3914 Lady Smith: How'd I Do?

[therealsmithfan]

Wow, I bet that shield is fun to shoot! Well....not exactly apples to apples then, with that incredible work done. Nice set up! I see a ruger sr22 in there as well, I bought my daughter on for Christmas and I love shooting that little da/sa .22. Put mini laser on the rail.

 

[BAM-BAM]

The wood Hogue's on my 3914s are darker wood.........I like the Hogue better than the KSD(?) from Turkey.


Note:nocents picture includes the flush fit 7rd magazine!!!!!

 

[therealsmithfan]

I'm usually darker wood grip guy (but most of mine on stainless guns)...but I do like blonde woods on blued or black pistols. I'm not loving those lighter walnut on the 3914 personally. Another way to go is stain them darker (jacobean, ebony, darker walnut, etc) as I think it looks nicer than lighter walnut. Just for fun, your picture below with some photo shop mockups of darker wood and lighter wood grip...just to visualize.

 

[Mercs]

I like the dark wood grips on dark pistols. It's just hard to justify the price for me


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[nocents]

I googled pics and I think the wood grips look amazing on the silver guns (3913 etc). But I did not like how the wood grips looked on the blued guns (3914 etc). Which surprised me. I think I am going to leave them as they are.

Anyone else agree? This isn't a good look right? Or is it just me?

....I think that 3914 with wood looks better than my 3913 with wood......thankfully we all don't like the same thing....there wouldn't be enough to go around

 

[HarrishMasher]

Note:nocents picture includes the flush fit 7rd magazine!!!!!

Whoa, I never knew such a thing existed! I need one of those! I suspect they are pretty hard to come by since I have never seen one.

 

[therealsmithfan]

Whoa, I never knew such a thing existed! I need one of those! I suspect they are pretty hard to come by since I have never seen one.

You can also buy Kahr MK9 base plates on their site for $8, as well as floor plates (looks cleaner than nub on stock floor plate)....if you can't find the actual 3913TSW 7 round mag. Plus, you keep your 8+1 capacity. I think there is a slightly larger gap between base plate and bottom of frame going this way (maybe 1/16"). I used the Kahh on my CS9 mag...for stealthier carry. See attached. Numrich also sells the original S&W base plates that extend in front of the front strap. Gun Parts & Firearm Accessories | Numrich Gun Parts

 

[HarrishMasher]

You can also buy Kahr MK9 base plates on their site for $8, as well as floor plates (looks cleaner than nub on stock floor plate)....if you can't find the actual 3913TSW 7 round mag. Plus, you keep your 8+1 capacity. I think there is a slightly larger gap between base plate and bottom of frame going this way (maybe 1/16"). I used the Kahh on my CS9 mag...for stealthier carry. See attached. Numrich also sells the original S&W base plates that extend in front of the front strap. Gun Parts & Firearm Accessories | Numrich Gun Parts

BTW, that Chief's Special you have there is pretty sweet. Did you add the slide serrations?

 

[therealsmithfan]

BTW, that Chief's Special you have there is pretty sweet. Did you add the slide serrations?

Nope, stock slide. Only mods are steel rear sight, cut down delrin grips from 3913LS, and kahr base plate. Fun shooter!

 

[josywales]

I googled pics and I think the wood grips look amazing on the silver guns (3913 etc). But I did not like how the wood grips looked on the blued guns (3914 etc). Which surprised me. I think I am going to leave them as they are.

Anyone else agree? This isn't a good look right? Or is it just me?

You've taken great care to find a carry gun that suits your specific needs and also have a woman's purse to boot! And now you're worried about the color of the wood?

This gun is not intended to be a show piece. Like most guns, all of my guns, it's a tool and function always trumps form. Life is too short to hunt with an ugly gun. However, this gun is a tool that might save your life one day and it won't be because the grips looked good. My only concern about the wood grips is that the light color "might" be easier to see, while wearing concealed. The word concealed is important, in some scenarios. The element of surprise can be a huge advantage in some scenarios.

All of the above said, I think it looks fines, if perhaps a shade light. But you could fix that.

 

[therealsmithfan]

Josywales,
The OP didn't invest in this fairly rare 3914ls for carry (he prefers his strikers) but more for his collection. Sounds like he has limited 3rd gens, and feels like his new find is a special addition. Dressing up our favorite guns with the perfect grips, sights, etc., is something many of us enjoy....even though you're 100% right about their primary purpose. Heck, I even like to fancy up my EDC guns!

 

[BAM-BAM]

Josywales..........men have been customizing their personal weapons since we sharpened the first stick or flaked that first flint.

IMHO carrying the best and having pride in ownership..... is not in and of itself a negative. My EDC Model 3913NL had worn Hogue checkered wood grip s since about 1992....... I like the palm swell they give me and they look dang good...... in 25 years, outside the range, only one other person has ever seen them...... my wife.

 

[josywales]

Thanks, but you're preaching to the choir ; ) I know more about dressing/customizing up guns then my bank account would care to admit, so I see exactly what you're saying. I guess I was thinking the OP was so particular about the action and safety, I assumed it was a tool and not a treasure. Again, I've added nice wood grips to my Makarovs (tools), which added beauty to them, but the stipple on those grips adds to the function.

I have only one or two safe queens. Everything else is either range, hunting, or self defense. Believe me, I'm extremely careful with all of them, so none are abused. But I also accept normal use/wear/tear as part of the enjoyment.

I have a 3913 and a 3953 and I supposed I've always viewed them as tools. I guess because manufacturers have decided that plastic is the future, I should treat them even more carefully, but they just seem to fit all my criteria for a carry gun, so that's just the way it is ; )

BTW, I've never been a fan of polymer and this forum turned me on to these steel guns, so thanks for that$$$$

 

[BAM-BAM]

I stockpiled "a few" 39xx guns in the 90s after deciding they were a great/ideal concealed carry gun for the "burbs of the Burgh'........ so I've got backups to my backup.

Funny thing in the late 90s with the 94 Assault Weapons Ban........ everyone wanted hi-cap guns and mags....... while I had a couple......

I covered my options by picking up single stack guns (Smiths and Beretta Type-Ms) when I could; and even stockpiled 7round mags for the 39xx's. They were cheap I've got 'as new" used NLs for less than $300....... and 3914 being 'blue" were even cheaper.

A "plethora" of extra magazines. To me they are tools.....one I'm very fond of.

 

[therealsmithfan]

I wish I was as good at reading the tea leaves as BamBam was back then. Like new NL's for under $300 seems crazy now, right? Makes me wonder what's the best deals right now, that we'll look back at 10-20 years wishing we stocked up. I'm guessing the pre-lock, all forged, firing pin on hammer wheel guns that can be had for $500-1000 still....but will be python money down the road.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Hey..... not so good at reading tea leaves...... liked the gun and bought them when the opportunity presented themselves...... do the same be it a 6904 or a M&P 2.0 Compact ..... and for you...... you can't go wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Deckard427]

Great purchase! That's a go-anywhere gun that won't let you down. It pays to keep an eye on Gunbroker, and add to your watch list anything of interest.

 

[HarrishMasher]

OP HERE:

I put up a review of my first range visit with the 3914 LS. Enjoy!

3914 Lady Smith - Range Report