Found this beauty sitting in the used counter at a LGS. No box, just one blued magazine (appears to be for a 908). Overall good condition for 30+ year old pistol.

Fired a magazine of FMJ for a function/accuracy check; impacts basically fell on top of each other (I was using a steel plate as target).

I was hoping someone could give me an approximate manufacture/shipping date based on the serial number: TJB7101. Thanks in advance.

This will certainly go into my carry rotation.

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Probably sometime in 1991. Very nice little 9mm you’ve got there. Congrats on finding that one.

I agree. My 4th Standard Catalog says THA1016-TVC7046 serials were 1991-1992, with TZU starting in 1993. Probably early 1991, since it seems they made/sold a lot of 3rd gens those years. Very nice 3913.

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Heavily armed old man.

Just throwing this out for the discussion.

Here’s the label from my NL’s matching box. Doesn’t really fit date wise with it being a TJC prefix.

Nice pistols regardless of when they were made and or shipped.

Jim

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TJB6210 & TJB7138 date to 1991 per SW; TJB8535 dates to 5/1992 per SW

These had a short run so 1991 and 1992 will be the approximate time frame. One thing is that the flashed silver trigger indicates earlier if I'm not mistaken and an MIM black trigger would be a bit later. Notice these in the pic. One of each trigger on these, one NL and one LS. At the risk of opening a hornets nest I will say that there is nothing wrong with either but IMHO the MIM is a bit better. Very nice NL and I know you will enjoy it.

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Nice guns, I finally found one and brought it home. Be advised though, the frames were cast aluminum and if you got one with a flaw, well, prepare for Smith to tell you it's your fault if it breaks.


Evidently "lifetime warranty" means something different in their world than it does in mine.

It's well known that S&W no longer has or produces frames for the 3rd Gen. I don't know if they still do, but at one time they would offer a M&P of some flavor at a discount if a 3rd Gen was unrepairable.

I don't like it any more than anyone else, but there's not a lot that we can do about it.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

I like this model. Of my three 3913 pistols, one is a Ladysmith (NL).

I've mentioned before that I stumbled on to a 3914NL some years ago. I think I paid $425.00 OTD with two blue magazines.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

They did and I'm going to pass; don't particularly want to trade down on something that had a "lifetime warranty".


I'll just take a chance on fixing mine or finding another frame.


I really like those guns.

I might take the deal depending on how much of a discount they offer. If nothing else, you can sell it and put the money towards another 3rd Gen. The downside there is that you can't strip the gun for parts, which have some value.

I fully expect that finding a frame only would be like winning the lottery.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

I appreciate the input but I really would rather keep my broken 3913 than pay them 400 bucks for a Shield. I have a compact in 45 which I like but I don't need any more combat tupperware. And there's a better than even chance I can fix mine.



If not I'll just find another one - and then I'll have a parts gun.

I've never had an issue with a dozen or so 3rd Gen semis that I've used extensively over the last 30+ years, including a couple that were carried daily at work. But I never had a reason to dismantle beyond field stripping for cleaning.
Maybe I'm not all that well-versed in metallurgy, but it seems to me that the alloy frames in these guns were built to the highest standards of the time. If one "breaks" due to a flaw, in my experience it's an extremely rare situation. These guns just don't break under "normal" conditions unless they are well-worn.

Just my bad luck then, I bought a safe queen and removed the grips for a pre shoot inspection. A piece of the frame came off with them.

Inside the box of my 3919NL (TJC96XX) there was included a white paper "WARRANTY STATEMENT". Page 2 heading; Extended Service Policy, "even after the warranty period has expired, S&W will repair, without charge, any handgun purchased by the original owner on or after February 1, 1989 which...defect...workmanship.

Sir, are you in fact the original owner? Gen-3s are long out of production, things break bad luck or good. and it has nothing to do with it. Happy shooting to you.

Does yours have a cracked frame? There are a couple of shops that can microweld frame cracks depending on where they are. There have been a couple of threads on that here.

Then again, I just noticed your user name, so maybe that's you!

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Can open, worms everywhere.

No, I am not and I am aware of the wording of the warranty. I'm basing my expectations on what Smith -used- to do in the olden days. No matter who the owner was if Smith felt that the problem arose from a manufacturing defect or a miscue on their part it got fixed, at no charge, no questions. Sometimes even if the -owner- had done the stupid it still got fixed.


One of my good friends, a formerly famous gunwriter who also worked with Bob Day back in the day building guns for the AF pistol team took one look at the pistola and said "Smith owes you a gun." That's what I'm basing my expectations on - but I'm aware I was being overly optimistic. There's doing what the lawyers want and there's doing what's right. The Smith of today is not the Smith of yore. I'm also aware that's not going to be a hugely popular opinion here...

A corner of one of the grip pin holes detached when I took the grips off for a pre shoot inspection as I do all new acquisitions. It was obvious the grips had not been removed by the previous owner. And I was able to -press- the pin out, no punch and sledge were needed. Quite possibly the frame was damaged at the factory when the grips were installed and the busted frame was hidden damage that was missed or simply ignored.


At any rate I'm not swapping one of my bucket list guns for a 400 dollar Shield. I'll take a shot at fixing it or it will become a parts gun and I'll find another. Smith has offered in excess of what it was -legally- obligated to do.


I guess I expected more. My bad.

While I appreciate your problem, I can also understand SW no longer having the ability to repair (replace the frame) on a 30 year old gun. Particularly one that was only produced a short time (though you could argue the Lady Smith frame is equivalent to the NL frame).

Replacing with a like current production pistol would "seem reasonable" - though personally I dont like the newer models - take it and buy another 3913NL - and this time take it apart before you buy.

Watch the WTS listings here and the Auction Boards - the 3913LS come up more frequently than the 3913NL.
Best, Ed

A recently departed member here used to say the same as what I quoted in bold font. He was immensely popular and a great source of information on 3rd Gens. He was a huge fan of the 3rd Gens and a mentor to many of us.

I think he used to refer to Smith as "The company that used to make great guns."

If you have time, look for posts by "18DAI."

I called about a couple of my 3rd Gen guns and they never once asked me if I was the original owner. In fact, they replaced a 351C that had a defect and I was not the original owner. Again, no "Are you the original owner?" just "We'll send you a shipping label."

They COULD make new frames, but they don't.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

Plus, throughout all his postings and all our conversations, I only know of one Third Gen he owned that had a catastrophic frame failure…and that was after 19,000 rounds. He considered himself fortunate to have gotten more than his money’s worth. That’s one out of the countless Third Gens that passed thru his safe.

By the way, I’ve had two S&W guns replaced because they could not be repaired. In both cases, I believe they went WAAAAAAY beyond what was necessary to satisfy me.

Pictures of defect for reference?

I'll root them out when I get back from Luray.

Here: one of the fragments is missing, did it over a tray as usual so I don't think it was with the gun when I got it.


https://i.imgur.com/guHGD7j.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/tZMSYJ5.jpg


Gun is being shipped back to me. I'm calling the matter settled.

That sure looks like a location that could be repaired by welding! I think someone already posted about the exact technique.... but I've got to say I would definitely be checking it out if that were mine. Best of luck.

Another member is graciously supplying a donor parts gun. I'm going to give it a shot.

Gun is back from Smith along with a repeat of their generous offer to exchange it for a Shield at a -bargain- price.


Nope.


Will attempt repair next week and will post pix.


Unless things go South...

And the frame is at long last fixed.


I just need to remember how to resemble the gun...

Glad to hear it is repaired.

Funny, the factory won’t work on most of my revolvers, no parts!

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

I hope my sad donor frame was useful in the repair.

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Dude actually used the broken piece but your donor was appreciated.

Spotted a 3913 Ladysmith with the purple bag at the WPB gun show yesterday. Asking $595, didn’t get a real close look at it.

The 3913 that a friend of mine had was very accurate. Never malted.
I kick myself every time I think about not buying it.
Cool guns.