Folks,
I dropped by G T Distributors - Jacksonville FL

Something caught my eye, I looked it over, cruised the racks, looked it over again, I was seduced! Got out my licenses and debt card.

Model 3913 Lady Smith 9mm for 289.95 plus tax total $310.25 no charge for background check. Ah well, cheaper and safer than a mistress.

A little holster and carry wear, but perfect bore, feeds four kinds of ammo, 115 gr and 124 gr ball, 115 gr WW White box hollow points and Hornady budge XTP hollow points. Was fairly clean when I striped it and cleaned it. Missing one dot on the rear sight, I suspect a toothpick with white paint is in order.

I expect the magazines I ordered from Midway to arrive now that I'm home from the range. HOT here in Florida

Geoff
Who notes this was followed by two visits to the Dentist in two days, $420 sigh, never get ahead. Life you will never bring it in on time or under budget.

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Wow that's a great gun at a great price. I would have been all over that as well!

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K & N S&W revolvers

It looks like the grips are cracked. The gray grips are still available at Midway and Brownells (S&W part #203640000).

Nice. There used to be a GT Dist in My Town 30 years ago.

No finer concealable 9mm factory pistol has ever been factory made.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I saw the grips when I ordered the magazines, thanks to the forum search I learned Midway was having a sale.

I'll get the grip just in case.

Geoff
Who notes getting the accessories raises the price. Sigh.

It always does Geoff. Funny how that works, heh? Ask me how I know.

I'm in negotiations with a member of this forum right now about the possibility of getting a 3913NL and I just can't come to a decision. Your pictures are not making it any easier. Or maybe they are.....

I came across the following post from another forum regarding the history of the 3913 - wonder if it's true?





"The S&W 3913, upon its introduction in 1990, was hailed as the finest store bought compact 9mm one could find. And with good reason.

Years prior, in the 1970s a fellow by the name of Paris Theodore created the ASP, essentially a chopped and bobbed model 39. This was a gun that offered full power 9mm in the size of a S&W J frame or Walther PPK. Or, in essence, the answer to many a foreign CIA operative's prayers. However, only 250 or so ASP pistols were made in New York before the company closed its doors.

Theodore actually went to Smith & Wesson with his "chopped and bobbed" design and was laughed out of their offices. Amazing how events later on would put the 3913 on top of the hill. All based on others' ideas.

A fellow by the name of Charlie Kelsy, intrigued by the ASP ordered one, but it never arrived. Fascinated by the concept of a full power compact auto, Charlie put his innovative prowess to work.

Through his company Devel corporation, Charlie developed and innovated new features that became proprietary parts, and indeed whole new firearm concepts for Browning, Colt, and Smith & Wesson. And yet, he would never realize a dime in royalties or licensing. If anyone symbolized the Greek tragedy in America, it was Charlie Kelsey.

Most notable was Kelsey's innovations and improvements to the model 39, and later the Model 59. These improvements were so profound, from barrel, to slide, to bushing, to frame, to magazine; Kelsey's masterpiece the Devel "Full House" M39 at an expensive $495 plus the few hundred for the gun would later stun the executives at Smith & Wesson. Although they would never admit this, they actually bought one of Charlie's guns.

Its interesting to note no one knows how many Devels were made, with or without serial numbers. Charlie held close associations with former CIA Director William Casey, Sam Cummings of InterArms, and General Uzi Gal. No doubt there were many happy foreign and domestic field agents and operatives.

But even with his guns winning the Bianchi Cup,, (the improved Colt Devel Gammon), or providing a new safety mechanism to the Browning Hi-Power, or making the M39/59 the guns the way they should be; Charlie Kelsey was always the designer and never the business man. Devel eventually went into bankruptcy in 1984, and in 2003, Charlie's bones were found in a Georgetown drainage culvert after being shot and burned beyond recognition.

Shortly after the acquisition of a Devel M59 "Full House", Smith & Wesson introduced the Model 469 to an "interesting reception." With Devel's doors soon to close for good, Charlie actually bought one, modified it and returned with an "in you face" letter to S&W.

By 1988, the 3rd generation autos were issued and actually selling well. And in 1990, the S&W 3913 was introduced. Amazing how the 3913 looks and functions like a Devel 39 in Smith & Wesson clothing. Sadly, it took someone else's design and concept to give Smith & Wesson one of the finest production auto pistols in history.

Kind of ironic, since through history, Smith & Wesson is criticized for taking other company's concepts and pistol designs and making them better and/or more powerful.

If that's all it takes - here is my NL.

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Wow, you stole that! I need to get over to GT more often. I love the store, and the employees are great.

Is my 908 a reasonable facsimile?

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Naturally two of the three magazines I ordered were in the afternoon mail. Sigh, Security people coming tomorrow and the temperature is rising.
Geoff
Who is contemplating ordering the grips.

Get a couple of recoil springs while you're at it - cheap insurance.

Grand Theft Semiauto...

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Bob

Killer score, OP !!!

Truly amazing. We just don't see deals like that up here in Southern New England. I was lamenting about that the other day. We have very few pawn shops in MA and no guns allowed anyway. Pawn shops in neighboring states are close to worthless on guns from what I've seen. We also have laws that can discourage F-T-F personal sales so the gun shops benefit and are able to buy low and sell high on desirable used guns... and it is pretty damn rare that a shop owner doesn't know what a particular gun can bring in his or her shop.

Private sales? Few bargains there. Cop shops? The only one that had any deals in recent times ended up banning all civilians from gun sales. Consignment sales? If the consignment price is low enough, the shop will buy it outright and then raise the price. Gun shows? Yes, you sometimes see a genuine deal but you better be fast.

Florida sounds like a great place for bargains... kinda like PA!

In response to an avalanche of question.
Why did I buy it? I didn't have a classic DA/SA auto in the safe. I missed my old 39-2 it was too deep in the grip for my tiny little hands, but the 3913 fits my hand.
And...The Devel made me do it! (Esoteric inside joke and pun.)
Geoff
Who was a W.W. Nonte fan back in the day, I don't think he ever collected from Paris Theodore.

Why certainly! (however the LS does have an edge in the cool factor dept.)

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K & N S&W revolvers

I've been watching my dealer for a 3913 for a while now. No go on that, so I put a 908, just like that one, on layaway this morning.

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John 3:16 .

Grips and a pair of recoil springs arrive next week from Midway. THANK YOU!

Geoff
Who notes the parts were relatively cheap.

Great deal, Back when the 3913 LS was cheap and plentiful I scorned the Ladysmith moniker and grey grips... now that I want one they are harder to find and cost more ...of course they are.

Saw one for sale the other day at $450 and was debating making an offer...my current daily carry is its DAO cousin 3953 and although prefer traditional DA /SA the 3953 having no safety decock lever makes it a bit slimmer on the hip, ....BTW recently picked up a double stack compact Model 6906 but that cursed ambi safety is just ridiculously obtrusive.

Still debating a 3913 but hard to justify when S&W is no longer supporting 3rd gens and NIB Shields are well under $300 NIB with a lifetime warranty....may have to cave and go to a polymer for CCW and look for a LNIB 3913 just to own one.

Enjoy and thanks for sharing

I'm at the same place you are.

"S&W is no longer supporting 3rd gens"? Haven't heard that.

S&W does not have a 'Lifetime Warranty', they have a 'Lifetime Service Policy' (see attached). I and others have had experiences when repairs were done under warranty despite not being 'original owners'. More than once for me.

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Bob

Apparently it's true. They supposedly don't have/carry parts for them anymore and if you need something fixed you'll have to search for parts from somewhere like Numrich, etc..

Nice score. One of my regular carry guns is a 3913NL (same version as the Lady Smith without the markings).

Speer Gold Dot 115-grain.

Shown in a Mitch Rosen Premier holster, although now I use a Mitch Rosen 'Upper Limit" and wear it under a polo shirt.

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John

John, I'd love to see your gun in the Upper Limit holster, please. I'm considering getting one for a couple of my guns.

Those third generation Smith 9mm are a great bargain. I just got a 6904 with 5 mags, two Holsters for $300 out the door. Love it. I think that the DA/SA are going to make a comeback. Best of luck with her.

....In my world they never left

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witty signature goes here

Folks:
Smith & Wesson Model 3913 9mm Police Trades with 2 Magazines and Holster | Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore
3913s for $398.71 plus the usual.
I have not dealt with this outfit, experiences anyone??
OOOPSS! No longer available, I hate it when websites aren't current!
Geoff
Who is curious, but the fllottery website is overloaded at the moment.

Just got off the phone with 'Dave' at S&W Customer Service. They have "limited number of parts" but will provide service if they can.

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Bob

Thanks for checking on that, Bob. I'm hoping my new 3913 will finally be "the one". I'm tired of looking for just the right carry piece.

No problem. Dave did say parts availability on the 3913 was decreasing. Some Gen 3s no longer have parts supported.

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Bob

The grip and two recoil springs arrived yesterday from MidwayUSA.
Geoff
Who intends to change grips, load up the new magazines and go to the range. (Still too hot in FL)

I see you use the 7rd flush fit magazine also. I have a small stash for my 39xx guns.

nice find... check the classifieds for.. two mags for sale also a very nice 908 for sale..