S&W 3913NL Questions

[Higgins]

I just purchased a used but 90%+ S&W 3913NL and have couple of questions.

I am aware that the "NL" version of the 3913 (basically Ladysmith version without "Ladysmith" on the side) was only made for a brief time. Is the NL version rare enough that I should put this pistol away as a safe queen/collector's item rather than use it as a shooter and find another 3913 to be a shooter.

I've always wanted a 3913, but now that I have one, I am concerned over how thin the aluminum frame is in some places on the NL version. I bought this gun to be a shooter, but am concerned about how durable the frame is/will be. I don't shoot +p or +p+, but is this basically a defense pistol you shoot just enough to be sure it works then don't shoot much more so as not to wear it out?

I'm already looking to get the Hogue grips, Wolff spring replacements and another mag. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[rde]

I don't know how many or how few were made so I can't help there. When in comes to durability I have had no problems of any kind with my 6906 (basically a 12 round double stack version of the 3913 that is no longer in production). And I have a whole lot of trouble free rounds down range with it. I also have the 908S which is the value/economy version of the 3913. Still breaking that one in but I have had no malfunctions of any kind whatsoever and it is quite accurate. And based on my experience with the 6906...I don't expect any.

So..in my humble opinion..shoot it, carry it, enjoy it.

 

[pdh]

Higgins......I have heard that S&W has excellant customer service.Very friendly people to talk to.
If you want,I have a phone number you can call for any questions about your 3913.
1-800-331-0852

 

[Logan5]

Mine's shown no ill effects after plenty of standard velocity loads and a moderate ammount of hotter stuff like Cor-bons. I stopped with the hot stuff because I got an unpleasant twisty motion under recoil with those flat grey factory grips, as though it was going to squirt out of my hand... the Hogues are much more palm filling, and are definitely the way to go as far as I'm concerned. The only problem I've seen with the frame is where a previous owner managed to scratch the aluminum with the steel slide stop during reinsertion... and where this happened is uncomfortably close to the serial #. Luckily you can still read it plain as day.
I don't think they're particularly rare or sought after or anything like that.

 

[Serpico]

I had the 6906 too and loved it....sold it to a good friend for my P7...by the way, all you 6906 owners....did yo know Smith had a recall of the plastic grips *mine was from 97) and you can call smith up and give them your model number and they will send you a new pair of the hardier grips free...just thought I'd pass that along...

 

[Spot77]

A friend of mine had a 3913 sitting in his basement unprotected for an unknown amount of years and it had rusted up pretty bad ("Is THIS anyway to treat a fine tool?" I asked him. The guy is a P.I., this the reason for having it, and not a shooter at all)

Anyway, I cleaned it up really well, and we took it to the range. We've sent exactly 4,000 rounds of WWB through it now without a single malfunction.


So I'd say it's a great little gun.

And I think I've turned my friend into a shooter now.