CS9 vs 3913 and value determination

cnette01

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I'm thinking that my next gun purchase will likely be a 3rd generation S&W pistol. I'm trying to decide which one suits me best. What is the difference between the Chief Special 9 (CS9) and the 3913? Besides the obvious sites like Gunbroker, what is the best way to determine the current value of the 3rd gen S&Ws?
 
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As someone who's searching for a CS9 to go with my 3913, the CS9 seems to be much harder to find. Of course they didn't make nearly as many if I'm not mistaken.
 
I couldn't decide so I bought both. If your going to carry it obviously the CS9 is easier to conceal.Cant go wrong with either. Previous sales on GB are a good indicator of value.
 
Both will generally run in the $500-$550 range. Of course there are exceptions but that is pretty average. Condition, box, papers, extra mags all play into it. Consulate GB to get a better idea.
So figure for just a gun with 1 mag at $500 and go from there.
3913NL & LS are $600+
I don't like the CS9 and sold mine over the 3913. I did't like the Hogue rubber grips and to get Delrin wrap arounds it's an extra $100 from Big Dog.
I was also more accurate with the 3913. But the CS9 is a little more concealable. You also lose a round with the CS9 (7) to the 3913 (8).
 
Both will generally run in the $500-$550 range. Of course there are exceptions but that is pretty average. Condition, box, papers, extra mags all play into it. Consulate GB to get a better idea.
So figure for just a gun with 1 mag at $500 and go from there.
3913NL & LS are $600+
I don't like the CS9 and sold mine over the 3913. I did't like the Hogue rubber grips and to get Delrin wrap arounds it's an extra $100 from Big Dog.
I was also more accurate with the 3913. But the CS9 is a little more concealable. You also lose a round with the CS9 (7) to the 3913 (8).

The going price for a CS9, plus the added cost for Big Dog grips, possibly sights as I've read many CS9's don't shoot to POI with the factory ones, new springs, etc. have caused me to put it on the back-burner and consider a new XDs as something smaller than my 3913.
 
I have owned 3913/14s since they came out...... I looked at the CS-9 when they were introduced.......

I didn't see any real benefit to the CS9;
1. I carry IWB (barrel covered) and
2.I have several of the fairly rare, 7rd. flush fit 3913 mags. so my grip is as short the CS9s.
3. Grips (Hogue) and holsters are easier to find.

If I was starting from scratch.... I think I'd still choose a 3913/14 over the CS9
 
The 3913 is slightly larger than the CS9. One more round in the magazine (typically) - eight v seven rounds and a half inch longer barrel - 3 1/2 v 3 inch. Also, many 3913 have a right side decock lever for ambidextrous use and will thus be a little thicker than the CS9. Also, although the 3913 is stainless slide/alloy frame, the CS9 came in either carbon/alloy or stainless/alloy. The carbon steel equivalent in the 39XX is the 3914 and relatively rare.

For larger hands, the CS9 may be too small. I have relatively small hands but long fingers and the CS9 w/ finger extension magazine is as small as I want to go. The CS9 is with the Big Dog grips, not the OEM Hogues. I wish I could find one in stainless.

I don't have a 3913 currently, but the 908S is the same size. Pix of it and the CS9 are included for size comparisons.

I previously owned a 3913 LadySmith and prefer its sleek design to the boxy 908S, but am quite happy with the pistol as is. Any of these are quality pistols.
 

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I find the grip of the cs9 is larger than the 3913. That is the purpose of the big dog grip change. (3913 delrin cut for cs9 for a smaller/better concealed grip) Concur 3913 better shooter than cs9.
 
http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-...29994-cs45-cs9-owners-please-step-inside.html
http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-semi-auto-pistols/333270-s-w-cs9.html
http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-.../189548-your-thoughts-cs9-chiefs-special.html

The price will probably be whatever the owner is willing to accept, combined with whatever the market in that area will support.

They're only going to make them if any existing LE agency customers demand a production run (meaning they can't be talked out of buying M&P/Shield models), so it's not like you're going to find a glut of them on the market.

I tend to find the CS9 to be handier, lighter and shorter enough to be attractive for my needs. Being the owner of a late production 3913, I held off on ordering my CS9 until they'd been in production for a while. Mine has the steel Novak low-mount sights and ambi safety/decocker.

I find my CS9 to be every bit as accurate as my 3913, with the range of issued ammo I've used (standard pressure, +P & +P+ loads), and it's not a gun I plan to trade off. I usually don't have much trouble making called hits on small wooden clothespins sticking off cardboard target back boards at 5-7+ yards, and have been able to use the CS9 for more hits than misses on the clothespins out at 10 yards. It does get interesting and challenging to hit a specific part/end of the clothespin at the longer distances, being more limited by my ability than the gun's inherent potential accuracy (I'm not a bulls-eye/target competitive sort of shooter).

I actually like my CS9 better than my older and much more well-used CS45.

Folks who have really large hands usually find the CS guns to be too small for comfortable handling & manipulation ... and for them the 3913/908/4513TSW/457's are probably better choices.

The CS40 was never a great seller for the company, and it was dropped from production several years ago. I was told that it sold less than 100 units in factory sales/orders in what became the last year of its production.

The CS9 & CS45 sold well enough that the company never really had to do much advertising, and they sold quite well to LE for off-duty weapons, simply by word-of-mouth. The CS45 was often described as being more popular for off-duty choice in agencies where .45's were used for duty, as it was a really diminutive .45 that offered the typical 3rd gen reliability and ammunition tolerance.

Great guns in the 3rd gen line up, but probably not for everybody.
 
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I like my CS9 quite a bit. In fact, it was my EDC until I happened upon a non rail 3913TSW. I shoot the TSW just a bit better than the CS9, although I can't attribute that to the longer barrel.

I've been thinking about selling the CS9, but for some reason just can't muster the ambition to list it. Maybe I will some day, but it's not like there is any pressure on me to do so.
 
The going price for a CS9, plus the added cost for Big Dog grips, possibly sights as I've read many CS9's don't shoot to POI with the factory ones, new springs, etc. have caused me to put it on the back-burner and consider a new XDs as something smaller than my 3913.

I like my CS9 just fine with the chunky-grippy-sticky factory ones, wouldn't change them at all. ymmv

 
I'll have a cs9 for sale here on the forum next week. It's in great shape with 2 mags w/base pads & holster. Thanks for the ideas for pricing!

Sent from somewhere between the Ohio territory and the neutral zone.
 
I am a huge fan of the Third Generation pistols, but just couldn't seem to warm to the CS-9 and sold it in favor of my 908S with a 3913 slide. This seems just right to me and the fit in my hand is perfect. The CS-9 is a great gun, no doubt, but it is just too small for my hands. I also never liked the "checkering" or whatever it is on the front of the trigger guard of the 3913, so the smooth 908S frame is perfect.

Moral of the story: you need to handle a CS-9 before you get too het up about it.
 
Compact, single stack nines...

I've had both the CS9 and and CS45. I found I was happier with my ability to shoot the CS9 and now have two of them. The CS45 now has a new home. I like my 908s, and soon will have a 3914 join my humble collection. I miss my 3913... maybe another one will come along someday. I do like the Big Dogs one of my CS9s - over the factory Hogues. That's just me, and what I'm used to. I'm confident in carrying any of these single-stacks, though I probably shoot a bit better with the 3913/3914. In my opinion, these guns are among the finest single-stack nines ever produced.... Like waterfront property, what's out there is all there is.... and the value of these pistols has risen accordingly.
 
I have looked at CS9's in the past when looking for a 3913 but passed. I don't at all have large hands, but even so this is one of those situations where something just slightly LARGER does feel better to me. The 3913 size is perfect size and balance. I actually ended up going the 908 route as stumbled on to one at a bargain price that as LNIB. Couldn't be happier. Was just at the range again last night with a few guns and am always amazed at how smoothe the trigger is and how accurate it is. Don't pass on these because they were branded the Value Line guns, they are very well made. I have never had a single hiccup of any kind with my 908 using any sort of ammo and have been carrying it now for 3 yrs. I also have a 915 which is another one labeled as a Value Line which is also flawless to date. Shot it last night too. The CS series are good weapons, don't get me wrong, I just lean to the 3913 / 908 size based on my taste and experince. Best solution as someone also said is to get both! My guess you'll end up with them anyway as these guns are highly addictive. Best of luck!
 
The 'compact' S+W single-stack 9mm's are among my favorite guns (out of all guns, not just my favorite S+W's). At one time I had 3-3913's and 2-3953's. I HAD to have a CS9 for carry and finally got one. I discovered pretty quickly that I preferred the overall feel and balance of the 39-series. I don't have particularly large hands so it wasn't strictly a matter of size, it was just....well, like I said, feel and balance. When I compared the CS9 side-by-side with the 3913 I decided there wasn't enough difference to warrant forcing myself to like it more than I did, so off it went. The thing I love most about the 39-series is that they're big and heavy enough for the range while still being small and light enough for carry. There's no questions you save some size and weight with the CS vs, the 39xx. To each his own whether it matters enough.
 
I currently have a CS9, previously had the 3913 and also a 3913TSW. I think all three are great. The only reason I got away from the 3913 and went to a CS9 was because for a time I needed to go to ankle holster carry; definitely not my preferred method of carry, was just a work necessity, and the CS9 was the shortest. I came to like the CS9 a lot and as soon as I could went to belt holster and horizontal shoulder rig carry. I generally like the inexpensive Winchester and Federal for practice and Corbon +P for carry and all of them do fine with that selection of ammo. I do not see any great advantages or deficiencies in one as compared to the other, think bottom line is just the subjective aspects of which is more comfortable for the individual.
 
I currently have a CS9, previously had the 3913 and also a 3913TSW. I think all three are great. The only reason I got away from the 3913 and went to a CS9 was because for a time I needed to go to ankle holster carry; definitely not my preferred method of carry, was just a work necessity, and the CS9 was the shortest. I came to like the CS9 a lot and as soon as I could went to belt holster and horizontal shoulder rig carry.

I've never ankle carried a CS9 and realize it's problematic at best. Still, I'd like to give it a try. May I asked what holster you used? Did it have a calf strap/garter to support the weight? Thanks in advance.
 
Ankle Holster

Tom-Tom,

I very much apologize for the delay in responding, been very busy with work and lost track of this thread.

I tried several ankle holsters and the only one I found that was comfortable for wearing all day every day was the Bianchi Triad. Most days I would be walking several miles with it on and always comfortable, think it is a combination of good quality padding and many adjustments on it, the padding location can be adjusted as well as the strap tension. I was surprised at how comfortable it was, a really super quality ankle holster.
 
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