3914DAO from WisconsinTransfers came in

[mreed911]

My 3914DAO from Wisconsin ransfers came in today. This was $249 + shipping + transfer, so $290 out the door for me. I didn't already have one of these in my collection... and the serial number range is well outside anything found in the Catalog (5th), so it'll be fun to do some digging.

It's clearly been well used - the slide (stamped Springfield, MA) has faded with time but is in good structural condition and the action is clean. It had a little bit of what looked like rust forming in a couple of places so I brushed those spots with a bronze brush, took it apart, gave it a bath in the ultrasonic cleaner, GunScrubbed it to get the cleaner out, oiled it, wiped it down and it's a whole different gun.

 

[GaryS]

That's a very interesting gun. My 3914DAO has the serial number on the right side of the frame inside an oval loop that was forged into the frame. Mine was made in Houlton, so that might be the difference, but I was under the impression that all of the NYPD guns were serialed the same way.

OTOH, I never heard of any 3914DAO guns not made for NYPD. I'll have to take a look at the SCSW and see if there is any more information.

 

[URIT]

I am a big fan of the Gen3 3900 DAO pistols. I hope to read positive reviews of this old boy's range performance. Enjoy that Smith!

 

[mreed911]

OTOH, I never heard of any 3914DAO guns not made for NYPD. I'll have to take a look at the SCSW and see if there is any more information.

The serial range is outside what's found in SCSW. Already emailed a pic to Jim.

If it were worth more I'd letter it. As is, I'm not even sure it's an NYPD gun.

 

[326MOD10]

Is there an import stamp anywhere on it?

Seems like some of those hit the market and were overseas trade ins.
Maybe Israel?

 

[ACEd]

That's a very interesting gun. My 3914DAO has the serial number on the right side of the frame inside an oval loop that was forged into the frame. Mine was made in Houlton, so that might be the difference, but I was under the impression that all of the NYPD guns were serialed the same way.

OTOH, I never heard of any 3914DAO guns not made for NYPD. I'll have to take a look at the SCSW and see if there is any more information.

As I understand it NYPD approved 5946 for Duty use and 3914DAO for Off-Duty use.

Most of the 5946 NYPD had conventional S/N marking, but when SW moved 3rd Gen Production to Houlton, ME circa 2010, the markings changed especially in the Holton pistols with UCx prefixes. Most of the UCx Houlton pistols had s/n on right side in indented ovals. When SW moved 3rd gen production back to Springfield, circa 2016, the indented right S/N was retained. It appears there were residuals with Houlton markings assembled in Springfield - I have a 5946 NYPD verified with frame marked Springfield and slide marked Houlton.

I would assume a similar sequence for the 3914DAO. As far as I know the 3914DAO were made for NYPD, but at least in the last days (circa 2015-2017), a significant number were surplused. There may have been other buyers before that as there seem to be a lot out there.

I have documented 50 3914DAO pistols including 25 with original boxes - all product code 103922 with all but the MSFs (1998) either Spec Ord or SW dated between 2000-2017.

Earliest I know of is my MSF41xx product code 103922 (6/1998 per SW) marked Springfield with model & S/N conventionally marked on left. They progressed thru the VJx groupings circa 2003 and the BAx, BDx, BEx and BJx circa 2006-2008 all with Springfield markings and conventional left side S/N markings. They appear to have progressed thru the UBZ, and UCF (circa 2009-2011) with Springfield markings but now with 3 lines = location, model, & s/n left (as opposed to previous model & s/n only in 2 lines in same left side location).

The first Houlton 3914DAO I have observed is a UCS74xx circa 2012 with indented s/n on right. UCT, UCU, UCV, and UCW pistols have been observed with Houlton markings and indented Right S/N (circa 2013-2014). At least in the UCV and UCW series, the Houlton 5946 and 3914DAO pistols were intermixed.

Beginning in 2015, the 3914DAO pistols were marked Springfield, Ma including some in the UCW series and all the UCZ and it appears most if not all of the 2015 and subsequent production were surplused. These maintained the right indented S/N for the most part, but on the UCZ pistols they were no longer indented. I have a 3914DAO with right S/N UCZ62xx product code 103922 but without indentation. This is the newest 3914DAO I have observed with SW dating its production as 10/2017. It appears to be from a group of 83 similar UCZ series 3914DAO pistols shipped to Lipseys in Baton Rouge, La.

 

[.455_Hunter]

The 3914DAO is the pinnacle of S&W semi-auto CCW platforms. The Shield series is a pathetic follow-on.

 

[GaryS]

Thank you for the detailed information.

As I mentioned, mine was purchased from a NYPD officer who moved to a different agency that had different requirements for an off duty gun. The date on the fired case envelope is 11/15/12, which matches (I think) the number 2319 on the box label.

The previous owner kept everything together and I have the box, manual, warranty registration, trigger lock, three magazines, and rust inhibitor paper.

Send me a PM if you want the serial number to see if it's on your list.

Most of the 5946 NYPD had conventional S/N marking, but when SW moved 3rd Gen Production to Houlton, ME circa 2010, the markings changed especially in the Holton pistols with UCx prefixes. Most of the UCx Houlton pistols had s/n on right side in indented ovals. When SW moved 3rd gen production back to Springfield, circa 2016, the indented right S/N was retained. It appears there were residuals with Houlton markings assembled in Springfield - I have a 5946 NYPD verified with frame marked Springfield and slide marked Houlton.

I would assume a similar sequence for the 3914DAO. As far as I know the 3914DAO were made for NYPD, but at least in the last days, a significant number were surplused. There may have been other buyers before that as there seem to be a lot out there.

I have documented 40 3914DAO pistols including 24 with original boxes - all product code 103922 with all but the MSFs (1998) either Spec Ord or SW dated between 2000-2017.

Earliest I know of is my MSF41xx product code 103922 (6/1998 per SW) marked Springfield with model & S/N conventionally marked on left. They progressed thru the VJx groupings circa 2003 and the BAx, BDx, BEx and BJx circa 2006-2008 all with Springfield markings and conventional left side S/N markings. They appear to have progressed thru the UBZ, and UCF (circa 2009-2011) with Springfield markings but now with 3 lines = location, model, & s/n left (as opposed to previous model & s/n only in 2 lines in same left side location).

The first Houlton 3914DAO I have observed is a UCS74xx circa 2012 with indented s/n on right. UCT, UCU, UCV, and UCW pistols have been observed with Houlton markings and indented Right S/N (circa 2013-2014). At least in the UCV and UCW series, the Houlton 5946 and 3914DAO pistols were intermixed.

Beginning in 2015, the 3014DAO pistols were marked Springfield, Ma including some in the UCW series and all the UCZ and it appears most if not all of the 2015 and subsequent production were surplused. These maintained the right indented S/N for the most part, but on the UCZ pistols they were no longer indented. I have a 3914DAO with right S/N UCZ62xx product code 103922 but without indentation. This is the newest 3914DAO I have observed with SW dating its production as 10/2017. It appears to be from a group of 83 similar UCZ series 3914DAO pistols shipped to Lipseys in Baton Rouge, La.View attachment 790546View attachment 790547View attachment 790548View attachment 790549View attachment 790550View attachment 790551

 

[-dW]

I watched one of the Springfield, Ma 3914DAO's go for almost 7 bills last week, i was hoping it would stay at the 2 hundy something it sat at all week. I would've grabbed it if i could've.

I have one of the Houlton, Me marked 3914DAO's, and .455_Hunter is right, they're the top of the heap for third gen CCW! I'm a big 6946 fan too, plus they're a lot more accessible..

 

[mreed911]

So mine was no box, no mag...

Is there an import stamp anywhere on it?

No import stamp. It's domestic, and judging by @ACEd 's pictures above, that last box has a VJJ serial number w/3028, which would be Jan 28, 2013, I guess?

That would put my VJD serial sometime in 2002, I'd assume.

GREAT information here - this should get added to the catalog to expand the known serial ranges.

 

[mreed911]

I watched one of the Springfield, Ma 3914DAO's go for almost 7 bills last week, i was hoping it would stay at the 2 hundy something it sat at all week. I would've grabbed it if i could've.

Mine isn't nearly in that condition... that's gorgeously well kept. There is another one in similar condition up on Gunbroker.

 

[-dW]

Mine isn't nearly in that condition... that's gorgeously well kept. There is another one in similar condition up on Gunbroker.

thanks, it's a blessing and a curse.. I've shot it at the range a lot and I'd like to carry it but i don't want to knock it around. I keep hoping i can get lucky on one that's maybe a little marked up and put it in rotation.. I have one of those old NPD 6946's, and it's not beat up or anything but it's seen some use and I don't really have to worry about wearing the finish off it..

 

[rosewood]

@mreed911,
Where did you get this? Do they have more for sale?

Thanks,
Rosewood

 

[Smith391]

My original 3900 Series DAO stainless/alloy pistol was designated the "3953", so shouldn't the blued version in this same configuration have been designated as the "3954", according to this S&W quick reference chart? ... So, how did it come to be called the 3914DOA instead? ...

 

[malph]

My original 3900 Series DAO stainless/alloy pistol was designated the "3953", so shouldn't the blued version in this same configuration have been designated as the "3954", according to this S&W quick reference chart? ... So, how did it come to be called the 3914DOA instead? ...

View attachment 790632

Im pretty sure there were 3954s produced.

Why Smith started calling them 3914s, I have no idea.

The NYPD DA0 3914s were the first to be named that way as far as I know.

If I remember right the NYPD 3914s have a double-strike capability and the earlier 3953/3954s did not.

 

[ACEd]

My original 3900 Series DAO stainless/alloy pistol was designated the "3953", so shouldn't the blued version in this same configuration have been designated as the "3954", according to this S&W quick reference chart? ... So, how did it come to be called the 3914DOA instead? ...

View attachment 790632

There are lots of oddities in the 3rd gen system - the most obvious is the 6906 which should really be a 5913 or possibly a 6903 as it is a compact double stack 9mm with an Aluminum frame. Ref 3906/3913 and 4506/4516/4513TSW - there are others. The 4006 is a double stack stainless frame so the 4013 should be a compact aluminum frame double stack like its sister the 4013TSW. The 4013TSW is 9rd double stack while the 4013 is a completely different 8rd single stack pistol.

But the 3914DAO is unique in that it is said to be a NYPD specified configuration with some features (Double Strike Capable, etc) that distinguish it from the 3954. Its unique specifications (first observed production 3914DAO, Prod Code 103922, is MSF41xx dated by SW as mid 1998) appear to have been derived from a 1997(?) evaluation of 10 3983 pistols (Prod Code 103736, Spec Ord 7007, s/n NYPD0001-0010).

It would be interesting to know why NYPD choose to specify a unique configuration and model designation rather than reviving/adopting the 3954 (less than 1000 produced 1991-92 then discontinued) like they did with the 5946 for on-duty carry.

 

[ACEd]

So mine was no box, no mag...



No import stamp. It's domestic, and judging by @ACEd 's pictures above, that last box has a VJJ serial number w/3028, which would be Jan 28, 2013, I guess?

That would put my VJD serial sometime in 2012, I'd assume.

GREAT information here - this should get added to the catalog to expand the known serial ranges.

Email SW [email protected] with model and full s/n - they can give you a "Manufacture Date" which may in reality be the date the pistol was boxed or shipped - but it is the "official answer" If you ask, they can / will sometimes give yo 6 digit Prod Code, but thats about all.

 

[ACEd]

Is there an import stamp anywhere on it?

Seems like some of those hit the market and were overseas trade ins.
Maybe Israel?

I have never seen a 3914DAO with an Import Mark - lots of other 3rd gen coming back Import Marked, but of 50 3914DAO I have documented, no Import Marks.

 

[mreed911]

Email SW [email protected] with model and full s/n - they can give you a "Manufacture Date" which may in reality be the date the pistol was boxed or shipped - but it is the "official answer" If you ask, they can / will sometimes give yo 6 digit Prod Code, but thats about all.

Done, thanks.

 

[mreed911]

I was under the impression that all of the NYPD guns were serialed the same way.

Any idea when NYPD stopped issuing them? From above this seems to be 2002 production unless I've read wrong.

Also well past the typical U-based serials that seemed to match NYPD.