S&W 3913 still being made for LEO only?

[Whirlwind06]

I'm pulling this from another thread so as to not hi-jack that one.
Is this true? Are they still being produced? But for the LEO sales only?
I see them on the auction boards from time to time. It looks like a single stack version of the 6906 I once had. That I regret selling.

Just more or less looking for input on the pistol. Good or bad.

S&W 3913 -- single stack traditional double action, alloy frame with 3.5 inch barrel. Easy to conceal, lightweight, reliable, shoots great. What more could you want?

Now only produced for LEO but used ones can be found. Alternatively, the SW 908, a less refined version.

 

[Striker]

Whirlwind,

I like the 3913 and just bought another used one in Painesville last week.
More and more, its becoming my EDC gun, having replaced a Glock 19 and lately a SIG 239 in that role.

I don't think they are still in production (though the 3913TSW may still be available from the Pro shop). Smith also just dropped the 908/910/410 economy line this year, though there are still some in the distributor pipelines.

Bottom line, if you can find one, get it.

 

[PX15]

FWIW:

Well, I've still got mine.

I bought this 3913 new many years ago, and it's a very nice pistol. It has always been 100% reliable, and accurate, altho I doubt I've run over 100rds thru it.

The 3913 is the favorite pistol in my little stash of my Son, (a pristine Colt DS is his favorite revolver in the pile), so I've put both of them "away" for him.


Nice firearms, glad he has an interest.

Best Wishes,

J.Pomeroy

 

[18DAI]

The early 3913, pre luggage rack on the dustcover is out of production for some time. IMHO it is probably the ultimate compact 9mm CCW. Mine has NEVER malfunctioned in over 3000 rounds. It is perfectly sized, for me, and is light weight and accurate.

The 3913TSW with the luggage rack is no longer produced for the public, but as of last December, was still available for LEO orders.

You might want to watch CDNN's catalog, as they get many overuns from LEO orders.

I'd advise you to simply find a nice, lightly used, early version. Good luck! TJ

 

[Ghost Tracker]

I missed buying a nice 3913 a few months ago at my favorite gunshop. I think I was afraid my wife would see the "Lady Smith" script & it would mysteriously disappear into the dark, inescapable confines of her purse! But I'm still grinding on myself for not taking it home. Very fine handgun.

 

[fastbolt]

Last time I checked the 3913TSW was still being produced for LE agency orders, and could still be bought on an individual officer basis from a S&W LE Distributor (meaning an LE distributor and not an ordinary commercial S&W stocking dealer).

The availability depends on whether there are presently any of whatever model is desired sitting on the shelves in their vaults. The price is up to the distributor, too.

S&W commonly makes more units than are required to fill any given LE agency production run and then keeps them on hand.

I was told of a cop who happened to be able to pick up a current production 5906 through a distributor in that manner. Not a TSW, but an actual standard '3rd generation' 5906, newly produced. It had been part of a normal overrun of some brand new 5906's ordered by a large agency who was still using 5906's and needed new guns. The officer lucked out in that apparently there was still one available sitting in the vault which hadn't been allocated for anything.

I think LAPD has still ordered some 4506's & 4516's (4516-3's, I believe) from time to time in the same manner.

I've also thought about adding a 3913TSW to my collection before retiring, to complement my late-production 3913.

I've always thought the 3913 (in all its variations) was close to being the definitive example of a state-of-the-art compact, traditional double action, metal-framed, single-column magazine 9mm defensive pistol.

Okay, a number of folks also happen to like the 3953 DAO variant.

I wouldn't turn down my nose at an excellent condition 908S, either. It's just that the current TSW version offers some additional features not found on the original 3913's & current 908's, such as the heavier box-type rails, loaded chamber visual inspection port and slightly delayed unlocking. I'm not all that interested in the accessory rail on the current production TSW's, but that's because I'm not in the habit of hanging lights on handguns, especially compact models.

If somebody at the S&W factory would agree to grant a single request for a special production run, I'd ask for an all-stainless steel 3916TSW (the '3' in the 3913 model number meant the frame was aluminum), with night sights. If an accessory rail had to be included, I'd at least want it to be one of the integral machined types as currently available on the 4006TSW & 4566TSW for LE orders.

An all-steel model would probably make the already decently controllable (personal opinion) felt recoil of the 3913 even better. I'd put up with a bit of added weight.

Just a daydream, though ...

 

[Coronach]

S&W 3913 still being made for LEO only?

Probably. Most of the Gen3 semis are available for limited production runs for agencies. S&W is not above doing limited production runs for public sale, either.

They key is that they're not making them as a stocked item for dealers, since demand is so low. If they can get a big enough purchase order to justify setting up a run, they will.

Mike