3953 DAO

[maximvs]

Model 3953 Law Enforcement Evaluation Gun

Greetings, was wondering if anyone on here might help me with some questions I have regarding my S&Wmod 3953 Double action only Pistol. I inherited this handgun after my father passed and it was his carry piece as the Undersheriff of the dept he worked for here in Western Wa. The gun is interesting in that the box and all accessories and printed materals are present including a letter on Smith and Wesson letterhead dated December 5 1990 from Herb Belin, T&E program manager. The letter explains that the test and evaluation period is for 30 days and requests an included evaluation form be filled out and a company rep will contact for pricing info etc, etc. It is also interesting in that the instruction manual included with the pistol is for models 5944, 5946, 6944, 6946 and 4546. There is no mention of the 3953. The serial number starts with TJB and is in the 1600 range. I am curious if any of this might add collector value to the gun and It is just my assumption that this model had not yet reached the public market as of the Dec 1990 letter date as my own research shows the production run to have started in 1991, and the lack of this model mentioned in the instruction manual. Any info about any of this would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Sevens]

Since you have it’s original box, it’s production date is printed on the box end label under SPEC ORDER. Should be a four digit number. The first digit is the year, if it says 0 then 1990, if it’s a 1 then 1991. The last three digits are a Julian date.

So if it says 0005, then it was made on Jan 5, 1990. And if it says 1365 then it was made on December 31, 1991. And so on.

 

[maximvs]

Thanks, number under 'Spec Order' is 1032. Which according to your advice would give it a birth date of 1991? With the letter dated Dec 5, 1990. Do you know if this being an evaluation firearm gives it anything more than a little interest? I have had this firearm well over ten years and never scrutinized the box contents! It also came with two boxes of Federal Red box 9mm+P+ ammo marked 'FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT USE ONLY' Very hot stuff. Wrote S&W recently as to the adviseability of using this ammunition and they recommended against it. All very interesting as this was the dept issue ammo that my Pa was issued at the time.

 

[ACEd]

Oh haha, well don't be surprised at my lack of knowledge! I pursue facts and information to great detail in the guns that interest me highly... which mostly excludes smaller handguns. I actually knew precious little about my own Model 469 until after I got it.

I had a CS-9 for a short time... long enough to soak in a little nostalgia, take it on one range trip and forward it onward to someone that might enjoy it. It was without a doubt the smallest center fire handgun I have ever owned and I just don't have use for small handguns.

I onced owned a 3" J-frame, it was the only sub-4" revolver and also only J-frame I have ever had. Certainly I see the utility... just not for me.

As to the odd placement of the serial number, I would bet that it's a by-product of different manufacturing done in Houlton, ME.

Sorry for my silly thread drift.

S/N indented on right side of frame began in Houlton ME guns as far as I can tell, but there are a few very late Springfield MA marked guns after 3rd Gen Production at Houlton ended - mostly 3914DAO UCW, and high UCV prefixes with S/N indented on right but Springfield marked on Left. Also some 3914DAO UCZ Springfield on Left and non-indented s/n on right. And oddly enough there is a 5946 UCY4867 in middle of S/N prefixes still marked Houlton, ME

 

[Sevens]

S&W will never recommend a non-SAAMI compliant ammo. 9mm and 9mm+P are SAAMI compliant, 9mm+P+ is NOT compliant. This is just a clear way of saying that SAAMI has not listed specifications for this round, and therefore only the manufacturer has any idea what pressure this round operates at.

In a simple risk/reward scenario, there’s no good reason to shoot this ammo unless you are fumbling for your life at that moment and it’s the only ammo that you have.

With that said, it’s not likely to hurt a modern 9mm, as a modern 9mm handgun is proof-tested at pressures (likely) beyond that old box of Federal ammo.

Keep the ammo as a curiosity or sell it to a collector, but not much good reason to shoot it.

 

[ACEd]

Greetings, was wondering if anyone on here might help me with some questions I have regarding my S&Wmod 3953 Double action only Pistol. I inherited this handgun after my father passed and it was his carry piece as the Undersheriff of the dept he worked for here in Western Wa. The gun is interesting in that the box and all accessories and printed materals are present including a letter on Smith and Wesson letterhead dated December 5 1990 from Herb Belin, T&E program manager. The letter explains that the test and evaluation period is for 30 days and requests an included evaluation form be filled out and a company rep will contact for pricing info etc, etc. It is also interesting in that the instruction manual included with the pistol is for models 5944, 5946, 6944, 6946 and 4546. There is no mention of the 3953. The serial number starts with TJB and is in the 1600 range. I am curious if any of this might add collector value to the gun and It is just my assumption that this model had not yet reached the public market as of the Dec 1990 letter date as my own research shows the production run to have started in 1991, and the lack of this model mentioned in the instruction manual. Any info about any of this would be greatly appreciated!

I have a TJA94xx 3953 from Newark PD that SW dates at 6/1991. Also have TJB33xx also NPD that SW also dates 6/1991. I have a record of another TJA92xx with Box End Code of 0351 (Dec 1990) and a 3954 TJA88xx date code 0353. So you no doubt have an early 3953, but I would guess its same as Production guns. There are also 3913, 3914, 3954 in TJA and TJB prefixes. And FYI, my 3953s had the recalled grips (no dimple) so if you are going to use it, you might see if SW will provide replacement grips (see attached).

 

[vegasgunhand]

From 1989 to 1994, the U.S. Customs Service issued S$W Model 6906 as the issued duty pistol. They also purchased several hundred 3953's for Agent that had smaller hands.

I was working a task force, and one of the State officers was carrying a 3953. He let me shoot it at the range one day, and it was just an awesome concealable pistol with a great DAO trigger.

Soon after I contacted out District Firearms Officer and inquired if there were any 3953's available. Two days later I had a brand new 3953 delivered to my office. I immediately took it to the range, fired 300 rounds of duty ammo through it, and for the next three years it was my EDC pistol of choice.

I unfortunately had to turn it in when the Glocks became the issued pistols. I hated to see my trusted friend go away.

I retired in 2005, and in 2015, I found a 3953 here locally for sale at a good price. It is again in my EDC rotation.

 

[LVSteve]

One of my greatest regrets is not snagging a 3953 when they were $300 at CDNN. I bought a Model 65 instead.