S&w 3913

[CNobbe]

What can y'all tell me about the 3913 as far as accuracy, and holster options?

Came across a really clean one yesterday, threw it on hold for a few days.

I like the single stack 9mms, was thinking this might be a little lighter to carry than my P239, and for the price....hard to pass up.

I had a 5906 for a while, nice gun but it just wasn't as accurate for me as my other guns.

 

[bannockburn]

CNobbe

I had a couple of Model 469s and one Model 669 but never had the single stack version. All three guns were very reliable and certainly accurate enough for the job at hand but nothing really close to target grade accuracy. The DA trigger was long and somewhat mushy while the SA pull was alright; just not quite as good as a dedicated SAO trigger. The weight of the two guns (Model 3913 and P239), is about the same at around 25 ounces.

As to holsters quite a few manufacturers (Galco, DeSantis, Safariland/Bianchi), still make ones for the 3913 but selection and style are going to be somewhat limited because the gun has been out of production for awhile.

 

[GEM]

People loved the 3913, esp. the Ladysmith.

Problems for today's use are:

Magazine availabiity

Parts - not made by SW and IIRC, they won't service them anymore. Thus, you look at some gunsmith expense.

People liked the 3913LS so much that males who were challenged by the name led SW to come up with the same gun without the inscription. Feminists denounced the gun as it was selling the male paradigm of violence to women.

 

[oldandslow]

cn,

I've got both the SW 3913/14 and the Sig 239 and have carried both.

Since I've got big hands the Sig with Hogue rubber grips fits me better than the 3913/14. Both carry well, the SW a bit better than the Sig. Accuracy is fine for a short-barreled pistol. I think I got my holsters from Fist holsters in New York but I'm not sure if they still make them. Overall the SW is an excellent carry gun. Good luck.

best wishes- oldandslow

 

[bumbazine]

I've owned a 3913 and a 3914. Both were absolutely reliable and accurate enough for my purposes, but I ultimately traded them both off. Wish I still had one or both of them, though.
I can't help you with holsters. My holster is a custom job made for me by a saddle maker friend.

 

[Goju]

I carried a 3914 for over a year in a Lobo IWB set up (and now Ray has since retired). It carried great and was totally reliable. I recently sold it off because of the ergo's of the controls and the grip (for me). I would much rather carry my P6, which I feel is a better gun in every way...just a bit bigger.
You didnt specify if you were looking for leather or kydex holsters. If you have a preference for leather, I'm sure Garrity gunleather could set you up.

 

[CNobbe]

Good to know on the service, I'd assumed S&W stopped making parts for them.

 

[MICHAEL T]

I made mistake of selling mine a few years back . If I ever come across one in my area at good price It will come home with me.

 

[Plan2Live]

CNobbe said:

I like the single stack 9mms, was thinking this might be a little lighter to carry than my P239

I was bored tonight so I looked around a bit and found some 3913 specs posted over at the Rohrbaugh forum. A little lighter is about all you gain with the 3913 vs the 239. Here are the specs;

Length
3913 - 6.75
239 - 6.60

Height
3913 - 5.0
239 - 5.1

Width
3913 - .90 (slide only)
239 - 1.2 (Sig website, probably includes widest part of pistol)

Barrel Length
3913 - 3.5
239 - 3.6

Weight
3913 - 24.8
239 - 29.5

So yes, the 3913 is a tad lighter but you have the tradeoff of fewer parts, support and accessories. As I've said in other posts, everything in life, including carry guns is a compromise. Perfection doesn't exist, regardless of what is printed on the side of the box.

 

[PabloJ]

What can y'all tell me about the 3913 as far as accuracy, and holster options?

Came across a really clean one yesterday, threw it on hold for a few days.

I like the single stack 9mms, was thinking this might be a little lighter to carry than my P239, and for the price....hard to pass up.

I had a 5906 for a while, nice gun but it just wasn't as accurate for me as my other guns.

I have looked over couple of samples including LS with gray grips. Unless one has tiny hands I didn't see anything special about those guns. I would think holster designed for P239 should fit this S&W perfectly.

 

[lechiffre]

The grip of the 3914 feels noticeably smaller than that of the P239.

 

[Plan2Live]

PabloJ said:

I would think holster designed for P239 should fit this S&W perfectly.

The 3913 and the 239 have distinctly different shaped trigger guards. I own and carry a 239 and I can testify that the shape of the trigger guard seems to rule out a lot of holster options. The rounded and tapered trigger guard on the 239 just doesn't fit right in holsters designed for square trigger guards.

 

[JonB]

As far as holster, I have an IWB made by MTR Custom Leather. The belt clips come off and have slots to wear it as OWB as well. Not listed on their website, but they had no problem making one up for me.

Mags are still out there - CDNN has them. I bought 3 or 4 from Sportsmans Guide for just less than $30 each. Not cheap, but not over the top either.



I now have wood grips on it as seen here: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=777088&page=3

 

[Confederate]

I love S&W second- and third-generation autos. True, they aren't slicked up Colt Gold Cups, but they do the job and they are very attractive and durable. One of my favorite pistols is the S&W 3906, and I love shooting it. I also have a Sig P226 .45. It's a nice pistol and people rave about it, but it's a pain in the butt to get of that first DA shot. Maybe it's meant to be carried cocked, but I've never been comfortable doing that.

 

[Rock185]

I have carried both. Both excellent, and totally reliable with any standard pressure or +P 115-147 grain ammunition I tried. I switched to the 3913 simply because it fit me better. It does seem to me that the 3913 and 3914 are more accurate than might be expected for little compact carry/concealment type guns.

 

[sixgunner455]

I wanted a 3913 with the gray grip and tapered dust cover from the first time I saw one, but I'd never had the money to get one. Then, the jerks discontinued the series.

Last December, the LGS got a very clean, unmarked 3913LS with all the original paperwork, box, pistol bag, and magazines at a somewhat reasonable price. It was only there for a few days before I scratched up the money to take it home. I gave it trijicon night sights for Christmas, and it has been carried and shot quite a bit since.

My first reaction on shooting it was, "What a nice gun! Where have you been all my life?" Unless your hands are huge, I think you'll like it.

 

[CNobbe]

I'm still mulling the idea. It seems like the desire for them is still quite high, so if I didn't like it, I'm sure I could sell it for what I'd have into it.

It's $300 with three mags but no box or paperwork. Not a deal killer...

I'm just concerned with replacement parts and whatnot.

 

[bumbazine]

$300.00 would be a steal around here. I say go for it.

 

[just for fun]

As far as holster, I have an IWB made by MTR Custom Leather. The belt clips come off and have slots to wear it as OWB as well. Not listed on their website, but they had no problem making one up for me.

Mags are still out there - CDNN has them. I bought 3 or 4 from Sportsmans Guide for just less than $30 each. Not cheap, but not over the top either.



I now have wood grips on it as seen here: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=777088&page=3

Now I can't decide if I like your holster or firearm more! very nice setup.

 

[Lakeshore]

My 908 (which IIRC is the "value" version of the 3913) fits perfectly in an Uncle Mike's Sidekick size 15.

 

[deputy tom]

I owned a couple of 3913s twenty some years ago. They were
great little pistols. I've been looking to replace them with one if I could find one. I gave up and bought what I feel is the modern replacement for them, a 9mm Shield. Compact, light weight and parts are currently available as is warranty work. YMMV. tom.

 

[Robbins290]

300 bucks? I would snatch it

 

[camsdaddy]

I have had a hard time finding 7 round mags.

 

[JN01]

I've seen them selling for $450-500 in nice condition with one magazine, no box, so $300 is a good deal unless it is really beat up.