3914DAO serial numbers

[1950wizkids]

I have a question about my 3914DAO model. Once again. I think I got screwed by the S&W Historical crew. My model clearly shows correct model on frame. 3914DAO. All markings are in yellow and heres the best part. The correct box is stamped NYPD. Yet my letter is generic and even stated that he didn't know why the NYPD stamp was on box.

 

[Jeppo]

Here’s my recollection…

I was out of the country and my go-to dealer sent me an email. He explained that a stash of 3914DAOs had been discovered in a warehouse and he was allocated one. He offered it to me saying he would keep it if I said no. At the time, it seemed quite expensive but, I bit anyway.

IIRC, these were overruns of an NYPD contract. If that’s correct, these were produced with the expectation they would go to the NYPD.

 

[GaryS]

If it was never shipped to NYPD and was indeed a production overrun, then technically it was not a "NYPD gun."

Since NYPD was the only agency to use the 3914DAO, I expect that every box label was printed the same way.

Mine is because I bought it from a NYPD officer who went to a different agency which did not authorize the 3914DAO.

The serial number prefix on mine is UCT, if that tells you anything.

 

[demkofour]

It’s my recollection that the NYPD 3914DAO was an “authorized” off duty/BUG pistol for Members of the Service but was never sent to and/or delivered to the NYPD Equipment Section.
As an authorized off duty/Bug weapon it was made available to those officers wanting one through Smith and Wesson retail LE dealers, such as (at the time here on Long Island) Charles Greenblatt and Standard Law Enforcement Supply. I recall Standard Law selling them, along with the 3953(TSW?) to cops at a discounted LE price…

 

[1950wizkids]

Thanks for the input so far. If it was produced for NYPD and never delivered. In my opinion it should state that in the letter. My s/n is UCZ51xx

 

[Jeppo]

Thanks for the input so far. If it was produced for NYPD and never delivered. In my opinion it should state that in the letter. My s/n is UCZ51xx

Mine is in that same s/n range but was packaged a few days before yours (10/28/15 with the test case dated 10/15/15).

 

[kbm6893]

The off duty 9MM guns went to authorized distributors, not to the NYPD directly. None of them should be lettered as going to the NYPD.

 

[demkofour]

Mine was reportedly sold to a LGS by a retired NYPD mos and I bought it secondhand. Came to me practically unused, but with some signs as being carried.

 

[demkofour]

I sold this one here on the Forum a few years ago (I should have kept it for myself!) for a fellow SCPD detective who bought it as an off duty gun while she was with the NYPD.
This one also had the box and papers, and was lightly used, but did show signs of carry…

 

[demkofour]

And at the LGS where I work at P/T as an instructor, this one came through from another former NYPD mos. Another one I should have bought for myself!

 

[ACEd]

The 11-02-2015 box date would no doubt be one of the overrun or surplus 3914DAO that hit the market in 2014-17 - made per NYPD off duty spec, but never actually NYPD. Still a very interesting gun, but probably nothing unique relative to a SW letter.
It may be of interest as it is marked Springfield, Ma, but probably has the indented S/N of right of frame that began in the Houlton Me production. Probably one of the residual 3rd gen frames from the move back from Houlton to Springfield.

 

[ACEd]

Thanks for the input so far. If it was produced for NYPD and never delivered. In my opinion it should state that in the letter. My s/n is UCZ51xx

FYI there was supposedly a batch of 83 new 3914DAO including at least 1 UCZ62xx with box end date 110615 surplused thru Lipseys in Baton Rouge, La that was similarly labelled NYPD on box end but never made it to NYPD. In this case, I think the NYPD designation is at most a "configuration" as the 3914DAO pistol has some features relatively unique within the 3rd generation such as a double strike capability on a DAO pistol.

 

[1950wizkids]

Thanks once again. That response makes good sense. Being that Lipseys is one of my distributors. I'll see what my rep can find out. On another note about over runs. Found me a new Melonite overrun from WV State Police