Anyone here USING 3rd gens?

A 3913 was my primary off duty gun for about the last 15 yrs. I carried it in a Milt Sparks Summer Special 2. I traded a mossberg shotgun for it in the 90's from a cop that used it as his duty gun. Yes, I typed that correctly. It was his duty gun carried in a duty holster. Lol

I recently switched to a shield 9mm. It is lighter, more accurate, better sights, same capacity, thinner, and to be honest it is as good or better in every way. But, its not the same. I don't know. I'm slow to warm up to new things lol
 
A few days ago, I carried my 4506 in my newly acquired Miami Classic, just for reasons. So, I guess I can be put into the camp of actually using 3rd Gen pistols, at least a little.

Use whatever you want, I for one don't care. However, please don't bring down the collective intelligence of the board by claiming polymer framed pistols are cheap or shoddy. They've obviously proven their worth over the last three plus decades. I choose to spend my own money elsewhere. But, I've been issued them for decades and put them to their intended use and they are excellent tools for an unpleasant job. Admitted bias is one thing, juvenile ignorance really shouldn't be promoted.
 
Nice collection you are emassing there Kenna! I hope this message finds you fully healed and well! Best regards, 18DAI
 
Age and stage have dictated that I find something lighter to tote around than my Third Generation pistols. I never thought I would be a SIG enthusiast, but I have adopted the P938 and am practicing with it a lot.

At the same time this was going on, I was saddened that in response to a thread I saw on another site "What Gun Do You Carry?" nobody responded with with one of these pistols. There was a twinge of nostalgia for those innocent days when the 3913 Ladysmith was considered the gold standard for the well-armed gentleman.

3w9iKzeh.jpg
 
03hemi said:
Hey Road Rat, fwiw. The 3rds gens were the last of the all steel or steel and aluminum autos they made for main production before going to the Tupperwear guns they crank out now, that's one of the reasons they're so coveted.
Click to expand...
I'm not trying to be "THAT GUY" to take a snippet and boldly try to correct it, that isn't my intention! ;) But I want to say that many times, folks have asked "why oh why did S&W kill off production of the 3rd Gen pistols?" and this leads to my version of the argument.

The 3rd Gens were the last of the all steel or steel/alloy they made for main production EXCEPT the 1911 line that is really fairly new to S&W.

I have made the argument that if S&W hadn't been drawn in to the 1911 cash cow of the last 20+ years, there is a chance that we might still have our beloved 3rd Gen pistols.

It's my belief and argument that there was too damn much money available on the market for 1911 sales that S&W could not ignore it. They had to jump in just like all the 128 other manufacturers selling 1911 pistols because MONEY MONEY MONEY and easy slam-dunk sales.

S&W makes a tonnage of Tupperware for contract sales, for duty/service and smaller ones that are very popular for concealed carry and personal defense. And S&W continues to make significant money in 1911 pistols.

Something had to go to make way and it was the DA/SA 3rd Gens that got pushed aside.

It does make one wonder... Sig continues to have success in metal framed DA/SA guns and CZ makes, in my opinion, the best metal framed non-1911 pistol of anyone currently, it makes you ask if S&W would have a reason to compete once again in the DA/SA metal framed pistol market.

Based on the QC we see from their currently made rimfire guns, their revolvers and a lot of their polymer guns, I would rather NOT S&W embarrass our favorite platform and make them again today, because I believe the quality is dwindling in Springfield.

That's just my take. :D
 
I would add AR platform rifles to the 1911. There is money in both, but both take up significant amounts of CNC machine time.

Since the 3rd Gen guns were mostly for the LE market, S&W replaced them with the M&P guns so that they could compete.

There was just no benefit (to them) in continuing the 3rd Gen guns in production.

If you ever gone to the NRA Annual Meetings and walked the exhibit hall you have seen that just about everyone makes a 1911 and an AR platform gun. Several different ones in fact. Colt (of course), S&W, Sig, Taurus, Ruger, Springfield, and on and on. They must sell or so many companies wouldn't be making them.

As it happens, I was at the range today wringing out my new MC1sc. There was only one other shooter there and he asked me what I was shooting. I showed him the Mossberg, which he hadn't even heard of. He liked it and might buy one.

He asked me what else I shot and I told him about the 3rd Gens. I then showed him the pre rail 3913TSW that is my regular carry gun. He was absolutely astonished that S&W had ever made such a well engineered and beautiful firearm.

He had a Beretta 92 on his hip and I mentioned the 5906 to him. I told him that they were no longer in production and getting harder to come by.



Sevens said:
I'm not trying to be "THAT GUY" to take a snippet and boldly try to correct it, that isn't my intention! ;) But I want to say that many times, folks have asked "why oh why did S&W kill off production of the 3rd Gen pistols?" and this leads to my version of the argument.

The 3rd Gens were the last of the all steel or steel/alloy they made for main production EXCEPT the 1911 line that is really fairly new to S&W.

I have made the argument that if S&W hadn't been drawn in to the 1911 cash cow of the last 20+ years, there is a chance that we might still have our beloved 3rd Gen pistols.

It's my belief and argument that there was too damn much money available on the market for 1911 sales that S&W could not ignore it. They had to jump in just like all the 128 other manufacturers selling 1911 pistols because MONEY MONEY MONEY and easy slam-dunk sales.

S&W makes a tonnage of Tupperware for contract sales, for duty/service and smaller ones that are very popular for concealed carry and personal defense. And S&W continues to make significant money in 1911 pistols.

Something had to go to make way and it was the DA/SA 3rd Gens that got pushed aside.

It does make one wonder... Sig continues to have success in metal framed DA/SA guns and CZ makes, in my opinion, the best metal framed non-1911 pistol of anyone currently, it makes you ask if S&W would have a reason to compete once again in the DA/SA metal framed pistol market.

Based on the QC we see from their currently made rimfire guns, their revolvers and a lot of their polymer guns, I would rather NOT S&W embarrass our favorite platform and make them again today, because I believe the quality is dwindling in Springfield.

That's just my take. :D
Click to expand...
 
I’m most definitely NOT a 1911 hater, I am miles from it. I really enjoy them but I simply prefer S&W (real) PC guns much more. Even still, I’ve got a half dozen 1911 pistols and I love the ones that I have and I’ve weeded out the ones I didn’t need. (with only a couple half regrets! ;))

My point? I’m sure there could or even will be another 1911 in my future but the truth is, I emit a loud SIGH just about every single time someone debuts a new 1911 to the market.
 
My main EDC is a 4553TSW (pre-rail) and the days I'm out on the bike it's my CS9D.
A couple other that get carried some times are a 325 Nightgaurd, a 432 Airweight and a Seecamp 380.
 
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I sometimes carry my 4003, I would carry it a lot if it the damn plastic pocket sized 9mm’s were not so GD easy to carry!
 
third gens

Picked up a LNIB 6904 this month, and a LNIB 3913. Got mag extenders for both, and found 4 12 round mags for the 6904. Pics when I can. Loaded with Federal non +P 124 gr HST.
 
1006 in Safariland laminate pancake is the daily rider.

The 3rd gens were the result of decades of development by S&W when they were the General Motors of guns. They made a service pistol that stands up to the abuse that only beat cops could devise. So far I haven't found a way to make it not work that isn't genuinely malicious.

Having said that, I still worry every day about all the things folks have talked about that could take it away from me. Right now I'm looking for someone who makes metal base pads to keep my magazines in service.
 
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