I was looking at a 1992 Smith and Wesson catalog and it lists the 9mm models 3953 and 3954, calling these DAO pistols (that seem to be the same size as the beloved 3913) the "Chief's Special of the 90s." I am sure that Smith and Wesson highly prizes the term "Chief's Special" and does not decide to use it as a marketing phrase very lightly, being a hugely popular and recognizable name for their small revolver line.
The use of this term on the automatic pistols called 3953 and 3954 appears to be on the way to production of the CS9, CS40 and CS45, an even smaller pistol which has "Chief's Special" spelled out on the side of it for those who didn't get the CS part of the name.
Does then the 3953 and 3954, even with their 3.5 inch barrels, represent a step in the evolution that eventually resulted in the CS line? The CS pistols seem closest to their revolver counterparts that started this idea of small, handy personal protection.
And why we're on the subject, how come the CS pistols were not as popular as their revolver equivalents? S&W probably thought they would be as popular and common as the little five-shot gun. Instead the CS (even carrying one of the most recognized names in American firearms) is apparently one of the lesser-known of the third generation guns. I assume they were just washed over with polymer guns, but they are still very nice and compact guns and I would have thought they would have done better.
The use of this term on the automatic pistols called 3953 and 3954 appears to be on the way to production of the CS9, CS40 and CS45, an even smaller pistol which has "Chief's Special" spelled out on the side of it for those who didn't get the CS part of the name.
Does then the 3953 and 3954, even with their 3.5 inch barrels, represent a step in the evolution that eventually resulted in the CS line? The CS pistols seem closest to their revolver counterparts that started this idea of small, handy personal protection.
And why we're on the subject, how come the CS pistols were not as popular as their revolver equivalents? S&W probably thought they would be as popular and common as the little five-shot gun. Instead the CS (even carrying one of the most recognized names in American firearms) is apparently one of the lesser-known of the third generation guns. I assume they were just washed over with polymer guns, but they are still very nice and compact guns and I would have thought they would have done better.
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