Did the 3913 ever come with a black frame? Or would it have to been cerakoated or something?


Thanks,

Rosewood

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The 3914 is black. I've never seen a 3913 with a black frame. Do you know the year of manufacture?

A spray-on finish is a distinct possibility. The 3913 was a stainless slide on a silver-gray anodized receiver.

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That grainy finish looks exactly like some of my rattle-can'd finishes.

Edit: Yeah, rattle-can or Cerakote, same-same. Scuff under
slide stop, and sliver o' silver showing from slide movement.

Just at first glance (at the closeup image) it sure looks like a post-factory add-on finish to me. Of course there has been some mixing and matching of parts over the years too, so those parts may not have left Springfield together, but I’m still leaning toward it being a refinished receiver.

On a personal note, I like and understand the concept of a wear resistant nickel plated or stainless receiver with a blued top to cut glare, but the reasoning behind a dark lower with a shiny upper just totally escapes me. I know some leave the factory in this configuration and some are customized to it, but for the life of me I can’t figure why??

Froggie

No idea, it showed up for sale on a site I frequent. Guy selling it doesn't have any idea, he just got it recently from someone else.

I hadn't seen one either, all I had seen were silver anodized frame. First thought was a 3914 frame, but it is clearly stamped 3913.

Rosewood

Maybe a call to the mother ship will clear up your mystery.

I'm in the "spray-paint" group. I have a pair of 3913s, a 908 with black frame and a 3914. The peculiar "points of reflection" in the finish in that photo do not look like any of mine. It does, however, look like some sort of sprayed-on material.
Is it a decent (low) price? Might be worth getting as a shooter.

Nah, he wants too much IMHO. Was asking questions to see if maybe he would offer a lower price. He hasn't bit yet. If it is sprayed, that devalues it to me.

Rosewood

Have you looked inside the frame?

Use extreme caution on the ODT forum. That said, there were some two-tone S&W 457’s made for a distributor once, maybe someone special ordered some 3913’s in two-tone.

It appears there is silver under slide. If you remove slide and frame has significant presence of silver that would prove its a spray on or other aftermarket coating - which would significantly devalue gun - in fact I personally would only rate it as a shooter unless you like Cerakote or similar.

I fully understand and don't blame you a bit. I've never been a fan of painted guns, although after getting a 2" Model 15 that was Cerakoted for a killer deal, I have an open mind to something that's tastefully done.

I only saw the gun in pictures, not in person. The seller says he took it apart and cleaned it and it looked factory, that is all I know.

Rosewood

I have seen for sale on different sites a black and stainless 3913, 3953 and a 457 and there is currently a cs40 on GB that has a black frame with stainless slide for sale. I would find it difficult to believe all these have been "painted" black. IMHO because of the unique configuration go for it.

If it was originally made with a black frame, then it would have been marked as a 3914. The 3953s with black uppers were classic line guns made later and sold as classic line guns. The 457 with an alloy frame and carbon steel slide was a special run for Zander Distributors. There were also Zander 908s made in 1997 with a silver frame and blued upper. There were also cataloged two tone CS40s. All of those guns had their own SKU numbers, and I expect that a two tone 3913 would as well.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

Yes, the two tone CS40 is a real thing.

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I'd ask for inside the frame pics.

Someone else did, he had not responded last time I looked.

I really wasn't looking to buy it, he wants way more than I would pay especially when I already have one. Now, if he came down to a reasonable price, I might pony up the cash.

Rosewood