Yep, in bygone years the 3913/14 (and variant models) were the easiest compact guns in which to interest someone looking for a compact and handy off-duty weapon. Slim, easy handling, well balanced, easy to shoot and capable of more than adequate practical accuracy.

The SIG P239's were almost as good, and similarly reliable, except they were too chunky in the grip girth and the typical SIG traditional double action trigger had that long recovery and spongy trigger pull.

S&W had a good idea going with their less costly, no-frills version of the 3913/14 in the 908 & 908S models, although the best of the bunch was the TSW version.

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

I sometimes carry a Remington model 51, made in 1920, an improved I frame Terrier from the 50's, A J frame 38 from the 60s

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Chief

I'm a retired B-52 aviator, and you're right about the ol' Buff (Big Ugly Fat Fellow). It's been updated in several ways (only the latest model, the H model, is still flying) and the USAF is once again talking about re-engining it. It's a great long range missile carrier but no longer does well in contested airspace.

And yes, I've got some 40-50 year old guns that still work just fine!

Tough to beat a 3953 for edc......just saying.

To answer Calreb's question - I also have a 3913. I used it for my duty gun for years. I discovered during that time that it just wouldn't malfunction. Not even once. And it's the gun that made me look good when I was on the qualifying line with all those youngsters and their super-deluxe molded-synthetic space team shootmasters with the fancy flashlights and the 17-round mega-magazines. It's still in great shape and I wouldn't hesitate at all to use it. I still like to put it into my carry "selection box" periodically, just because it's so reliable.

You can carry that gun without a worry the rest of your life. Worried? Put a recoil spring in it, and you're pretty much set for life. I change the recoil spring on all my semiautos before I even shoot them, if possible, but if the original one is still good, it goes back in at least for a good while. Any indication it's getting weak, the old one is tossed, and the new one goes in, and another is ordered.

I had a super clean 3913 that I got at a pawn shop about 1995? or so. I really liked it, but my GF at the time just loved it, and I ended up selling it to her a couple of years after I got it, when she was preparing to move. Over the next 20 years or so, I had another one, along with a couple of 6906's that were not great looking, but shot fine. I sold them off when money got tight. Last year, I don't remember who had them, someone had LEO trade in 6906's and I grabbed one of them. It's nearly perfect and this one won't be going anywhere until I won't either be here to care, or am so far gone I don't care. Just a little bit of holster shine on the slide, and that's it. It was listed as G-VG, and like a lot of other guns I've bought rated Good to Very Good, it doesn't seem like I agree with the ratings they were given. My Beretta 92 was nearly in new condition but rated G-VG by the seller. Same went for my Beretta 84 and 85. My 5906 was rated "VG", but I don't see anything that takes it down from "excellent". Even the grips are new.