For the last several weeks I have been eyeballing all the Shield sales going on, they are almost giving them away. Just could not pull the trigger(yes it's intended) on another plastic fantastic pistol.

A 3913 came up for sale locally, and after checking it out and firing a magazine of **** ammo through it I paid the asking price(likely more than I should) and brought it home.

After detail stripping it and giving this filthy thing a good cleaning I proceeded to fire 200 trouble free rounds of the same **** ammo without a single issue. It came with two Ramline magazines which I rectified with the recent Midway USA magazine sale and have 3 more factory magazines and new recoil springs coming.

For an ancient obsolete pistol that is only slightly larger and heavier than that tupperware wonder boy, this thing is stupid super. I shot our qual course twice with it, double time or better and it seems to shoot itself. I am just along for the ride. Doubles are just a hair slower with the transition but not enough to worry about.

Now I have to find a decent carry holster. I think my Glock 27 just got retired.

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Plastic has no soul

FIST and Side Guard Holsters make IWB and OWB holsters for the 3913.

If you need a duty holster, you might have to search a bit more. I have a Safariland 070 (I think that's what it is) that came with my 6906. It's sitting in a box and I'll send it to you if it's of interest.

They're great shooting guns, shoot and enjoy the heck out of it.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

Pics or it didn't happen!

Congrats! I have carried 39XX series guns off duty, on my own time and as court guns for almost 20 years.

Always qualified in the top 1% shooting them. Many thousands of rounds without a malfunction. And my oldest original production 3913, as well as my 3914 Prototype both have the white dots still in their front sights.

Enjoy that fine nine! It is bet your life reliable, accurate and looks good doing all that. Possibly the finest single stack compact 9mm made. By anyone. Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

ick. the insides were worse

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Plastic has no soul

Oh man! Is that donut crumbs and coffee residue? Someone never heard of or practiced weapon maintenance for sure.

I got a 4506-1 out of a pawn shop once. Was just about as filthy as your 3913. Cleaned up nice though.

What kind of wear on the rails and frame did you find? Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

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Plastic has no soul

The rails look great! I can see very little wear. You scored with that example!

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

qual course double time or better without really even working hard to do it...the low shot was of course the double action...striker fired my butt..

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Plastic has no soul

Looks like it was stored in a coal bin. The rails look good as 18DAI says. I always look at the lugs on the frame where the barrel engages. I've never seen any that are badly worn, but since the frame in aluminum alloy and the barrel is stainless, I think it's worth looking at.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

good grief it is sooooo hard to make that double/single transition....look how horrible the shot placement is..

this is an easily half time or better (bragging a bit it was a third or less) of our normal qual time and I did not feel at all rushed. This pistol almost shoots itself.

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Plastic has no soul

The M&P it seems you need to work on that trigger press, this 3913 not so much. And to compare, my wife's Shield has bobbled on the same **** ammo this 3913 has gobbled up like a hungry... well I guess PC won't let me make that joke..

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Plastic has no soul

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR GREAT FIND FRIEND. I PERSONALY BELIEVE, THAT 3RD GEM SMITHS WILL BE IN FULL APPRECIATION IN ABOUT 20 YEARS FROM NOW. THE GOOD THING IS, THEY ARE SO OVERBUILT AND SO OVER ENGINEERED, THAT THEY WILL BE UP TO TASK EVEN THEN, WITHOUT HESITATION

Great Score....... I transitioned to the 39xx series guns in about 1991 from a 3" 66 and Walther PPK. One is my EDC 95% of the time...... backed up by the 69xx series and PC Shorty 9 guns. Oh ya; and some 915s.

I scored several extras over the years as folks thought "newer" meant "better"

Check out Hogue checkered wood grips for that baby....... a bit thicker in the butt ....... but gives you the feel of a cut down 39 and the look of
an ASP !!!

Congrats on the "new to you" 3913.

Yes, it was a sad day in the firearms world when S&W decided to yield to market forces and discontinue their 3rd gen pistol lines in favor of plastic.

The 3913 is about as close to having been perfect state-of-the-art as has ever been accomplished, at least when it comes to a compact metal-framed traditional double action (DA/SA) "everyday" personal defensive 9mm.

It's arguably the quintessential benchmark for rugged reliability, as well as shooter and ammunition tolerance, as someone could hope for in such a practical size and weight.

BTW, the CS9 is the chopped & channeled hot-rod version of the 3913.

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer