Can this 3913 be saved?

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While I go I did a trade with a fellow. The gun I had was about $150 more than his, and rather than pony up the cash the guy asked if I would be interested in a "old 9mm smith" that he said needed some work. It was a 3913 that came to me in fair shape cosmetically with no grips. The part of the frame where the grip pin would go had broken off some how (he got it in the same condition, or so I was told). There are case numbers electropenciled on the frame, bottom of slide and bbl, so Im assuming at some point it was confiscated by the police and eventually sold. I agreed to the deal and stuffed it in the bottom of the safe with the idea I would attempt to get it up and running at some point. Figured worst case I could part it out.

Life got pretty busy and I honestly forgot about it, and stumbled across the gun today looking for something else. Decided I try and see if I could make it into a functioning gun.

Anyone have any tips/advice? From my knowledge of 3rd gens I don't really see anyway it could be made functional again.

Also it came with 3 mags. 2 being brand new with orange followers. 1 with a black follower, a slightly different floorplate and the witness holes are not numbered. It also has no S&W markings. Is this aftermarket mag? Or perhaps for a different model? It slides in, latches and slides out fine, but obviously I have no way of function testing it.
 

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Okay think I may be mistaken with grips that screw on. Probably could use one of the rubber grip bands they sell and it would probably do the trick. Looks like someone tried prying off the grips and broke the piece off.
 
The magazine with the black follower is aftermarket. I'd say Pro Mag, but it's not labeled and I've never seen one in anything but black.

You'd need someone with terrific welding and machining skills, and I doubt it would be worth the price. The aftermarket grips use those hole to anchor firing pin retainer holder that is part of their assembly.

Sell the the magazines, and part out the rest. At least that's what I'd do. You should recoup whatever you have into it, at the least.
 
The main spring plunger sits in a cup at the bottom of the grips. I don't think that the rubber grip band would hold the grips securely during firing.



shamuscull said:
Okay think I may be mistaken with grips that screw on. Probably could use one of the rubber grip bands they sell and it would probably do the trick. Looks like someone tried prying off the grips and broke the piece off.
Click to expand...
 
The pin holds the grips in place and the grip holds the main spring as mentioned above.

S&W Grips are cheap if you search enough. Buy two sets and the cup, main spring and pin to assemble the gun ready for firing.

The frame looks like it has enough purchase to stand the strain. If it feels pretty secure I'd then superglue the grip in place. Yeah, super glue the grips. Not a combat hand gun but a shooter. If need be the gun can be disassembled but probably ruin the grips. That's where the second set comes into play.

You did ask! :)
 
Grayfox said:
Depending on exactly what the frame alloy is, I believe it might be possible to weld it up, filed to shape and drill a new pin hole.
Click to expand...

That is exactly what I would do. The only tricky part would be welding but a good micro TIG guy could do it.

Alternative would be to use Hogue grips because they have a plastic part that has the hammer strut/spring cup, through hole for the grip pin and threaded grommets for the grip screws. I would epoxy the plastic part to the frame and use the original grip pin to locate it.
 
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I'm no aluminum welder but sticking anything to that already anodized frame seems like it would be problematic. Taking the surfaces down to bare metal would be desirable. You'll need to find an expert welder and a pretty fair machinist, too. Whether the fix would hold up very well is another consideration. The welder might be able to give you guidance on that. Whether the project can justify his price, and the cost of machining…:rolleyes: Looks "iffy" to me, but the old saying almost anything can be fixed if one is willing to spend enough money is often true. Good luck!
 
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GaryS said:
The magazine with the black follower is aftermarket. I'd say Pro Mag, but it's not labeled and I've never seen one in anything but black.

You'd need someone with terrific welding and machining skills, and I doubt it would be worth the price. The aftermarket grips use those hole to anchor firing pin retainer holder that is part of their assembly.

Sell the the magazines, and part out the rest. At least that's what I'd do. You should recoup whatever you have into it, at the least.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I did some googling and I think it might be a triple K mag. Pictures I have seen look pretty similar.





For the posters saying glue/epoxy it, I don't think any glue or epoxy would hold up. Picture angle might be a little deceiving, but the mainspring strut would be pointing straight down, and there is no frame material to support the pin. With all that tension & vibration from shooting, I think your guys idea of welding/machining would be the only way. But like you said I'm sure it is not gonna be cheap and difficult to even find someone willing to do it.


Thanks for the responses, but it is looking like parting it out will be the way for this one. Can anyone advise what going rate is for the mags and a complete slide in fair condition?
 
If any company could repair that frame, it would be Grayguns in Oregon. Whether this is a project they would undertake is another matter; but it is certainly worth an inquiry.
 
For the OEM magazines check herr, and the auction boards to get a price range. The Triple K mags don't have a good reputation, so they aren't worth that much.

I see slides at different prices, but some are stripped and some are not. Is this a regular slide with an Ambi safety lever?
 
S&W, as far as I know, no longer has replacement receivers. You could part out this one, it's worth more than $150 in parts.
 
Complete Slide if it's in good shape $100-125 easy.
OE mags $50 each
Aftermarket mag $20
Internal frame parts as a repair pack $50
Frame if someone wanted to take it as a project $50-75
*Would need an FFL transfer though
No problem getting your money out of it.
 
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Man, I would have to figure a way to fix that. This is my favorite carry piece. I am betting a solution using the Hogue grips would be the ticket. The separate plastic piece that the main spring goes into could be secured somehow, maybe with a combination of glue and maybe a grip pin. There is enough material there to locate the grip pin to do it I believe.

I believe you could drill and tap the frame into the mag well and then drill the Hogue spring housing and put a screw just long enough to not protrude into the mag well. Secure the screw with thread locker.

Rosewood
 
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The mags are a no brainer ....sell them!!!
the 3913/3914/908 mags are super hard to find theses days. Anyone who wants practice mags will pony up the cash and use those new afrermarkets and save their S&W mags for self defense use.
As for the mainspring /plunger/grip pin/grips fix. ???
Parts available...I dont know???
 
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