New to me 3913 NL?

[EPGuy80]

I got me this interesting little number on Gunbroker. Came as is, no box, 1 magazine. Seller said that they'd gotten in 5 LE trade-ins and sold 4 of them in shop. Described as more carried than shot. I've taken it apart for cleaning and novice inspection, but it seems to be the case. I replaced the recoil spring, mainspring, and firing pin spring with factory originals and I can't tell a difference with my Lyman digital. There is an engraved ID number on the frame under the grips. It's so faint I missed it the first time. I've never heard of two tones in a 3913NL, special order maybe? I'd hate to get a factory letter just to learn it's actually a Frankengun. Fit seems to be great, a lot tighter than my 4013 and there's no drawbar plunger play either. I can't wait to take it for a spin. Too sick today to partake.

[Cal44]

The pictures I've seen on 3913NLs have had stainless slides and gray plastic grips like this:

Mine's actually a Lady Smith but they look the same.

The early guns had flash chromed triggers like mine. The later ones have black triggers like yours.

My trigger has a sold back and is forged.

Not sure if the black triggers have a hollow back like MIM revolvers.

[EPGuy80]

The hammer is flash chromed. Everthing else on the frame is blued, including the sideplate. My 4013 is two toned, but it fits the description of a Lew Horton special order. That's why I hope it could be a department special order, but I'm thinking Frankengun because I can't find anything on a two tone factory 3913NL.

[lonestar57]

Originally Posted by EPGuy80

The hammer is flash chromed. Everthing else on the frame is blued, including the sideplate. My 4013 is two toned, but it fits the description of a Lew Horton special order. That's why I hope it could be a department special order, but I'm thinking Frankengun because I can't find anything on a two tone factory 3913NL.

I've never seen one but that no way means they don't exist. Love the 3913NL's as a great carry gun. I truly hope your two-tone is factory legit; makes it even more better. Good luck.

[lhump1961]

My guess would be a 3914 slide.

[jsbethel]

Originally Posted by lhump1961

My guess would be a 3914 slide.

I agree - the slide appears to be from a standard 3914 which would seem to make it a very nice Frankengun.

[kraynky]

And 3914 grips, but very good looking set up nonetheless. Wish I had kept my 3913 NL now. It was so pristene I was nervous shooting it, not to mention thinking of carrying it. But I still should have hung on to it. The 3913 & 3914's are great guns.

[EPGuy80]

Well hot damn! I ponied up the money and sent off for a letter. Never Say Never with S&W strikes again! Apparently it did in fact leave the factory in this configuration. Special order?

[GaryS]

Nice gun. It's an easy variant to special order as the 3914 was in production then and the slides are the same between the NL/LS and "regular" 3913/14. Even more so since the 3914NL was in production at the same time.

It's a nice pick up either way, enjoy it.

Originally Posted by EPGuy80

Well hot damn! I ponied up the money and sent off for a letter. Never Say Never with S&W strikes again! Apparently it did in fact leave the factory in this configuration. Special order?

[EPGuy80]

Originally Posted by GaryS

Nice gun. It's an easy variant to special order as the 3914 was in production then and the slides are the same between the NL/LS and "regular" 3913/14. Even more so since the 3914NL was in production at the same time.

It's a nice pick up either way, enjoy it.

Thanks, I think I will. That is if the gun shop I took it to can manage to install the Trijicons I bought. I should have taken it to the old gun shop in my neck of the woods.

[JohnHL]

I think it is so cool that your 3913(NL?) lettered as a two-tone!

I would have guessed it was a Frankengun because of the 3914/6904 standard (or "regular") slide instead of the 3914 LS/NL slide.

They are different.

Look at the first 3/4 inch of the slide at the front and you'll see the front of the slide is angled to match the frame on the LS/NL models whereas the standard model slide has radiused scallops at the front.

Why then did S&W install a 3914/6904 standard slide on a LS/NL frame when a two-tone was ordered?

The letter indicates a ship date of August 1990 and my 3rd edition of "the bible" states that the 3914LS was available in 1990 but the 3914NL was not available until 1991.

So maybe a shortage of blued LS/NL slides due to new production demand but an abundance of 3914/6904 standard slides because (as I recall at the time) everyone wanted stainless?

Anyway, congrats on a fascinating variation!

I wonder how many were in that order, and why.

John

[EPGuy80]

Originally Posted by JohnHL

I think it is so cool that your 3913(NL?) lettered as a two-tone!

I would have guessed it was a Frankengun because of the 3914/6904 standard (or "regular") slide instead of the 3914 LS/NL slide.

They are different.

Look at the first 3/4 inch of the slide at the front and you'll see the front of the slide is angled to match the frame on the LS/NL models whereas the standard model slide has radiused scallops at the front.

Why then did S&W install a 3914/6904 standard slide on a LS/NL frame when a two-tone was ordered?

The letter indicates a ship date of August 1990 and my 3rd edition of "the bible" states that the 3914LS was available in 1990 but the 3914NL was not available until 1991.

So maybe a shortage of blued LS/NL slides due to new production demand but an abundance of 3914/6904 standard slides because (as I recall at the time) everyone wanted stainless?

Anyway, congrats on a fascinating variation!

I wonder how many were in that order, and why.

John

Speculating, but maybe an order from a small department or section? As I was told in an email, the seller had 5 from an LE trade in supplier. 4 sold in store, this last one on GB. It does have an ID number on the frame, under the grip that look like it was done with an electro-pencil. Other than that, I wouldn't know unless Sports South researches like Lew Horton.