bought a 3913

[frank_drebin]

I was out and about earlier in the week and came across a 3913 in very good condition for $315. I've never shot one but it felt like a perfect sized gun for carry and the price seemed fair to me. I like the way it feels and it's light weight should make it a great IWB gun. The only things I don't like are the ambidextrous safety and the magazine disconnect. I removed the mag disconnect plunger when I got it home and will most likely buy a new safety body in a few weeks.

Anybody else carry a 3913? How does it perform for you? Any tips or tricks specific to this gun?

 

[ronnie gore]

3913

I HAVE A 3914 WHICH BASICLY THE SAME GUN, THEY ARE ONE OF THE BEST CONCELED CARRY GUNS, NICE AND FLAT, AND IF YOU CAN SHOOT YOU DON'T NEED THE HIGH CAPASITY. MIDWAY HAS NEW MAGAZINES FOR THESE GUNS.

 

[frank_drebin]

I HAVE A 3914 WHICH BASICLY THE SAME GUN, THEY ARE ONE OF THE BEST CONCELED CARRY GUNS, NICE AND FLAT, AND IF YOU CAN SHOOT YOU DON'T NEED THE HIGH CAPASITY. MIDWAY HAS NEW MAGAZINES FOR THESE GUNS.

I like the 3914 as well and agree with you on capacity.
BTW, I see you are in Newnan. I'm about 20 mins East of you and have a lot of friends in your neck of the woods.

 

[Maximumbob54]

The only problem I have had with mine is trying to keep the slide lubricated. I keep trying various flavors of grease. The steel will eat away at the aluminum if you shoot it a lot. And the finish on the aluminum has never been one of Smith's strong points. Other than that I think the 3913 is about as good as it gets for that size of handgun. What is the safety you are thinking of buying?

 

[frank_drebin]

The only problem I have had with mine is trying to keep the slide lubricated. I keep trying various flavors of grease. The steel will eat away at the aluminum if you shoot it a lot. And the finish on the aluminum has never been one of Smith's strong points. Other than that I think the 3913 is about as good as it gets for that size of handgun. What is the safety you are thinking of buying?

I want to get a non-ambi safety body. The LS version had only a left-sided safety.

 

[bigmoose]

$315!!! Man, you got a deal. That is a nice looking pistol.

 

[frank_drebin]

I've been considering a Sig P239 for a while now and was looking for one when I found this. I frankly don't see what I gain with a 239 over a 3913. Am I missing something?

 

[Maximumbob54]

Mine isn't a LS, and I only have the safety on the left side. Interesting. But mine did come with the very light gray grip. My 36 is a LS and as far as I can tell the only difference is the grip and the laser'ed on LadySmith on the side. She's my girl though and I love her.

 

[frank_drebin]

Mine isn't a LS, and I only have the safety on the left side. Interesting. But mine did come with the very light gray grip. My 36 is a LS and as far as I can tell the only difference is the grip and the laser'ed on LadySmith on the side. She's my girl though and I love her.

Does yours have the sloped dust cover like the LS or does it look like mine?

 

[Big Cholla]

Anybody else carry a 3913? How does it perform for you? Any tips or tricks specific to this gun? Quote.

Frank: I started carrying a 3913 as my 'backup' gun about 12 years ago when my LEO agency went to S&W 4006s as our primary. When I retired two years ago, I just kept carrying my 3913 as my CCW handgun. I really like it and I think it is the ideal concealed handgun. I am a S&W Armorer as well as a SIG armorer and feel that the Smith is every bit as good of a 'carrying' handgun as the SIG 229.

I have never had any trouble keeping my 3913 or my 3914 lubricated. I use a discontinued gun lube called "RIG for Stainless Steel". The 3914 is my range practice handgun and I shoot the heck out of it. I am running out of the RIG, so will have to find an available substitute soon. ...... Big Cholla

 

[Maximumbob54]

Mine seems to be a LS missing the LS on the side. I have no explanation for that. They must have made a run of them without the script on the side.

 

[frank_drebin]

Mine seems to be a LS missing the LS on the side. I have no explanation for that. They must have made a run of them without the script on the side.

Ahh, that's the 3913NLS. Very cool.

 

[Maximumbob54]

NLS = Non Lady Smith??? I'm unaware of this...

 

[samwood]

You got a fantastic deal.

I have a 3913 and a 3914NL. They are the most reliable semi-autos that I've ever used.

Although they were great guns the way they came, I changed out the grips for Hogues and sent the slides off to Novak's to have Trijicon front sites and adjustable rear sights installed. I also sent the 3914 to Smith and Wesson for an action job; the trigger is now as nice as the one on the 3913 that I've put more than 30,000 rounds through.

The changes were totally unnecessary. I decided these are two handguns I'll never sell and I might as well have them the way that I wanted them.

 

[deanodog]

I traded away a 3913LS and then ended up with two 3913s. I like them and the 6906s which I have two also. I also have a 6946 DAO that I also like. I guess I just like 3rd Gen pistols.
Two 5906s and a 4586.

 

[Squibb]

Heck of a deal! Why can't I find one like that? And Max, if you have a 3913 LS without the Lady Smith scroll, guard it closely. They are very hard to find and cost accordingly if you can find one.

 

[growr]

Your 3913 is in my opinion the finest CC handgun made by any manufacturer. I carry one daily.
Randy

 

[frank_drebin]

Stopped by Tactical Supply this morning and picked up a perfect little leather IWB holster. It's very thin and fits the gun perfectly. I'm wearing it @ 3:30 right now.

I am on the lookout for a 4040pd to match it now.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Heck of a deal! Why can't I find one like that? And Max, if you have a 3913 LS without the Lady Smith scroll, guard it closely. They are very hard to find and cost accordingly if you can find one.

Are they that limited that I should turn it into another accumulation piece? It's a great shooter at about 90 to 95 percent I would say. I keep thinking about sending it to Smith to get an estimate on what it would cost to make it look new again. Would I be making collectors cringe if I did that? I had no idea they were at all rare. I think rare and I think about 3 inch model 19's.

 

[frank_drebin]

Are they that limited that I should turn it into another accumulation piece? It's a great shooter at about 90 to 95 percent I would say. I keep thinking about sending it to Smith to get an estimate on what it would cost to make it look new again. Would I be making collectors cringe if I did that? I had no idea they were at all rare. I think rare and I think about 3 inch model 19's.

There's one on GB right now that's creeping toward $600.

 

[Squibb]

I rest my case.Personally, I would not do anything to it. Some collectors are turned off when something has been done, as they consider it to lower the value. But, it's your pistol.

 

[jframe]

Stopped by Tactical Supply this morning and picked up a perfect little leather IWB holster. It's very thin and fits the gun perfectly. I'm wearing it @ 3:30 right now.

I am on the lookout for a 4040pd to match it now.

What kind of holster is that, and did they have one in left hand? I'd like to try one on my recently acquired 3953.

 

[Shooting Padre]

I picked up a 3913LS last year and it immediately became my carry gun. I think this is one of the finest firearms I've had the privilege to handle, let alone own. I carry mine in a Cross Breed Holster Super Tuck, and forget I even have it on. I have ran many many rounds through this gun, both factory and re-loads and never have had as much as a hick-up. These guns are real treasures and I'm happy you found one. May your relationship with it be long and happy.

 

[Maximumbob54]

You learn the greatest things on this forum. There is a 4013 tactical that if I hadn't suckered into a model 19 I would have wanted that 4013. Dang, I cringe at all the times I almost traded that 3913 off for something else. Glad I always remembered that I like it. Thank you all for keeping me learning.

 

[seagill]

What a steal! I just paid that much for a blued 908. Took it to the range for the first time today. Trust me, you will LOVE IT!

 

[frank_drebin]

What kind of holster is that, and did they have one in left hand? I'd like to try one on my recently acquired 3953.

It is a Tagua IWB leather holster. It was $19.95. They had it in left or right hand as well. This one is for a Kahr P40.

I picked up a 3913LS last year and it immediately became my carry gun. I think this is one of the finest firearms I've had the privilege to handle, let alone own. I carry mine in a Cross Breed Holster Super Tuck, and forget I even have it on. I have ran many many rounds through this gun, both factory and re-loads and never have had as much as a hick-up. These guns are real treasures and I'm happy you found one. May your relationship with it be long and happy.

I tried the larger IWB holsters and never got the feel for them, I had a VMII for a while and I needed my pants to be 2 sizes larger to wear it.

You learn the greatest things on this forum. There is a 4013 tactical that if I hadn't suckered into a model 19 I would have wanted that 4013. Dang, I cringe at all the times I almost traded that 3913 off for something else. Glad I always remembered that I like it. Thank you all for keeping me learning.

Be careful on the 4013s. There are two different ones and they are much larger than a 3013. If you want the 3013 in 40cal you need a 404 PD. They were only made for 3-4 years though.

What a steal! I just paid that much for a blued 908. Took it to the range for the first time today. Trust me, you will LOVE IT!

908 is great as well. I had a 457 that I loved many years ago.

 

[azasadny]

My father (retired LEO) gave me a 3913 a few years ago and I love it! Very easy to shoot and maintain. I carry a Sig P239 for personal defense and I may put the 3913 into "concealed duty rotation" soon! Congrats on an excellent choice in pistols!

 

[azasadny]

I have both...

I've been considering a Sig P239 for a while now and was looking for one when I found this. I frankly don't see what I gain with a 239 over a 3913. Am I missing something?

I have both guns and I carry the Sig P239 daily (concealed). I love the Sig, but the S&W is easier for me to carry comfortably. I like the way the Sig breaks down to clean better than the S&W, but they are both excellent guns and you can't go wrong with either one, IMHO...

 

[azasadny]

I also used Rig...

Anybody else carry a 3913? How does it perform for you? Any tips or tricks specific to this gun? Quote.

Frank: I started carrying a 3913 as my 'backup' gun about 12 years ago when my LEO agency went to S&W 4006s as our primary. When I retired two years ago, I just kept carrying my 3913 as my CCW handgun. I really like it and I think it is the ideal concealed handgun. I am a S&W Armorer as well as a SIG armorer and feel that the Smith is every bit as good of a 'carrying' handgun as the SIG 229.

I have never had any trouble keeping my 3913 or my 3914 lubricated. I use a discontinued gun lube called "RIG for Stainless Steel". The 3914 is my range practice handgun and I shoot the heck out of it. I am running out of the RIG, so will have to find an available substitute soon. ...... Big Cholla

I also used Rig and switched to Militec-1 grease and Militec-1 oil for my firearms and it performs as well as the Rig did.

 

[XcessiveCarts]

I think it is a great gun. I used to carry it all the time, but i now carry a Ruger SR9c. I dont carry it much now because i like the lighter weight Ruger on belt and i really want to keep the 3913 in good condition. Mine is alot of fun to shoot, although it does shoot a little low. Doubt I will ever sell it.