About a week or so ago I was flipping through GB and came across something interesting- a Smith and Wesson 3983 with apparent NYPD providence. Like most I think, I’d never heard of this model and tried some research here and with the SCSW. There is very little documented about the 3983, although member and NYPD firearms SME RM Vivas posted a picture of one here several years ago. The Bible reports that 10 were made by the Factory for possibly adoption by the NYPD.
I figured I was the only person who was watching the auction, as the opening bid of $1000 remained open. Then, a post here by one of our well known Third Generation experts caught my attention as it was referring to the auction. Needless to say I figured the secret was out and the bidding war would begin for an apparently scarce pistol. But no, still no bids throughout the days leading to yesterday.
With about 40 minutes left in the auction I bid the minimum and after a few other bids and counter bids I won the auction!
I contacted Mr. Vivas yesterday and he confirmed that he has one in his collection. The guns were prototypes for an off duty piece. Ten were made and shipped to the outdoor range but never adopted. After apparent testing, they were returned to the Factory and somehow disposed of.
I’ll contact the seller for hopefully more background but Roy confirmed shipping in January of 1997. Born on date appears to be January 07. More to come…

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jd SWCA #3276

Very nice! Amazing pick up.

Thanks for sharing and please let us know what else you learn.

Ahh, the thread is alive again. Although we suspected why it went away it was confirmed.

What a very special pistol on so many levels. It’s so different having the apparent “stepped” grip frame of the early non railed TSW’s but accepts the 8rnd magazines.

I’m glad you got it and have shared , (and still will,) all the info you can.

Jim

This acquisition fills a significant whole in the history of the 3rd Gens. The SCSW 3rd Edition had a passing reference to a 3913 DAO for the NYPD, and the fourth expanded on it.

Now we have confirmation that there were 10 made and that they went back to the factory. We even have a production date and a Product Code.

The letter should prove interesting.

I'll get a bit off topic and suggest that if S&W really IS going to bring back the 3rd Gen guns, this is the pattern they should use. SA/DA and DAO versions would be really cool.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

I saw that offering on GB and was tempted to bid. I favor DAO Gen3s. A $1000 start and my wife having committed over $3Gs to our VISA debt with Tis the Season shopping I had to bow out.

Great buy! I hope you enjoy this super find.

I was watching this auction as well as one that I had a winning bid on.
Very awesome piece!

Congrats Jim, excellent find.

I was high bidder for 42 seconds, I'm glad a member of the forum brought it home. I've changed my list to show the model as a 3983 rather than a 3913DOA with a NYPD serial number. A few questions I have (when you get it):
1) The description in the SCSW P366 states "no magazine safety", but in the auction pictures it looks like it has one?
2) Is it double strike capable?

Thanks

The pistol is on the way and should be at my FFL in a few days. Happy to oblige!
And, thank you for your incredible 3rd. Generation work!

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jd SWCA #3276

Congratulations......seems you and I were basically the only ones interested in Bidding on the S&W 3983! We did bid each other up some....hope you enjoy the pistol!

Cheers!!
David

Sorry for the late update, but the pistol arrived two days late…

I’m happy to say that the 3983 arrived safe and sound at my local FFL yesterday. I got to check it out a bit, but until I get a purchase document next week, it’s at the shop.
The pistol honestly appears unfired with no evidence of being handled! Not a mark or a blem to be found. It arrived in an original “compact” blue box with an extra magazine and all papers.
The pistol does have second or double strike capability and does have a magazine disconnect. As seen in the pictures, the slide stop is cut down and abbreviated, with no serrations and the grip tang/ beaver tail is much smaller than normally encountered. More to come once I get the pistol in hand.
I’m happy to add this very unique 3rd Gen pistol to my accumulation and as previously noted, RM Vivas and I now can account for 20% of the presumed/ reported production (10 units total) of the 3983. I will be getting it lettered for more info.

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jd SWCA #3276

Very cool, congrats

I was watching that auction and was sorely tempted. I’m retired from that department and I have over 10 NYPD guns. I have an early 3953 TSW that I bought from a retired officer. Once the budding started climbing I bowed out. How high were you willing to go for it? I really liked the NYPD serial number and that it was the last of the run.

Don’t know why it was t adopted. They authorized the 3914 DAO and the 3953 TSW. No sense why it wasn’t adopted.

Bring back the 3983!!! I want one.

Very neat ,
Solves all the things I hate about my 3953,
Second strike capability and no ugly long slide .
That one they should definitely bring back.

As good as all the DAO known options are, the would be the 39xx DAO perfected. In fact a SA/DA version would be great as well.

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I’ve started to appreciate the DAO models. I have a 3913. Like it very much. I prefer the 3953. Never needed double strike and I doubt I ever will. At least not in semi auto rounds. Some of my .38 special reloads have needed a second strike.

But I agree they should bring it back. I really wanted it. Once in a lifetime purchase but I had a feeling it was gonna go way high.

The 3953 is my only dao 3rd gen,
Started out years ago with a Model 39-2 and a Model 59 for Miami trips,
Would trade the 3953 for a 3913 LS In a heartbeat mostly because I'm an old fart and used to the 39/59 Manual of arms,

Have debated polymer ccw's but prefer metal guns with actual hammers not strikers.

This is excellent. Never seen a real live 3983. What a cool NYPD / third generation pistol.

It's interesting that 3983 is double strike capable. The 3953 is not. The 3914 (DAO) for NYPD is double strike capable. Maybe that was a NYPD requirement.

Have to say, I would have been all over that auction if it were on my radar. Good score. Kinda wish that 18DAI was here chime in with more info. I would like to learn more about this model.

Double strike seems to have been a requirement. Looking at the differences between the 3983 prototypes and the 3914DAO production gun I think it's likely that cost was a factor.

I suppose that I can hope and wish that S&W would produce a 3983 like pistol, but it's less likely than me hitting the Mega Millions tomorrow night.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

Great Piece Jim. Thanks for showing it to me.

Sorry, but been down under with the Flu and a follow up severe sinus infection- I was finally able to get the purchase document and bring the pistol home for a closer look.
Nothing really new to report. The pistol is as reported pristine and shows evidence of little or any handling/shooting.
The check is in the mail for a Letter from Roy and I’m really hoping it sheds some light on the background of these reportedly ten guns. In the meantime, the most updated information I have is from the seller, who advised me that he “ Got the gun from a retired S&W employee ”…

Hopefully RM Vivas will come along with something more.

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jd SWCA #3276

I don’t believe double strike was a requirement. The duty 5946’s did not have double strike, and they had the mag disconnect removed. The 3953 TSW I bought from a retired NYPD cop does not have double strike and the mag disconnect is still present. The 3914DAO had the double strike, because it was just a standard 3914 with the safety removed and the single action notch removed. They could have done the same to a 5906 and made that our duty weapon if they wanted double strike. That’s what Sig did with their 226 NYPD model. Just a standard 226 with the decocker removed and double action only. Double strike all day long.

I don’t know why they even authorized the 3953 and the 3914DAO. The 3983 seemed to be the best of both worlds.

And I can’t see how cost would have factored in. We bought our own off duty guns, so the cost was on the individual officer, not the department.

Good stuff, thanks.

I agree that the 3983 was the best of all variations. They could have called it the "3913 perfected."

As previously stated, if S&W brought that out today, they'd sell a lot of them.

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Indeed. They managed to redesign the Shield to hold 10 rounds and not change the specs of the original Shield. A 10 shot 3983 would immediately negate my need for any of my many small carry guns. I’d sell them all immediately. I’d take it in either variation, TDA or DAO. I really like my 3953 TSW. It’s an early one with 7 round mags. A 10 round model would be perfection for me.

Looks like #1, 2 and 3 just showed up as a group sale on a popular auction site!

Yep. Starting bid of 5 grand.

The 3983 seems like a winner. I'd love to see a production run. 'Tain't happening, though, more's the pity.

The NYPD proved they like longer/stiffer triggers with the NY-1 trigger spring for Glocks. I wonder if the 3953 was less appealing because of the “pre-cocked” nature of it’s DAO giving a shorter trigger pull.

Adding the sear notch for the precook position is what takes away double-strike capability. So you get one or the other, not both.

I’d bet the NYPD didn’t specify double-strike; it just naturally appears with the longer non-pre-cock trigger pull using stock parts.

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Uvidíme se později, aligátore.

There's a few more currently listed on the big auction site if anyone is interested AND has deep pockets. S&W sure made a lot of variants in the 3rd generation line up.

Sent from my SM-G781V using Tapatalk

WTN1271,
Thanks for the response, but Heymatt beat you to it by a handful of days; but it is very excellent to see that our own RM Vivas is in the hunt!

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jd SWCA #3276

I agree. If they wanted double strike they could have just had Smith convert the 5906 to DAO like they did with the 3914DAO. The 5946 had that pre-cocked trigger and that was the authorized duty pistol. I just can’t figure out their rationale. They offered the early 3953 TSW with 7 round mag, then the later 3953 with 8 round mag, the 3914DAO, and I am 99% sure there was a 908 authorized, too. I remember the black model was a cheaper option to the 3953. The 3983 checks all the boxes and would have been the best of them all. Cost was not a factor. The cops paid for the guns themselves.

And by the way, as someone who now owns an early 3953 with the 7 round mag, and later 3953 with 8 round mags, I can attest to the fact that the 3953 TSW with 7 round mags does conceal better and carry better. The 3953 is not hard to conceal, but there is no question my 3953 TSW carries easier. If someone is really hung up on one round then I guess they wouldn’t want it, but as someone who carried a 5 shot revolver, having 8 total rounds in the TSW is a big improvement. Yeah, the micro 9’s of today have surpassed it, but for those who still prefer a hammer, the 3953 is still a top notch choice.

This thread is a good reminder of why we don't allow links to live auctions. It's a good rule.

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Release the Kraken

CONGRATULATIONS to RM Vivas! Now we know where 50% of the NYPD 3983 pistols are!
Hopefully he’ll find the time in his busy research to post up and show off 001, 002 and 003!

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jd SWCA #3276

Couldn’t think of a better home for those pistols. Well done Robert.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Oy, I can't believe what I just did.

However, demkofour and I now own %50 of the entire production.

I have (or will have) #1, 2,3 & 9. demkofour has #10 and the seller states he also sold #6 and #8.



For anyone who wants to join the hunt for the Lost Children (#'s 4,5 &7), good luck!

I see a tremendous amount of research in my future as well as a likely collaboration with demkofour (we'll talk...) on what is almost sure to be an award winning display at the next SWCA show.

There is --so-- much overtime in my future!

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RM Vivas
SWCA#1482L, SWHF#837

Congratulations! I stopped bidding against you at $6700. Enjoy the collection!

Cheers!!!
David

Congratulations Robert, and honored to help in any way!

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jd SWCA #3276

Thank you for the kind words. (tip of hat)

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RM Vivas
SWCA#1482L, SWHF#837

This is a significant addition to the 3913 story. Besides the history of the guns, how the seller acquired them would be interesting as well.

And I'll repeat what I wrote previously. This is the 3rd Gen that S&W should make now.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

Congratulations!

My memory isn't what it used to be but as I recall, there was a S&W NE LE rep who, I THINK, retired out of NYPD who had them.

The story I got on #9 was that he arranged for it to be made available to a railroad policeman (?) and from there it went into the wild.

Once I have the guns secured, I'll start the research.

I'm thinking of at least a couple gfuys who worked the outdoor range when these came in and perhaps they may have some documentation.

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RM Vivas
SWCA#1482L, SWHF#837

Congratulations Robert

This is truly a sad story. Such a perfect carry gun by manys standards, yet because of the rarity, they will likely never be carried and used what they were designed for.

I can’t think of a better caretaker of these rare guns than RM Vivas. He is THE NYPD weapon expert. As a retired member of that department, I remember well the transition to the off duty semi auto pistols, which happened three years after the on duty 9MM’s were standard. Beretta Mini Cougar, Glock 26, Kahr K9, and a few Smith and Wesson auto’s, the 3953 TSW (I have an early 7 shot version bought off a retired officer), the 3953, the 3914 DAO, and I am almost positive the 908. I remember the black one being cheaper.

This 3983 beats them all, and it’s very cool they have it serial numbers starting with NYPD. The cops paid for their off duty guns so I don’t know why they didn’t offer them. Make a run for the NYPD with the NYPD serial number and replace the civilian 3953 with 3983’s with standard serial numbers. I would be just as pleased to own NYPD8956 as I would NYPD0010.

It has always been a mystery to me why S&W never had a separate M10 serial range for NYPD or some specially marked sideplate. Heck, even a coupon that entitled you to a free laser engraving of your shield and shield number on the gun would have been cool.

And yea, the 5946s' should have all had an NYPD serial number pre-fix. That would have been so cool.

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RM Vivas
SWCA#1482L, SWHF#837

Couple of questions.

Is the factory still making 3rd Gen guns for a Dept requesting them?

How many would be needed for an order?

Is the machinery still viable?

I have a recollection of reading somewhere else on this forum that the machinery no longer exists.

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NHI, 10-8.

I'd love it if you collectors would display those at OGCA.

Thinking.... if I remove my 3953 slide and take it to the bench grinder.....
Meh just need to sell the 3953 and start carrying my PC9 or shorty 40