Why is there no 3903?

[JohnHL]

Why is there no 3903 or 439S?
At least part of the model 39 desirability was its inherent balance, because of the single stack, alloy frame and steel slide.
A stainless slide version with a grey anodized alloy frame (like a full size 3913) or even a two-tone, black frame/stainless slide would have been an interesting choice especially during the "new model a month" period.
And easily doable. They built the 5903.
So what say you?
Why do you think it wasn't offered and would you buy one?

John

[GaryS]

It wasn't built for the same reason the 3904/06 were discontinued after a couple of years. No one wanted a full size single stack 9mm when they could have a full size double stack 9mm. Since the main target customer base was police departments, the guns that S&W made were designed with them in mind.

I had a 3904 which I liked, but which sat in my safe other than the occasional range trip. For carry, I preferred the 3913 and for the range, I preferred my 5906. I sold it and put the money towards a 3913TSW that showed up in a LGS a few months later.

[jsbethel]

There were some 3904 pistols made for the Gwinnett Co GA PD in the stainless slide/satin alloy frame configuration.

3904 Finish Question

3904: stainless v blue

[JohnHL]

Originally Posted by jsbethel

There were some 3904 pistols made for the Gwinnett Co GA PD in the stainless slide/satin alloy frame configuration.

3904 Finish Question

3904: stainless v blue

Unicorns crafted from "unobtanium" maybe?
Any evidence? (I'd love to see one.)

John

[TTSH]

Originally Posted by GaryS

It wasn't built for the same reason the 3904/06 were discontinued after a couple of years. No one wanted a full size single stack 9mm when they could have a full size double stack 9mm.

Makes sense. And let's keep in mind the success of the Model 3913 with the same number of rounds (8+1) as the short-lived Models 3904/3906. By about 1990, it must have been clear that the 3913 made more sense for the single stack folks and the new 5903 would work just fine for those desiring a full-size pistol.

[jsbethel]

Originally Posted by JohnHL

Any evidence? (I'd love to see one.)

John

The only evidence I have is my memory of seeing a Gunbroker auction for said pistol (useless to anyone but myself). I sent a PM to "Hoplophile" once inquiring about the pistol he had but he no longer owned it. Maybe he still has a photo.

[Ross3914]

Yeah, timing is everything.

It was right at the hi-cap craze. If it wasn't a hi-cap, it wasn't selling. There weren't as many states that had CCW either back then, so carryability wasn't as important to market share as it is now. As noted, the 3913 filled that niche wonderfully anyway.

When the AWB and hi-cap mag ban rolled around, the single stack got another look. If you were stuck with 10 or less rounds, then a double stack made less sense, though in S&W's case there were a good amount of used 59xx hi-cap mags available.

Take a look at the Model 909. It's the value line 3rd gen, single stack, full-length frame 9mm. It uses the 3906 mag. The frame is alloy. I have one, and they're pretty nice shooting guns. If you want a 3903, that's the closest thing S&W made.

[TercGen]

I would agree with all of the reasons already given for why the 3903 was never made, and why these full-size single-stacks were never popular. Many of them are the same reasons that kept me from picking up a 3906 in the past - it didn't seem necessary with a 39xx and 59xx already in hand.

Now I wish that I had picked one up, since I'm realizing that I don't like the feel of the double-stacks while wearing gloves in the Winter. A slim 3906 would be just the thing, with the weight to soak up +P+ recoil and the longer barrel to maximize velocity. And I think of the handful of sub-$500 3906's that I've passed on over the years...