Joined the 3rd gen S&W club

[sabbfan]

I keep hearing how great they are, so I finally made the move and got a 3913 through a local trade, seems to be an excellent pistol. Fits the hand well, think I just found my new carry piece! Ordered a Clinger holster for it this morning. Hope to see how it shoots real soon.

 

[strangelittleman]

Outstanding! The 3913 is an excellent EDC pistol. Enjoy!

 

[P5 Guy]

#metoo
I am the proud owner of a recently purchased 3904. I haven't taken it to the range as of yet. Plans are made for sometime next week!

 

[Middletown]

I own two. A 4003 that has been my nightstand gun for several years and a 4506 I got later that stays in the safe. I wonder if I had bought the 4506 first it might be my nightstand gun instead. Both have been completely reliable.

Hope you enjoy yours. Looks like a good one.

 

[sabbfan]

Not thorough range report, but I did get 15 minutes to take it out back and bang some steel. Windy and cold out, but ran 4 magazines through it flawlessly. Fun and seems like it will be accurate once I get time to actually wring it out. Trigger reset is excellent, SA pull nice and light, DA nothing to complain about at all. I have a strong feeling I will be very happy with it.

 

[bannockburn]

sabbfan

Had a Model 3913 years ago; liked most everything about it except for the slide mounted safety. I can't remember what I traded it in for but would love to have it back.

 

[fastbolt]

Congrats.

I ordered my first 3913 toward the later part of the 90's, right after I returned from my first S&W pistol armorer class. Outstanding compact metal-framed, single stack 9mm. Easily one of the most popular among the 3rd gen line.

I bought a CS9 a few years later (3" barrel and uses a 7-rd magazine), which is a slightly smaller version of the 3913 variant family, and it was another excellent little 3rd gen.

I eventually had the opportunity to buy a late production 3913TSW (toward the end of the 2000's LE production cycle). It was an issued duty weapon I'd carried for a short time (having hand-selected it from the small remaining inventory of unissued models), and I jumped at the chance to buy it when they said we could buy one former duty weapon as we were transitioning to new plastic.

I've known a lot of guys and gals who chose one of the 3913 family (including the 3913, 3914, 3913TSW, Ladysmith, CS9, & 908/908S) over the years, and they've usually been prized for their reliability and general handiness.

FWIW, Midway often has a sale on new 3913 8rd magazines, although it seems to vary whether they have the mags with the curved or flat buttplate.

S&W started recommending that 3rd gen armorers replace recoil and mag springs in duty guns at either every 5 years of carry use, or every 5,000 rounds fired, but I tend to like to replace the recoil springs a little sooner in my smaller 3rd gen's. While I used 147gr loads for duty/off-duty for many years, we started issuing 127gr +P+ and then 124gr +P, and the higher pressure rounds can accelerate the service life of recoil springs. Factory recoil and mag springs are relatively inexpensive, though, and an easy preventive maintenance item.

Keep the gun normally cleaned and lubricated (aluminum frame rails). Great compact.

 

[If1HitU]

That's a sweet looking 3913,congratulations!

 

[Rock185]

Having owned several 1st. and 2nd. Gen. guns prior, and as an early adopter of 3rd. Gen. guns, I think I must be a charter member of the club. I've owned, and sometimes carried, a 3913 for several years now. Just as as fastbolt indicates, I'm one of those who prize this model for reliability and general handiness.

 

[Sauer Grapes]

Welcome to the club! People come up with all kinds of reasons not to own one, I think they are real gems. I carry a 3904 in a Galco speed scabbard quite often.
Nice pick up!

 

[threefeathers]

I have a fairly large handgun collection and admit to carrying a G 17 most of the time. But I have always liked the Third Gen Smiths and recommend them to many of our students who aren't able to afford a newer quality gun. However I must not be the only person to like these Peaches because the price is steadily going up. I suggest you getting one and then at least 4 magazines while you can.

 

[guyfromohio]

I know I'm going to kick myself for posting, but a local to me online seller has a couple brand new, unsold 3914s. I emailed and asked him if they started making them again and he responded that they were found in a hidden stockpile that S&W had. I had it in my "cart" last night, but decided I needed to get my Springfield Pro out of layaway before I buy another gun.

http://www.keelyarms.com/product_p/sw_103922.htm

 

[Old Dog]

The secret is out ... if you can find any decent specimen of a 3rd Gen S&W pistol, buy immediately. Simply some of the most robust, reliable pistols ever produced.

And the 3913 is my personal favorite (well, after the 5906) ...

 

[Spats McGee]

Congratulations!

 

[Tirod]

I got in last year when I was looking for a .45 and the CMP simply couldn't follow thru. Being on a budget, I discovered S&W was the potential replacement for the 1911 in 1954 - S&W designed it to compete in Trials which were tabled. The Colt Commander came from that era, too. While revolvers were the mainstay of LEO handguns for quite a while, the S&W was the breakthru model adopted by the Illinois State Police. From that time on pistols were the choice for modernization.

They are still made in Houghton ME to contract as some CA agencies refuse to carry plastic, among others.

Since I bought mine prices and availability have changed - my GB searches show fewer of them, with higher prices and more relists of expensive guns. I got lucky - paid about $465 for a 4566TSW and no regrets. In a way it's the gun we should have gone to before Korea - the 1911 for all it's popularity was outdated and the service fleet in poor shape even in '54, which is exactly the reasons stated by the Army for the Trials.

If I have seen less expensive ones it's been smaller shops, which is what most posters lately have purchased.

The Smith was derived from the Walther P38, and what did we finally adopt in 1984? The M9 Beretta, also derived from the P38. What could have been finally became what was, and is now being replaced by another with many of the same features. With a post war arsenal being fortified with German designs it's somewhat frustrating to see MGs, tank technology, rockets, even soldiers helmets influenced yet our pistols remained stagnant for decades longer. No reason why you and I can't upgrade, tho. With the S&W and Beretta, American LEO's and soldiers belatedly did. Arguably they represent the professional grade guns the 1911 couldn't become.

 

[fastbolt]

FWIW, in one of my armorer recerts in the last couple of years, we were told that S&W had finally firmly announced that the 3rd gen's are done, even for longtime LE agency customers. No more were going to be made for the NYPD, CHP or any of the other remaining half a dozen large agencies who were longtime users. (The CHP is in the process of transitioning from their 4006/4013TSW's to new production "original" model M&P 40/40c's.)

I've been told that it takes 30 minutes to make a frame on a CNC machine, versus more than a minute to make a plastic frame in a mold. While the newer manufacturing methods and tolerances have tightened up on the metal 3rd gens over the years, fitting/filing and checking the timing of the sear release lever (decocking timing), and the extractor fit & extractor spring tension, is something still done by hand for 3rd gen's, and that takes technician time. Apparently, they feel they can better use their machine and technician time at the Houlton plant to make 1911's and .22's that sell well.

 

[Shimitup]

I've got the 6906, even though the double stack makes it a little wider it suits my large hands better. I'll never part with that one.

 

[Waveski]

Count me in the 3rd Gen Club. I once took my 5906 out for a shoot with a single goal ; to try to induce a malfunction. I limp wristed to the point of almost dropping the gun , I rode the trigger , I rode the slide , I did these things in combination - no failures!

I'm the S&W 3rd Generation semi auto pistols are grossly underrated. Love mine.

 

[FN in MT]

You found a real GEM. As suggested...replace the recoil spring...The 3rd Gen Smiths are tanks. That 3913 should outlast YOU.

 

[Pelo801]

I kinda lucked into mine. Ive always liked 10mm and have always heard how great the 10xx series pistols were. But at the time, out of my price range. Then one day browsing the local classifieds there was a 1086 for $500. I couldnt get my phone out fast enough. Luckily i had the cash on hand and was the first guy to call. Just couldnt pass that up.

 

[Tallball]

I have been looking to get one, but am a little confused on the model numbers.

I want a full-sized one with a steel frame (I don't care about the caliber). It seems like every time I see one for a good price, it is small and has an alloy frame.

 

[Pelo801]

I have been looking to get one, but am a little confused on the model numbers

Heres a pretty good explanation of the model #'s


https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.lu...guide-smith-wesson-semi-automatic-models/amp/

 

[bannockburn]

Pelo801

Thanks for the link! Very helpful and actually recognized most of the models I had. Should see about making it a sticky on this forum.

 

[Janos Dracwlya]

I picked up a 6906 a couple of months ago. It was in almost new condition with box and paperwork. $475+tax was a little high, I thought, but the store was out of the way and hurting from the slump. It was $495 in the case and they knocked $20 off the price before it even touched my hand. And they handed me a handful of rounds to take it out back to try it. They needed the sale.

 

[FN in MT]

We carried the 5903's for about ten years. Changed out recoil springs every 2-3 years. Had near zero total gun failures. They held up very well. When we went to SIG 229's the Troopers were offered our 5903's for $140 with five mags and our old mag pouches/holster. Needless to say I bought mine. Have a 1006 and an ex FBI 1076 as well. Have never for some unknown reason EVER owned a 3913 though.