Just picked this up at the LGS. Been looking for a nice DAO for carry. Going to break it down, clean it, and shoot a few boxes through it before giving it carry duties.

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Is that one of the NYPD specification pistols?

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NHI, 10-8.

I have no idea.

Is there a safety lever on the other side?

Do you have the box?

What model number is marked on the gun (or box)?

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Can open, worms everywhere.

If it came with the box, it might be indicated.

Are you asking if it's a true 3914DAO rather than a TDA 3914 that still has it's decocker/safety lever but has been modified to be DAO ?
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I thought all 3914DAO's were non-cataloged & made for the NYPD?

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- This is from a different thread (The S&W Model 3913 series pistols...) but I'll ask it here since levers have been mentioned...

(I don't understand this either, maybe I'm just tired? ).

Why would any standard DAO, 3953, 3954, etc, have, or need, a safety lever to decock it when it can't be cocked? I've never seen one with it.

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3914 & 3914DAO
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Waiting for the break of day

The box label doesn't indicate it being an NYPD gun.

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That is in fact a NYPD spec. gun. They were authorized for off duty carry by NYPD officers up until a few years ago.

After that, a number of them became available from various dealers.

Nice gun, enjoy it.

Oh, is there a production date on the box?

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They say you learn new things everyday.
Product code on the box = 103922

Any idea on build date? Also, what's the difference between a NYPD spec gun, and a regular 3914 DAO pistol ?

Is the above date range (specifically the start date of 1995) correct for the Model 3914DAO?

That's the product code, there might be a "Spec Ord" number as well. Or, you label may look just like BLUEDOT37's. In which case the production date is right above the word "Model" on the label. In the case of the picture he shows, the production date is June 15, 2015.

103922 is the S&W product code for the NYPD 3914DAO guns. Production started sometime in the late 1990s and continued (apparently) until 2015. Those late guns may have been made from frames that were kept at the factory for repairs, but no one knows for sure.

The DAO version of the 3914 is actually the 3954, but is not like the NYPD 3914. There is no direct civilian 3914DAO as they were designed for NYPD. The difference is that the NYPD version has second strike trigger pull and the 3954 does not. That's because the 3954 has a "pre staged" hammer that shortens the DAO pull. The NYPD guns have the same DA trigger pull as the TDA 3rd Gen guns.

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The SCSW for the 3913DAO gives a date around 1997. I think when it came time to build production guns for NYPD, S&W switched to the carbon steel slide and black anodized alloy frame. Maybe weight and cost considerations as NYPD used the stainless versions of the double stack guns.

A lot of this is guess work since it appears that anyone involved with production of the 3rd Gens is retired.

If someone with a 3914DAO wanted to spend the money on a letter, that might produce some more detail.

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According to the Bible, the 3913DAO run was only 10 guns (presumably for NYPD evaluation?) and nobody seems to know where they are today. I'm wondering if they were destroyed or put back into S&W's vault after testing.

I'm far more interested in the Model 3914DAO's production start date and I think you know why.

I do, but it's all a guess unless someone know for sure.

I suspect you are right about the 3913DAO guns. They were likely T&E guns and it's possible that the officers who did the testing were able to keep them.

Just another mystery of S&W.

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TTSH it sounds like you and GaryS are talking about the 3946. Basically a DAO 3913 with a shorter......smaller......clipped.....beavertail.

10 made with serial numbers that matched a few precinct numbers. Very desireable guns. Especially to guys assigned to those station houses. A few turned up for sale in New York gun shops in the mid 90s. Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

There is a specific reference in the SCSW about the "3913DAO", although that is based on rumors, not a factory source.

Actually the 3946 would be a DAO version of the 3906. Interestingly, while not mentioned in the SCSW, Numrich has parts listed for those guns. Maybe S&W was going to make a full size DAO single stack, but decided that a compact was bettter for off duty use.

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Yeah, it has been a long time since these were discussed, so I probably have the wrong model number.

Someone here posted a picture of one for sale in a New York gunshop. Complete with NYPD serial prefix, IIRC. But that was probably.........10 years ago.....or more.

Looked like a DAO 3913 with a clipped tang. Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

It must have looked a lot like a pre-rail Model 3953TSW.

No. It had a standard 3913 slide, albeit with no levers. BTW, 1995 sounds about right on the start date for the NYPD 3914DAO.

IIRC thats around the time my cousin on the NYPD got his. Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

Was/is the NYPD 3913DAO 2nd strike capable like the 3914DAO?

John?

A very nice find. I'd love to have one. Barring that, Plan B is to have a 3914 or 908 converted to DAO.

The conversion is not particularly hard. Find a used hammer and stirrup on Ebay, Nurmich, or somewhere.

The conversion consists of filing down the single action notch on the hammer and then refitting it. It's best to buy a sear and hammer as a set if you can find them. Especially used, they will have worn in together.

The harder part to find is the TSW style firing pin retainer. That takes the place of the safety/decocker. The one used in the 3914DAO is not the same as the slide was machined to use the earlier round firing pin retainer. The later TSW DAO guns used the same slide as the TDA TSW guns. That filled in the machined area under the left side lever.

Phew.

The factory had some of the right parts a year or so ago, but I don't know if they still do.

The part # is 26691000 and is labeled as being for the 5943TSW, but I was told it will fit in the 3913 slide. Should also fit a 908. It's a stainless part, so if you don't have a stainless slide it will fit but stand out.

A member here talked me through the conversion, but I can't find my notes. If you decide to do it, or get it done, maybe he'll reach out to you.

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I have never seen a 3913 DAO (stainless model of the 3914) I have seen the Model 3953, and it is NOT double strike capable.
I have one of the 3914 DAO models made for the NYPD and it has been my primary concealed carry handgun since the 90s. So far no one has made anything better IMO.

I have one, and form the photos I see and the references I see there were far more than 10 made. As I understand they were actually made in several runs for NYPD and other police agencies. They don't seem to be particularly rare. I use mine for my EDC gun.

The 3914 DAO is in my regular carry rotation. Have two of them, with boxes.




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I have one, with its original case, that was made in Houlton Maine.

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You have a 3913DAO or a 3914DAO?

There is a brief reference to DAO versions of both the 3913 and 3914 in the Third Edition of the SCSW. It's noted as undocumented. (Page 299).

The Fourth Edition has reference to 10 3913DAO guns with serial numbers NYPD001-0010 being produced in 1997. Product Code for that is listed as 103736.

My 3914DAO has a SN prefix of UCT and was made at the Houlton facility.

There is a longer section on the 3914DAO with a production code of 103922.

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If you are asking about 3914DAO production - I have a MSF4xxx dated 1998 by SW and a BJM2xxx dated 2008 and finally a UCZ6xxx dated 2017 marked Springfield after the stint of 3914DAO marked Houlton, ME.

I'm asking about gary51's comment which appears to say that he owns a 3913DAO. The way he worded it, I'm not sure exactly what he mean. Or maybe I'm just not comprehending it.

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I’m retired NYPD and I bought an NYPD 3914DAO a few years ago in the box. For some reason I didn’t shoot it that well. I stupidly sold it, and then about 18 months ago I got on a PD gun collecting kick and I really wish I had that 3914 back. They didn’t make that many.

I also have a Houlton 3914DAO; UCT9467. Close to yours?

Mine is 99xx gun with a 2012 production date.

It has a magazine safety.

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kbm6893 since you retired from NYPD maybe you can clear something up for me.


I thought I read NYPD stipulated use of blued firearms for many years. I thought it was policy for blued guns to help with identification in high stress situations where a non blued gun might indicate a non LE person.

I’m curious if this is a rumor or did NYPD restrict the use of non blued firearms?

I doubt that. The NYPD 5946 series guns were stainless

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S&W BG380, S&W 915 9mm

Didn't they also authorize the 3913TSW? Or was it actually a 3953TSW? Or am I mistaken?

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The big auction site sold a 3953TSW this afternoon that the seller stated was a NYC police officer's off-duty weapon.

No need to start a new 3914 DAO thread. Can drop this right here...

Snagged another 3914 DAO on GB last week. Came with the original box but no foam padding, docs or tools. Did not need another but the price was right. One of those where I bid low and see what happens. I carry them. So, it is good to have more than one or three.

I was watching that one also almost entered the bidding war..It did go for a decent price..

I'm not sure about other ways it was packaged by smith and wesson. Mine is clearly marked on the box and confirmed with a factory letter form Roy Jinks. Just be careful in the fact that you have one and factory letter won't identify it as being one.Screenshot_20230730_020533_Photos.jpg

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

Nice find NYPD or no. Now find some extra magazines