I just found this and bought it on the spot. Twenty rounds fired. Where can I get an IWB holster for it?

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Every Day is Remembrance Day

Congrats! I'm jealous. That's #1 on my wish list.

Sweet!

Kramer, Milt Sparks, Mitch Rosen and others make great IWB holsters.

There are a lot of choices; look around and you should find one that suits you.

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Stu

Not IWB but mine feels fine in a Gould and Goodrich 3-slot pancake type 733-4516.

Cool, congrats!

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5903TSW 5904 5906 6906 4006

Nice snag.

I keep my 3953 in a DeSantis OWB actually with a thumb strap. Fits great, but I'm looking for an IWB as well. Wish I could have found that 3954 before my 3953; just like that all business look. Nice gun, and carries awesome!

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MARK

very nice 3954 you dont see them in my area.

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God save the SOUTH

I can make you one.
Neal

http://smith-wessonforum.com/accesso...-holsters.html

Those are pretty cool, Neal.

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Every Day is Remembrance Day

Beautiful gun and great find!

I found a 4014 in similar condition recently and also bought it ASAP.

Tim Thurner of TT Gunleather is currently making an IWB for me:

Reinforced mouth IWB Holster

Normally he has a 4-6 month wait. But he's trying to build up some business doing compact 3rd gen's and is rushing mine.

Tim made an IWB for my good friend's new Ed Brown 1911 and it is awesome. This guy previously only used Sparks and also Rosen holsters and now swears by TT. I've been really impressed with Tim's communications with me so far by phone and email.

Good luck!

Send me a pm if your interested, I have several orders for these already.

I just picked up the same gun It should be here today!

Nice looking gun. They only made 154 of those, so they are pretty rare. I have a nice holster I had made by Ken Knull, that I never have used, because I ended up selling the gun. It's made of horsehide. I paid $110 for it. Will sell for $60.



EarlFH
[email protected]

Interesting to know. Where did that statistic come from? I have a 3954 and knew that they were offered for two years 1991-1992 but had no idea so few were made.

here is the stainless steel version (Al. frame) of your gun. the holster is a Biancchi model 100 professional.

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I'm only allowed 30 characters

i think he meant the holster.

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I'm only allowed 30 characters

I've been very pleased with a Kramer #3 for my 3953, but if I were looking to have one made right now I'd probably be giving Ray at Lobo another order.

Great gun by the way. You'll enjoy it.

I bought one of the 3954's when they first came out, and I contacted S&W to find out about it. That's when they told me that only 154 were made. Apparently they decided that the blued models weren't selling, and dropped them. I've contacted S&W to get a verification, but so far, haven't heard back from them. I know that they won't give out history letter, without a payment of $50, now days, so I don't know if, or when I will get an answer. If I do, I'll get back to you.

EarlFH

only 154 of the 3954s were made?! holy moly....they must be worth at least a grand each by now....unless that number is mistaken. i think it is, ive seen a few of those around in person and on other message boards....of course i could have just been lucky enough to have been exposed to "the 154" owners out of 80 million others......

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I'm only allowed 30 characters

Just what I was told, back in 1992. If it's wrong, fine. Now we know. I assume you have researched this. Right?(keep your day job. Comedy isn't your long suit.")

why so touchy? did you make that stat up? if not why so touchy?

i could very well be wrong and only 154 3954s really were ever made and i wasnt smart enough to buy the few i could have when they were $350.00....

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I'm only allowed 30 characters

I'd say it is very possible.

For example, only 550 S&W 4014's were produced. (see attached letter from S&W historian.)

I would think those would sell more units than a DAO pistol.

Since I got my 4014, I've met 6 or 7 other guys on this board and others that have them. Which is what statisticians would call a "self-selecting population" or certainly a biased population.

I'm just glad to be one of those lucky 500+ people that own a 4014!

Attached Files

Smith & Wesson 4014 Letter .pdf (153.6 KB, 46 views)

Look, I tried to pass on what I assumed was the truth, since it came from S&W. If I had known I would be insinuated to be a liar, I wouldn't have even mentioned it.

EarlFH

no insinuation meant towards you, just the guy whom told you....

i dont believe it regarding the 3954, but i could very well be wrong.

do you believe him?

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I'm only allowed 30 characters

Actually it was a woman. I was talking on the phone to someone I was transfered to, to ask about the gun. I wouldn't know her if I tripped over her.

10-4. do you believe her?

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I'm only allowed 30 characters

Of course. why would I have any reason to not believe her? What would she have to gain by it? what would I have to gain from it? That I was going to reply to a posting on the S&W forum, nineteen years later, to lie about it? Do you disbelieve someone when you call for information? I don't even know why we are having this conversation. You believe what you want to.

OUT!!!

her information seems to be mistaken. i question some replys i get. just because she answered the phone at s&w doesnt mean she knows what she talking about....especially if it sounds a bit off....

of course, im skeptical enough to say that 154 number is wrong, but im man enough to say i could be wrong.

will somebody in the know tell us the correct number of 3954s made?

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I'm only allowed 30 characters

Count off - I have 1.





PS: To Earl - I did not mean to imply that your information was incorrect at all. It was a sincere question. Apologies extended if the text on the page left you feeling otherwise. Could very well be accurate and a cool stat.

EarlFH:

if you saw my post about 5 or 6 up- I at least believe it's very possible.

You can all read the letter from S&W on the 4014's. If they only made about 500 4014's, (which are a DA/SA model which is more popular in general than a DAO model) and the .40 S&W was coming out as a hot round at that time, why is it not possible that they only made a couple of hundred 3954's in blued DAO?

It makes a lot of sense to me.

its quite possible. however, twenty years after they stopped making (154) of them dont you think theyd command a premium price and be highly sought after? heck, the p.o.s. (reliablity wise) of the .22lr escort costs more when you see them around than the 3954 which seems to be fewer of them than the ASP.

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I'm only allowed 30 characters

.

I see why you would think that way but it's very counterintuitive. People will pay $500 for a plastic Glock, $1000 for a nice 1911, $500 for a M&P, and then when they see one of my 3rd generation S&W's at the range they want to know all about it and can't believe they're not made anymore. On the occassions that I tell them I bought an all metal framed S&W with less than 50 rounds fired through it, original box and papers, and 3 14 round magazines for $375 they don't believe it.

I was looking for a 4013 when I found my 4014 kind of by accident. $355 and it is mint with everything it came with from the factory. Try getting a comparable new production SIG for $355.

And everyone is on the lookout for new 4013, 3913's and Ladysmith 3913's, and a few other models which they see and know about, but except for a few of us, their is not as much awarness of the "black guns" like the 4014, 3914, 3954's, etc.

That's my guess at least. I think a lot of the buyers in the market don't comrehend paying a lot of money for a 10 or 15 year old gun that is not a specific collectable, even if it is NIB. Again, any of these guns are the equivalent, if not better than, a Beretta at $600 or a Sig at $800-$900.

The biggest factors, again- in my opinion, are that there are a lot of lighty shot Police trade-in 3rd gen guns diluting the market, and the fact that the 3rd gens are not in current production. I throw that last one in there because if you look at the Smith revolvers, there is a healthy market for new and old stock NIB 686's, 29's, etc.

Everytime I see a Shorty 40 MK III I it just shocks me of what an awesome gun it is, and clearly nicer than anything comarable that's in new production.

CZ, Beretta, Sig and others make very nice metal framed pistols. Kimber of course has a hit with their new Solo, and anything that is compact and of decent quality is selling well.

I'd like to see S&W come to grips with the fact that making annual runs of guns like the 3913, 4013, Shorty's, and Chief's Specials might actually complement the sale of their polymer guns and not cannibilize sales from them.

Can you imagine a refresh and modernization of the 3 CS type guns by S&W? I'd buy one of each. I don't plan to buy a BG380though.

What difference does it make as to how many were made? The fact is, it's a really cool S&W not often seen in MY neck of the woods, anyway. I think he got a great pistol, and should shoot the snot out of it, because it will NEVER be worth enough for any of us to retire on, no matter how rare it is, like any other gun. I love my 3953 stainless equivalent, but I would prefer his blued one because of it's all-business look, just like I stated in my previous post. I STILL want a nice left handed IWB holster for mine; just don't want to have to wait to get it. Any yous guys got one you'd let go of?

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MARK

Hey Jframe, fellow Lefty here. I wanted to try an inexpensive IWB before I committed to leather and found the Blackhawk Size 6 nylon fits perfectly. I found mine locally for less than $15 then decided it worked just fine and never upgraded.

Jframe wrote:
JFrame: I agree with you 100% that he should shoot it (and often!) I shoot and carry my 4014. I figure if the finish ever gets to the point that it concerns me, I'll send it back to S&W to be re-blackened/melonited or to another that shop that does hard chrome or melonite/tenifer type finishes.

These guns are never going to be the collectors most sought after pieces like a Colt Python, and even if I had a rare Python I'd be shooting it- just also taking care of it.

Your right that the collectors value is never really that high of a premium "to retire on"- maybe for some very rare and desirable shotguns and old Winchesters- even then, many of those guns were shot.

So shoot your Smith's and enjoy them. My only point was that there could have indeed have been low sales numbers on some of these guns- and was not implying that this meant not to shoot them or that their value would be correspondingly high. Even a pretty rare and desirable blackened Shorty Forty MK III can be had NIB for $1100. That's a lot less than many 1911's in current production. What a gun for the money!

Don't worry lads! I'll be shooting it!

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Every Day is Remembrance Day

Thanks for the tip; I'll look here locally. My dealership that I work for also owns a sporting goods store, so they can probably get me one.

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MARK

Just picked mine up today !

Very nice.

Where/how are you guys finding these?

I am a "Road Warrior" and my job requires that I regularly travel throughout central Ohio. There are three or four Gun Shops I like and stop by each one about once a month during my lunch time.

I found mine on GB it was just listed and I paid the "buy it now" price $475 i think? forgot already. I have not used it yet but so far it's my new favorite gun. It points and feels like a trimmed down colt officer

I just bought a S&W 3954 from a private seller and looking to know more about it. Seems this is the only site talking about it. I gace $375.00 and is really good shape.

not sure what you want to know about your 3954 but this is the place. I got a deal on mine about 4 months ago at 300.00 with 4 extra clips! I have a cw9 and it is easier to carry but I will take a 3rd gen smith all day over all the guns I have. Enjoy it and shoot the hell out of it. It will also eat any ammo you put in it.

Ha, me too. Up to now the CW9 has been my carry piece but I broke down last week and decided to snap up a 3953 off of gunbroker($400 delivered). I was happy with the price(still waiting for the gun)as I've been looking for a single-stack DAO Smith for a year now. The only one I've found locally has been travelling the gunshow circuit priced at $550 and I thought I could do better than that.

So while I await the arrival of my 3953, I can sit here and play with my new 3954 that I found yesterday! Walked in the door of a show Saturday afternoon and found it sitting in a glass case on the very first table. The seller knows me and offered to drop the price $25 the second I showed an interest. He didn't need to do that,.........I would have happily paid the $300 on the tag. It was sure nice of him though and the discount made the obvious decision even easier. No box, one mag, but near new condition. Two new-to-me pistols with a single magazine each,.......guess I'm on the hunt for a few more.

Holy old thread Batman!

Anyway, great score, this has been a gun I've been on the lookout for quite some time now, I'm jealous! There is a 3954 right now on GB, but i'm not interested in the price he has on it for the condition it's in. Guess i'll keep looking.

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Still carrying my S&W 642

Congrats on a great pistol!! The worst firearms trade I ever made was about 20 years ago when I traded a 3954 in on a Glock 23, which I ended up not being able to find / afford ammo for and selling a couple months later...

A couple years ago I traded my 3954 straight up for a 3" Model 65. I think I got the better of the deal but in some circles it would be considered a tossup, or a steal for the other guy.

I apologize for resurrecting this old thread(and for many more in the future), but I'm relatively new to the forum(been lurking for a year or so)and am having a time searching past topics. I've always had a dislike for the TDA autos and simply disregarded the S&W's over the years not having much experience with them. I didn't know how many different models existed! My loss, but I'm making up for it now. I discovered the DAO pistols which I do like and I'm filling the shelves with them.

Now to learn pic posting. Appears to be similar to forums I'm comfortable with. I'll post a couple up as these single-stacks roll in.

Please do! Welcome.

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Still carrying my S&W 642