3913 Magazine Question

[wilshire1412]

Hello All, I have an old article from around 1995 or so that shows a series of magazines for the 3913/3953 etc. pistols in one photo lined up side by side. There are the two that are commonly seen with the two different types of plastic baseplate, 8 round capacity. Then there is a photo of a 3rd magazine that the writer claims as the "concealment" magazine that is claimed as a 7 rd capacity and this one has a thin steel floorplate, no extension of any type. I know that the 8 round mags are just a bit long in the body to allow the thick plastic floorplate to slide on, exchange this for a steel model 39 plate and the magazine will still stick out of the pistol a bit. There is a second photo that shows a DAO 3953 with this 7rd mag in place, it does not stick out past the bottom of the grip any more than it should. What I am getting at is I want one of these slightly shorter magazines for a 3913. Anyone got any info?

 

[wilshire1412]

Hello All, I have an old article from around 1995 or so that shows a series of magazines for the 3913/3953 etc. pistols in one photo lined up side by side. There are the two that are commonly seen with the two different types of plastic baseplate, 8 round capacity. Then there is a photo of a 3rd magazine that the writer claims as the "concealment" magazine that is claimed as a 7 rd capacity and this one has a thin steel floorplate, no extension of any type. I know that the 8 round mags are just a bit long in the body to allow the thick plastic floorplate to slide on, exchange this for a steel model 39 plate and the magazine will still stick out of the pistol a bit. There is a second photo that shows a DAO 3953 with this 7rd mag in place, it does not stick out past the bottom of the grip any more than it should. What I am getting at is I want one of these slightly shorter magazines for a 3913. Anyone got any info?

 

[Hoplophile]

Don't know if they're still available -- I have mine and it isn't going anywhere! In place, it cuts about 3/8" off the height of the piece, and does allow it to fit better in the hip pocket of my jeans.

 

[Kollin]

The 7 round won't work for the regular 3913. It was designed for the early pre-rail TSW series 3913 and 3953 where the actual frame is notched to allow the base plate to sit flush to the bottom of the frame. If you really want one of these shorter mags, then you need the pre-rail version TSW series gun.

Here is mine for example.

 

[WR Moore]

The 7 round mag was the original design for the the compact pistols. The magazines of all the 3rd generation pistols were later redesigned to add one round. This caused changes in the follower, magazine body and floorplate.

You could file down the floorplates to reduce the height somewhat without affecting the strength.

 

[wilshire1412]

I am curious as to if a steel floorplate could be changed out on the 7rd magazine for the TSW pistol in the reply above, and then if it would fit into the standard 3913 and lock in place. I did see the TSW pistol with the magazine recessed into the grip as this one is, but that is not the same as what I have seen in the article I was refering to. I do not think I have ever seen a magazine like what I am asking for other than in this one article, I think it is one of the Guns & Ammo specials titled "9mm Handguns" if I remember correctly. This was published around 1995 or 1996 as I did look at the date to see how far back it was.

 

[WR Moore]

Labeling an early production magazine as "concealment" is hogwash. All the early production magazines had metal floorplates that were later replaced by a different design to add capacity.

Definite maybe here. The early metal floorplate will not properly fit* the later (8 round) magazines and the current floorplate will not fit the earlier magazine bodies. There were changes to the magazine body due to differences in the way the floorplates were designed. You can modify the earlier magazine body to accept the current floorplate. I've turned original 14 shot metal floorplate 59 series magazines into 15 shot magazines by changing followers, floorplates and floorplate retainers.

You can purchase different floorplates (flat or finger support) floorplates from S&W to fit the 3913/14 8 round magazines or you can buy magazines fit with either. Once the 8 round mags came out, pistols were supplied with one of each floorplate design.

*The metal floorplate might go into place on a current magazine body, but wouldn't be properly supported and retained. Losing all your ammo would not aid your efforts in surviving an armed encounter.