I have a 3913 that I bought new when dinosaurs roamed the earth. I've never much cared for the SA/DA transition, but when the 3953 was released a few years later I never picked one up. One thing I did do way back when was switch out the ambi decocker to single sided.

I'd like to investigate converting the 3913 to DAO while retaining the thumb safety. If possible, I'd like to end up with the shorter trigger pull from the 3953 (without second strike capability, I'm trained out of that from years of Glocks and now M&Ps).

Can I swap out the 3913 FCG with one from a 3953?

If that's not possible, what are my other options? I suppose removing the SA notch would be the easiest, but I'd prefer shortening the trigger pull somewhat - that l-o-n-g DA pull has always bothered me.

Why not just sell your 3913 and buy a 3953 or a DAO 3914? In the long run I think it would be much cheaper that attempting the DAO conversion on the 3913.

Why sell a gun that I'm otherwise fond of and that is extremely accurate?

Because you would be selling to someone who understands the sensibilities of great tda s&w 3913, and would not seek to harness its greatness with dao.

Does anyone have any actual technical input?

Not sure until I double check, but off the top of my head, disconnector, sear, and drawbar.

__________________
Proud friend of Bill W.

I can tell you my experience. I sent a CS9 to S&W for conversion to DAO. I had on mine a single sided safety, which they took off. I also had them replace the guide rod and recoil spring. Altogether with shipping it was 200$ flat and took 3 months back in 2010. If you want to keep the single side safety I believe you can send it back to S&W for de-cock only but then you have the long DA pull you didn't want. Maybe look at some of the threads BMCM has posted about his .45's, he's done a lot with de-cock only I believe, him and a few others.
Try post 45 in this thread
Compact 3rd generation pistols
I haven't seen that member around here for a while but he did have some damn good 3rd gens that he sent back to the factory for de-cock only and the fitting of a Ed Brown oversize single sided safety but I can't find that thread right now.

Found it! Love what he had done to it!
4003TSW in its final form

Jack - if you turn up anything I'd be appreciative.

GM - thank you, that was an interesting project!

You're welcome, hopefully Santa will help you find what you're looking for, good luck!

Nope, you'll need the firing pin retainer, trigger, and possibly some associated parts from the 3953. More parts actually interchange between 3913 & 3953 (DAO) than I thought.

Check the Brownell's site. More info can likely be dug up, but it's said that you're on your own, as in S&W refuses to convert a 3913 to DAO.
3953
http://www.brownells.com/schematics/...AO-sid419.aspx
3913
http://www.brownells.com/schematics/...NL-sid454.aspx

__________________
Proud friend of Bill W.

I seem to remember that the slide is different between the two. I think that has to do with the "pre cocking" that the 3953 guns do.

Maybe Fastbolt will comment. He's a 3rd gen, factory trained armorer and has lots of experience with the various versions.

There are some 3914 DAO guns out there that were built that way from the factory. They do have double strike capability. Those conversion parts might be what you need.

__________________
Can open, worms everywhere.

Hmmm, 3953 guts might be a bridge too far. Hopefully Fastbolt will jump in.