HarrishMasher
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I have long been a fan of the Gen 3 Since Stack 9mm S&W semi-auto pistols. The two things that keep me from absolutely loving them and owning all of them: 1) Slide Mounted Safety 2) DA/SA operating system.
Slide mounted safeties really add unnecessary bulk to the gun, especially when they are ambidextrous! So I'm partial to the models that only have the safety on the left side. I have tried the DAO models, but the reset is wayyyyy to long for the semi-auto shooting I do. The DAO trigger on the Gen 3 Semi Autos would be great if it was a revolver! But not so great for a semi. Since we are talking about triggers, I must say the Gen 3 DA/SA are superb as far as this operating system goes. One of the shortest and crispest resets I have ever encountered on a DA/SA trigger.
What I have found myself doing over the last decade is buying a Gen 3 9mm keeping it for a few months, then selling it. Over the course of the last 10 years or so I have purchased two 3913 Lady Smith's (one was an NL model), two regular 3913, and even one of the double stack Gen 3 9mm pistols (I forget which one). I even had a 457 (45acp) at one point. As I said, I kept them all for a bit and then sold them off. I bought them because I came across them at such attractive prices, I couldn't resist. One of the 3913 Lady Smith's, the NL version, was like new and I paid $325 for it about 5 years ago. It was on Gunbroker and mislabeled as a 3919! I was the only bidder.
Anyway, I always looked at them and compared them to my S&W Shield and felt the Shield did everything better. With the Shield there is no slide mounted safety, no DA/SA trigger to complicate things, better handling/ergonomics, and the color of the gun is correct
I don't love Stainless/Silver semi-autos either. Too flashy. I much prefer Blue/Black, or FDE, or ODG, etc.
Anyway, I came across a very nice looking 3914 Lady Smith on Gunbroker this past week. I have ALWAYS wanted a blued Gen 3 Single Stack, but never made it happen. I keep watching the 3914 and the price continued to remain reasonable on the auction. It had a BUY NOW price of $550. With two days left on the auction, I emailed the owner and asked if he would take $500 for it delivered if I hit the Buy Now and he said, "No thanks". So I just kept an eye on it.
With an hour left, it was at $405. I put in a bid for $426.03 with 16 minutes remaining and I WON it at that price! The seller was nice enough to let me send him a FedEx shipping label from my account (I get a 70% discount with FedEx because of all the International shipping I do with them in my business). My FFL dealer is my buddy and I don't pay for transfers. So my final cost is $426.03.
I now S&W didn't make a ton 3914's to begin with. No doubt much less of the Lady Smith versions. So I suspect these are kind of rare. I know I hardly ever see them come up for sale. I have no idea what they go for. How'd I do?
Why is it that I seem to LOVE the Lady Smith versions? I have a Model 65 Lady Smith revolver, which in my opinion, is on of the best combat revolvers ever made. I also have a 3" model 60 Lady Smith with the factory original Combat grips that is one of my favorite J Frames.
I think I may wind up keeping the 3914 LS because it is Blue. I never really bonded with the stainless ones. I don't mind stainless revolvers, but never cared for stainless semi-autos.
Here are the pictures from the auction. I should have it in a week or so. I will update this post once I have some range time with it.
Slide mounted safeties really add unnecessary bulk to the gun, especially when they are ambidextrous! So I'm partial to the models that only have the safety on the left side. I have tried the DAO models, but the reset is wayyyyy to long for the semi-auto shooting I do. The DAO trigger on the Gen 3 Semi Autos would be great if it was a revolver! But not so great for a semi. Since we are talking about triggers, I must say the Gen 3 DA/SA are superb as far as this operating system goes. One of the shortest and crispest resets I have ever encountered on a DA/SA trigger.
What I have found myself doing over the last decade is buying a Gen 3 9mm keeping it for a few months, then selling it. Over the course of the last 10 years or so I have purchased two 3913 Lady Smith's (one was an NL model), two regular 3913, and even one of the double stack Gen 3 9mm pistols (I forget which one). I even had a 457 (45acp) at one point. As I said, I kept them all for a bit and then sold them off. I bought them because I came across them at such attractive prices, I couldn't resist. One of the 3913 Lady Smith's, the NL version, was like new and I paid $325 for it about 5 years ago. It was on Gunbroker and mislabeled as a 3919! I was the only bidder.
Anyway, I always looked at them and compared them to my S&W Shield and felt the Shield did everything better. With the Shield there is no slide mounted safety, no DA/SA trigger to complicate things, better handling/ergonomics, and the color of the gun is correct
I don't love Stainless/Silver semi-autos either. Too flashy. I much prefer Blue/Black, or FDE, or ODG, etc.Anyway, I came across a very nice looking 3914 Lady Smith on Gunbroker this past week. I have ALWAYS wanted a blued Gen 3 Single Stack, but never made it happen. I keep watching the 3914 and the price continued to remain reasonable on the auction. It had a BUY NOW price of $550. With two days left on the auction, I emailed the owner and asked if he would take $500 for it delivered if I hit the Buy Now and he said, "No thanks". So I just kept an eye on it.
With an hour left, it was at $405. I put in a bid for $426.03 with 16 minutes remaining and I WON it at that price! The seller was nice enough to let me send him a FedEx shipping label from my account (I get a 70% discount with FedEx because of all the International shipping I do with them in my business). My FFL dealer is my buddy and I don't pay for transfers. So my final cost is $426.03.
I now S&W didn't make a ton 3914's to begin with. No doubt much less of the Lady Smith versions. So I suspect these are kind of rare. I know I hardly ever see them come up for sale. I have no idea what they go for. How'd I do?
Why is it that I seem to LOVE the Lady Smith versions? I have a Model 65 Lady Smith revolver, which in my opinion, is on of the best combat revolvers ever made. I also have a 3" model 60 Lady Smith with the factory original Combat grips that is one of my favorite J Frames.
I think I may wind up keeping the 3914 LS because it is Blue. I never really bonded with the stainless ones. I don't mind stainless revolvers, but never cared for stainless semi-autos.
Here are the pictures from the auction. I should have it in a week or so. I will update this post once I have some range time with it.
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