, so, I see why any spare mags would have been sold separately.

I fully intend to carry mine, if it checks-out OK, with carry ammo. I do not buy in order to keep a “collection.” My firearms have to work for a living. A gun can earn a permanent place, in my “accumulation.”

 

[Homerboy]

That is notably less than I recently paid, for a very nice 3913 NL, with only its one mag. Magazines will cost ~$80, on the evil bay, so, I see why any spare mags would have been sold separately.

I fully intend to carry mine, if it checks-out OK, with carry ammo. I do not buy in order to keep a “collection.” My firearms have to work for a living. A gun can earn a permanent place, in my “accumulation.”

I occasionally carry my 3953. Just got another one, a 3953 TSW. It’s an early one so 7 round mag and even smaller than the 3953. Both guns fit well in a Desantis leather holster. I’ll always feel better carrying a hammer fired gun but the weight is noticeable in an IWB holster.
Those guns are tough and I have no doubt my kids will shoot them one day. I have 5 others. The 5906 and 4566 are absolute tanks.

 

[Riomouse911]

4013 owner here. The small single-stack S&W autos are very good carry guns .

Stay safe.

 

[Old Dog]

I paid a little more for mine. With only one magazine. And a chipped grip panel.

That's a decent price for a nice little pistol.

And no, it's not too heavy to be a regular carry pistol.

 

[equin]

I have a regular 3913 (not the Lady Smith or “NL” versions). Great gun, but original mags are very hard to find now, and when you find any used ones for sale, they can be very pricey. I believe they take the same mags as the CS9 and the 908, but those are no longer made, either. ProMag sells new mags that fit, though, but I’ve read conflicting reviews on their reliability. I have a ProMag for it but haven’t tried it out yet. Even if the ProMag works, I would only use it for range use, though, and not rely on it for carry use.

As for parts and springs, Brownell’s still sells some, but a few items appear to be sold out:

https://www.brownells.com/parts/Smith+zzxzz+Wesson/3913/index.htm

Holsters are harder to find compared to the more popular carry models, but the older holster makers should still have molds for them. Just make sure you specify yours is the “NL” since I believe the NL dust covers are different from the regular 3913 dust covers. So there may be fitment issues between the two. I honestly don’t know, though, but thought I’d mention that just in case.

Someone mentioned they’re light enough to carry. I still carry mine on occasion, but it’s obviously heavier than my Shield Plus but lighter than my 5” steel 1911.

If I already didn’t have a 3913 and were looking into a 3rd gen S&W, I would absolutely consider buying that one for $499, even if it just has one mag. If you do decide to get it, post pics and give us a range report!

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Look very closely for cracks in the grip module around the bottom retaining pin- otherwise the gun itself is GTG.

Also inspect the magazine follower for the same. They came in 4 different colors and some are prone to cracking, yellow being the worst IIRC.

 

[Mars5l]

You can Triple K mags for cheaper, the baseplate don't follow the contour of the grip though. A lot cheaper than getting used oem

 

[skoro]

I don't have any 3rd Gen S&W's in my collection, but the 3913 has been on my list as well as a 5906.

A local gun store has a 3913 NL and is currently priced at $499, original box, but only one magazine. Seems like a reasonable price, but maybe not with only one magazine?

I'm no expert, but what are some things to check before buying?

The one gun that I regret selling is a 3913 NL.

Grab it. They don't show up often and that's a good price.

 

[d31tc]

Well, I bought it! Thanks all for the info. No cracks in grip. Red follower. Function check checked out. A little dirty, but should clean up nicely until I shoot it and get it dirty again.

No pics yet as of yet since it has to go through a FFL transfer from ND to MN and I have to update my carry permit to get it out of hock which I'll do tomorrow.

Just a point of note, Scheels had this priced at $650 to start. Was kind of surprised last week when I saw it still there and listed for $499. I figured if it was still there by the time my funding was lined up, it was fate and I HAD to buy it. I'll post pics when it's home.

 

[halfmoonclip]

Other than hanging out the bottom, will M39 magazines work? As noted, I got a spare for a 439 recently, NIB...damn, trying to remember where I got it.
Moon

 

[Ignition Override]

d31tc: Does the magazine look like these? These are OEM.
Woops--I missed a Later comment you made, so maybe these photos will help the unfamiliar, interested people.

My S&W 908 magazine is the same type, was bought One Year Ago via E-Bay or Amazon Buy Now (--just 1 mag.--), and cost approx. $60...before shipping.

They are certainly considered more reliable than aftermarket, which also are usually called "factory mags".
I doubt that aftermarket mag followers mimic/imitate the red plastic-combined with the dimples and holes.

 

[18DAI]

Congrats! $499 for that 3913NL is a steal. Especially these days.

I had mine on today while instructing. I demonstrated a couple of techniques using it. While I was focused on teaching and speaking, not focused on shooting, I noticed after two mags my 3913NL had torn a small hole in the target at POA.

Very easy pistol to shoot well with. Points naturally. Great gun. Enjoy yours! Regards 18DAI

 

[d31tc]

Congrats! $499 for that 3913NL is a steal. Especially these days.

Technically $537.47 after tax. And only one mag. I just recently bought another OEM mag for $50 thanks to someone who probably felt sorry for me only having one mag. $587.47 on my inventory spreadsheet.

I should be good to go once I get my permit, which I expect to get next week. Then off to the FFL and waiting on my delayed background check. If all goes well, the end of next week I can post pictures.

 

[jsbethel]

My only safe queen - only because I also have an LS with some miles on it already.

 

[d31tc]

My only safe queen - only because I also have an LS with some miles on it already.View attachment 1064019

That looks…pristine.

 

[Homerboy]

The gray grips and slanted dust cover never looked right to me on 3913’s.

 

[lincen]

The gray grips and slanted dust cover never looked right to me on 3913’s.

I do agree but about the shape but I do like the left side only decocker. Makes the gun flatter for carry. Enjoyed owning a 3953 for a while and traded it to someone who “had” to have it. My only 3rd gens now are a 3913 Ladysmith and a CS9.