Recently picked up an S&W 3913 and got to thinking it would make for an interesting comparison with the Sig P239 I own. Unfortunately I haven't fired the 3913 yet so this is just a phyisical comparison (part 2 will involve a shooting comparison).
These two pistols are similar in many ways (which inspired my interest in a comparison). Both are traditional DA/SA compact pistols with single shot 8 rounds magazines and both are intended for convenient, concealed carry. Both my pistols carry houge rubber grips - the P239 with the finger grooves and the Smith without. The Smith is equipped with Trijicon 3-dot night sights (similar aftermarket sights are made for the Sig - this is not a point of comparison).
The P239 uses a frame mounted decocking lever and has no external safety while the Smith uses a decocking safety lever (similar to the Beretta) and has a magazine safety. The Sig uses a hammer with a spur for ease of cocking for a single action first shot whereas the Smith hammer is cut flush with the rear of the frame. Both pistols can be cocked for the first shot but with the Sig this is much more easily accomplished. The Smith hammer is snag free.
Both pistols use dovetailed front and rear sights for ease of adjustment and replacement. I personally prefer the stock "dot-the-I" sights of the Sig in standard sights but personally feel that a defense gun should have night sights. The sights of both pistols appear to be almost exactly the same height above the hand. The frame and the slide of the 1313 are a bit thinner than the Sig but the safety brings the overall width of the Smith to more than the Sig. The P239 lists a 3.6 inch barrel while the Smith catalogs 3.5". Both pistols utilize a stainless steel slide on an aluminum frame with the 239 showing a weight of 25.2 ounces without the magazine (an extra 2.3 ounces for the mag with a total of 27.5 ounces). The 2913 shows between 24 and 24.8 ounces (depending on model) but does not indicate magazine status. My perception is that the Smith is lighter even with the magazine. (It should be remembered that the Sig is heavier partially to enable the Sig to be chambered in .40 and .357sig - The Smith doesn't catalog this model in those calibers).
The trigger reach on the 3913 appears slightly longer than the Sig but with the thinner frame I can get more finger on the Smith trigger. The 3913 (mine, anyway) has a lighter and smoother double action trigger than my P239 with the Sig having a smoother and very slightly lighter single action trigger. The trigger reset on the Smith is better by a mile. The controls on the 3913 seem slightly more friendly to the left handed shooter than the Sig. The Sig is a little easier to field strip.
Size wise, the pistols are almost identical. The slide on the Smith is slightly shorter than the Sig but the grip tang brings the overall lenght of the Smith to slightly greater than that of the Sig. The backstrap of the Smith is slightly (an 1/8th of an inch at most) greater than that of the Sig and the front strap of the Smith grip is either longer or shorter than the Sig - depending on whether the flat or hooked magazine base is used. The overall height of both pistols are very similar. Sight radius on the Smith is slightly greater due to the rear-sight designs used.
Overall the Smith 3913 fits MY hand a little better and seems a little lighter. Both these pistols are so similar (and admittedly, the Sig shoots so good) that I don't see myself getting rid of either one of these pistols. Can't wait for the live fire comparison!
http://www.sigarms.com/products/classicpersonalsize-models.asp?product_id=43
http://www.hogueinc.com/getgrip/merchant.ihtml?pid=4215&lastcatid=83&step=4
Coffee
These two pistols are similar in many ways (which inspired my interest in a comparison). Both are traditional DA/SA compact pistols with single shot 8 rounds magazines and both are intended for convenient, concealed carry. Both my pistols carry houge rubber grips - the P239 with the finger grooves and the Smith without. The Smith is equipped with Trijicon 3-dot night sights (similar aftermarket sights are made for the Sig - this is not a point of comparison).
The P239 uses a frame mounted decocking lever and has no external safety while the Smith uses a decocking safety lever (similar to the Beretta) and has a magazine safety. The Sig uses a hammer with a spur for ease of cocking for a single action first shot whereas the Smith hammer is cut flush with the rear of the frame. Both pistols can be cocked for the first shot but with the Sig this is much more easily accomplished. The Smith hammer is snag free.
Both pistols use dovetailed front and rear sights for ease of adjustment and replacement. I personally prefer the stock "dot-the-I" sights of the Sig in standard sights but personally feel that a defense gun should have night sights. The sights of both pistols appear to be almost exactly the same height above the hand. The frame and the slide of the 1313 are a bit thinner than the Sig but the safety brings the overall width of the Smith to more than the Sig. The P239 lists a 3.6 inch barrel while the Smith catalogs 3.5". Both pistols utilize a stainless steel slide on an aluminum frame with the 239 showing a weight of 25.2 ounces without the magazine (an extra 2.3 ounces for the mag with a total of 27.5 ounces). The 2913 shows between 24 and 24.8 ounces (depending on model) but does not indicate magazine status. My perception is that the Smith is lighter even with the magazine. (It should be remembered that the Sig is heavier partially to enable the Sig to be chambered in .40 and .357sig - The Smith doesn't catalog this model in those calibers).
The trigger reach on the 3913 appears slightly longer than the Sig but with the thinner frame I can get more finger on the Smith trigger. The 3913 (mine, anyway) has a lighter and smoother double action trigger than my P239 with the Sig having a smoother and very slightly lighter single action trigger. The trigger reset on the Smith is better by a mile. The controls on the 3913 seem slightly more friendly to the left handed shooter than the Sig. The Sig is a little easier to field strip.
Size wise, the pistols are almost identical. The slide on the Smith is slightly shorter than the Sig but the grip tang brings the overall lenght of the Smith to slightly greater than that of the Sig. The backstrap of the Smith is slightly (an 1/8th of an inch at most) greater than that of the Sig and the front strap of the Smith grip is either longer or shorter than the Sig - depending on whether the flat or hooked magazine base is used. The overall height of both pistols are very similar. Sight radius on the Smith is slightly greater due to the rear-sight designs used.
Overall the Smith 3913 fits MY hand a little better and seems a little lighter. Both these pistols are so similar (and admittedly, the Sig shoots so good) that I don't see myself getting rid of either one of these pistols. Can't wait for the live fire comparison!
http://www.sigarms.com/products/classicpersonalsize-models.asp?product_id=43
http://www.hogueinc.com/getgrip/merchant.ihtml?pid=4215&lastcatid=83&step=4
Coffee
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(just trying to give you another excuse to buy another gun or two 
This seemed obsurd to me b/c you can pick up a new p239 for less than $500. After seeing that price he is looking for something else. He is wanting to sell his Sigma and use the money for something to carry, so he is looking at guns close to what he can get out of his Sigma.
