S & w 3913

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They are very good guns. The only drawbacks I can think of are the cost of mags and it weight for daily concealed carry. But its heavier weight helps with range use and follow up shots.
 
Fine gun, often overlooked.

It's not heavy in the right holster.
 
I regard single stack magz as being more reliable than double stacked... Just throwing that out there.
 
Owned and carried a 3914 (same gun in blue) for 20+ years. Excellent piece, totally reliable and surprizingly accurate. Only about 25 oz., not much more than a Dick Special. Magazines are (were?) available with a flat floorplate, making it a little easier to conceal in some circumstances.
That pistol remains one of my favorites after all these years.
 
A little high unless in incredible shape.

Either way, you're not going to get anything new at that price that can touch the 3953 in terms of quality.
 
I don't think that's not a bad price, actually (if in decent shape). Before they stopped making them, MSRP was around $800, as I recall, and they aren't making any more.

My own CCW is a 3913 Ladysmith that I've had since the mid-1990's:

gallery_260_23_29637.jpg


In addition to recreational shooting, I also shoot occasional USPSA matches with it. The only failure of any kind it has ever had was a single round of Winchester white box bulk ammo from Walmart that was completely missing the priming compound (the firing pin dented the primer almost to the bottom of the cup but it didn't go off, even on two restrikes). Other than that, no failures of any kind, shooting both cheap FMJ and a variety of JHP, including Cor-Bon 115gr +P that has the nose profile of an ashtray.

I find it easier to carry than my wife's Glock 26 (the S&W is a little longer in the slide and grip, but thinner through the grip) and it is pretty accurate for a 3.5" barreled pistol. Here's a pretty typical 3-shot group at 7 yards:


gallery_260_23_6397.jpg



Yes, 3 shots---look closely at the top hole. The trigger is very good (mine's a DA/SA, which I prefer over DAO), the Novak sights are great (although I upgraded mine to the Novaks with tritium inserts), and the fit and finish is good. Disassembly takes a little practice before it is easy, but it's not bad. Overall, I'm very happy with mine and would definitely buy another.

Some links from around the 'net on the 3913/3953:

http://www.thegunzone.com/3913nl.html
http://www.recguns.com/Sources/IIIC2r3.html (from the 1990's, but valid)
http://www.recguns.com/Sources/IIIC2r2.html (ditto)
 
I'm very happy with my 3913NL. I alternate carrying it with a CS9 and 6906 when i carry "metal"- same holsters.
 
In my opinion, one of the best CCW guns out there. My first CCW ever was a 4013, which is basically the same gun (slightly larger) in .40 S&W. I liked it so much I decided to also pick up one in 9mm. Magazines are expensive, but they can be found on the gun boards and auction sites regularly for less than S&W wants them. Only negative I can think of is that some don't like the DA/SA operation, although it never bothered me.
 
I don't think that's not a bad price, actually (if in decent shape). Before they stopped making them, MSRP was around $800, as I recall, and they aren't making any more.
Click to expand...

And I've seen online prices (used guns) increase 20%-35% since they made the cuts to the lineup. Places that used to have them for $430-$450 are now $550-$600.

Wyman
 
This is an outstanding CCW gun, big enough to shoot well, small enough to easily conceal. It is light thanks to an aluminum frame, slender and flat, reliable, accurate and has smooth trigger actions (within the limits of the design).

While I recognize that these are fictional characters, Calleigh Duquesne (played by Emily Procter) of CSI Miami can often be seen carrying one, as could Miss Parker (played by Andrea Parker) of The Pretender. :)
 
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JMOfartO:

I bought a new 3913 when they first hit the market, and it's been a fine single stack 9MM pistol from day one. In fact my only Son has already put "dibs" on it and I've cleaned it up and put it away for him.

Surprising that he prefers the 3913 as I also have a 3913LS/6906/CS9, two H&K P7's and an H&K P2000sk to chose from....:scrutiny:

All of my 3rd Gen Smiths have been absolutely reliable, and more than self defense accurate and I would recommend any of them to someone looking for a quality, altho underappreciated by the plastic gun crowd now, single stack 9mm pistol.

Jesse
 
3913...it's ALL good. Yum.

Glad when I got mine it came with 5, yes, FIVE mags. I thought "what the heck will I do with 5 mags?" Heh-heh, I was SO naive.

I have the NL version, but I replaced the slim plastic grip with Hogue rubbers. I like it better, but yes, the slim plastic is noticeably slimmer and lighter, but not a good fit for my hand.

In summary, without a doubt one of my keepers, and favorite guns. If I'm driving around with the 3913, I admit to occasionally just picking it up and enjoying the feel of it in my hand. Perfect fit. Thank God it's cheap to shoot, as I shoot it a lot. Darned accurate too.
Note the carry melt treatment in the second photo, it came to me that way. Smoothing on the slide release and safety levers.

Jeff
3913holster2.jpg
3913left.jpg
 
They WERE often overlooked. Now, they are getting more attention and the price is rising.

Mags can be tough but at least they are out there. I would think 30 per mag a going price right now. I have some I found in a bin at a pawn shop for 10 apiece and I am holding onto them until I get a 3913 of my own.

430 is a good price I would say since I see them only going up from now on.
 
I'd probably pay that for a super clean, minty 3953, but only because I wanted one back in the day and never got one.

At any rate, a good CCW, IMO.
 
Thanks, I will follow up on this. BTW Why is DAO undesirable?
Click to expand...
Because the single-action trigger for the second and subsequent shots of a DA/SA is a thing of beauty compared to the crunch, crunch, crunch of a DAO. The 3953 will be just as reliable as the 3913, but the trigger of the 3953 is more like that of a Glock with the New York Plus trigger setup, i.e. very heavy, and with a longer pull.

Personally, I prefer the DA/SA because the long, heavy DA first shot makes accidental discharges less likely (just like a revolver), but once you start shooting the gun transitions to a short, light, accuracy-conducive single action trigger. The long, heavy DA pull isn't much of a handicap for a single shot, but the DAO has it for every single shot. It's consistent but is slower (due to the very long reset) and IMO somewhat harder to shoot well for followup shots than the DA/SA. The one thing about DA/SA is that whenever you cycle the slide with the safety off, or are done with a shooting string, make it a habit to decock the gun using the safety/decocker (sweep it down and back up in one quick motion) to safely drop the hammer and render the gun DA again.

Potential advantages of the DAO, on the other hand, are that it lets you not worry about having to decock, prevents you from having to worry about accidentally engaging the safety and/or forgetting to disengage the safety at a bad time, and results in a consistent (if heavy) trigger pull from shot to shot for those who have trouble with the DA-to-SA transition.

BTW, if I understand correctly, the 3914 is the blued version of the 3913; I had to look that up, so I figure there might be some others like me who didn't already know that. That particular gun (in the auction) is a Ladysmith model, which IMO is a slightly better gun than the standard 3913/3914 due to the angled frame design, left-side-only safety/decocker (slimmer), and (at least according to one S&W rep I talked to) a slightly better trigger pull.
 
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I love the 908, the blue value line version of the 3913.It's a primo CCW gun and also shines at the range. It's certainly more accurate than I am. (I have a friend who sometimes shoots his 908 in IPSC and he's no slouch at the game.) I liked it so much that I sold my Glock 26. The weight difference wasn't a problem and the Smith concealed better for me because of the slimmer grip. I don't see much need for an ambidextrous decocker and thus prefer the "cheaper" model over the 3913/14; it's just a tad narrower.
The 908 was my first example of a 3rd generation S&W and I've since acquired a double stack. I miss their passing.
 
I had a couple of 908s and really admired them, but was finally able to trade up to the 3913 I really wanted: the elegant Ladysmith version. These are wonderful pistols and I compare them to Mossberg shotguns: utterly reliable, relatively inexpensive, accurate and American-made. The flat design is an added bonus and the 3913 remains one of my favorite carry guns.
 
These are superb little pistols. I've owned and carried both a 908 and 3913. The only reason I don't have either of them now is that I found and purchased a Kahr K9, which I believe to be a slightly better carry pistol. Others' opinions may vary of course. As for the price, it's not too bad for today's market, so long as the pistol is in good shape. Most of the used 3913s I have seen lately have gone for at least $400.
 
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