Saw a 3913 listed as 356TSW with what appears to be a Performance Center barrel and standard 3913 magazine. Appears completely 3913 except for barrel marking visible in ejection port. VCZ7140. No info on conversion - maybe Performance Center, but not so marked.

Anyone ever see such an animal from factory or Performance Center? Wondering about whether 3913 frame is up to it and whether mag feed might be an issue?

Never heard of such an animal.....

Maybe someone sent their 3913 to the Performance Center for work.

Question, does the barrel have the Briley bushing like traditionally seen on PC autos??

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.............SmithNut

There are/was 3913 TSW.s Stamped Tactical



Product code 104530 and 104531

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Still Running Against the Wind

NOT 3913TSW.
All i have seen are pictures, but it appears to have standard 3913 barrel tip for conventional (not Briley) bushing (at least not same as my Shorty40 with straight barrel and brass bushing).
Also appears to have the thin recoil guide rod like the late 4013 and 4516-2 that had dual recoil spring as adapted with the guide rod bushing like the 4516 retrofits.

Attached Images

	3913_VCZ7140_356TSW_EJPort1.jpg (145.8 KB, 78 views)
	3913_VCZ7140_356TSW_Muzzle1.jpg (82.2 KB, 85 views)
	3913_VCZ7140_356TSW_Muzzle2.jpg (139.2 KB, 70 views)
	3913_VCZ7140_356TSW_Left2.jpg (277.1 KB, 94 views)
	3913_VCZ7140_356TSW_Right2.jpg (281.4 KB, 74 views)

Yes, but did those shoot the 356TSW round???

Unless I'm not reading it right, the OP mentions the 356TSW (assuming cartridge).

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.............SmithNut

My guess is that a previous owner sent it to the PC to bore out the barrel to the 356 TSW specs (9 x 21.5), versus a 9mm (9 x 19). Probably a stronger recoil spring as well. The ammo will fit in standard 9mm mags...

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.............SmithNut

That's an interesting barrel, would like to get my hands on one to install on one of my 3953/54 DAO guns... would be a great carry cartridge.
The original guns were all steel, including the Stocking Dealer model.

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.............SmithNut

Standard 3913 frame - NOT 3913TSW
Top of barrel as seen thru ejection port marked 356TSW Performance - but otherwise standard 3913 markings - no PC or other unusual markings.

Thanks for confirmation on All STEEL frames for factory 356TSW pistols. Hence my concern about potential long term issues with Aluminum frame of the 3913.
I have seen an early cracked frame 4006 and have seen significant bearing wear / damage on frame side of barrel ramp from using hot ammo in 3rd gen Aluminum framed pistols.
Maybe switching to a dual recoil spring is sufficient to address the ramp bearing issue, but I would still be concerned.

Factory ammo is expensive & if you handload 356TSW brass is hard to find though you can make your own by trimming S-L 9x23SC brass shorter.

Either way you'll hate loosing your specialty brass so you might not shoot it enough to hurt it.
.


The 356TSW (9x21.5) has the same max COAL" (1.169") as the 9mm Parabellum (9x19), just the case is longer (the same relation as the 45ACP & 460 Roland have), so there shouldn't be a feeding issue, from that standpoint.

It could just be a standard 3913 barrel with the chamber shoulder/ledge cut 2.5mm deeper.

The 9x19 barrel designation could have been smoothed off & re-stamped with the 356TSW designation using a font similar to what the factory used on the 356TSW?

.
view of my 3566 Limited's lettering



.

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Waiting for the break of day

I just bought this gun from GB. I am told by the seller that the guy he bought it from worked at S&W. The gun appears unfired.
I have attached photos showing both the underneath of the slide and the barrel marked apparently by hand 18 or maybe 81.
The other photo shows two recoil springs and the guide rod. As shown in prior photos the top of the barrel is marked .356TSW over Performance. Not sure what that means. Is this gun a R&D, a one off or a lunch bucket special.
I am primarily a revolver guy and have a 940 PC in .356TSW that I normally load within 9 mm pressures, so I am not so worried about the aluminum frame.
I would be interested in getting a 9mm barrel, springs, bushing etc. so I would have that option but the current .356TSW barrel does not want to come out.
Any thoughts?
Les

Attached Images

	S&W 3913.jpg (72.2 KB, 50 views)
	S&W 3913 recoil springs.jpg (107.4 KB, 46 views)

Congrats on your find!

Those two digits hand engraved in the barrel (& slide) are normal markings that the assemblers in the S&W Performance Center put on these finely hand fitted pistols.

All of the 3566 Limited's (I guess that's what you bought?? Need more info ) have their barrel stamped that way on the hood.

I don't know what's up with the double recoil spring setup? Either someone made their own "replacement recoil spring" (because the exact PN# for the factory recoil spring is unknown, though I've posted what will work in its place) or it was a early/later mod by the factory?

What is your SN#, minus the last two numbers if you don't want to reveal them?

You probably can still get a 9x19 barrel from Briley for a 3566 Limited. Make sure you get it fitted from them. Let me look up who you need to contact for that, if you're interested? Five years ago when I got mine they were $300.

PS: Can you measure the exact diameter of your guide rod? As far is I know the 3566's only had a single recoil spring on a .290" dia guide rod. Guide rods that were designed to work with double/nested recoil springs (like the 4013TSW etc.) had a skinnier guide rod that was .237" in dia.

The factory barrels are closely fitted but should slide out at the proper angle.

We don't know what you have exactly because to haven't shown up the whole pistol & you piggy-backed on this thread of a unknown model. S&W made several variations of 356TSW pistols. You need to post more pics & details if you want the proper answers.

.

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Waiting for the break of day

Les, when I hear someone say their barrel won't come out, I tell them this little trick:

Remove the slide and barrel assembly from the frame.

Hold the slide and barrel assembly right side up OVER A PADDED SURFACE (this is important) with the barrel unsupported and the rear (chamber end) of the barrel hanging down.

Push the rear of the barrel up and let it drop.

It will usually fall right out.

John

Here’s the listing from GB with all the pics
Just a moment...

Many firearms that left the factories as 9MM have been converted to the 356TSW cartridge

This is my 6904 Super-9

It has barrels for 9MM, 9x21 and 356TSW.

I have converted many firearms over the decades. I have a Mossberg Camp Carbine that is also now chambered in 356TSW. I thing these two are cool since ther share magazines

True the alloy frames will not last as long as the steel frames, it will also have more felt recoil due to the lighter weight

As long as you are using an upgraded spring, the service life should be satisfactory

This is a great cartridge that could have been an awesome Law Enforcement cartridge that suffered from being introduced in the wrong way at the wrong time

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"Acta non verba"

Bluedot37,
Gun is 3913. SN is VcZ 71xx
Haymatt has posted link to 25 photos from GB.
Guide rod is .236" in diameter.
Please give me contact at Briley.
Thanks.
Les

John,
Tried that.
Barrel is loose but hood of the barrel will just not clear the slide.
Les

Slide the barrel forward about 1/2” then lift from the feed ramp. Then pull the barrel to the rear of the slide. Should come right out.

I’m glad someone on the forum bought this pistol. I was intently watching the auction and debating whether or not to bid. Please continue to post about it. It makes me think that this conversion was done at the factory based on the barrel markings and electro pencil markings.

Are you able to spin the barrel at all? Maybe it needs to come out a little cockeyed.

I have done all that.
I see where the hood is contacting the slide. I think the bushing is tight and will not allow the barrel enough movement to drop out.

LOL, I missed that what you bought was what ACEd was referring to.

From the GB pics it appears that:

It has a standard 3913 barrel (not a Briley) that someone obviously reamed to 356TSW & re-stamped the barrel's hood.

To shoot 9x19 all you need is a 3913 barrel (unmodified) of the same vintage that's been checked for the proper fit.

It also was obviously converted from the standard (.290") guide rod to the thinner (.237") guide rod by adding a bushing in the slide to reduce the diameter for the guide rod to ride in.

The dual/nested recoil spring is likely just a regular factory set.

You could remove the guide rod reduction bushing & use a standard (.290") guide rod & its single recoil spring if you wanted to with the 9x19 barrel.

.

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Waiting for the break of day

Thanks BD,
I have been shooting it with 5 different bullet weights from 90gr. to 124gr. Function has been 100% and accuracy excellent. I am a revolver guy at heart but have 4 other 9mm semiautos all done by Jim Garthwaite so I will probably just let it the way it is.
Thanks all for your help.
Les

Guide Rod / double spring setup looks to be same as 4013TSW/4053TSW and late 4013/4053 and 4516 retrofit parts.

If you choose to convert to standard 9mm, suggest you go for a complete 3913 slide, barrel, recoil spring, guide rod set - frequently found on EB or GB. (May be same as 6906?).

Keep the 356TSW set intact.

Just replace used recoil spring with new from Midway or any of the other common sources.

[QUOTE=ACEd;141970756]Guide Rod / double spring setup looks to be same as 4013TSW/4053TSW and late 4013/4053 and 4516 retrofit parts.

If you choose to convert to standard 9mm, suggest you go for a complete 3913 slide, barrel, recoil spring, guide rod set - frequently found on EB or GB. (May be same as 6906?).

Keep the 356TSW set intact.

Just replace used recoil spring with new from Midway or any of the other common sources.[/Q

ACEd,
Taking your advice I found a 6906 slide assembly complete with 9mm barrel on ebay.
It arrived today. I cleaned it up and put it on the 3913 receiver and took it to the range. It works like a charm.
Thanks.
Les