How many carry "old" 3rd gen pistols?

[digiroc]

They don't make them like they used to ...

I purchased a 3913LS compact 9mm.

Perhaps I will carry it. Do a lot of you carry old 3 gen guns? Are they still reliable? Or are they past their prime?

Do the 3rd gens mostly live in the safe with range trips now and then?

Now days has the carry job been taken over by Shields and M&P 9c etc?

Here is my 3913NL same as your LadySmith but without the logo:

Mine has an action job by "T" (Teddy Jacobson), well known for his work on 3G Smiths, and it also has had the slide refinished and enhanced by member BMCM, Master machinist of all things 3G.
This weapon I would trust my life to, current plastic Smiths not so much. Most any 3G will out shoot and outlast any of the plastic fantastics so popular now.

Like TAROMAN I prefer DAO for carry and revolver like manual of arms, so this gets carried more than my 3913NL or my 3914LS:

Of course there are 3G variants that Smith & Wesson didn't make, so some of us have taken a DIY approach to building weapons that the Mothership has forgotten, this 4013 converted to 10mm is a recent acquisition:

Soon to be sent to the Master Chief for a makeover and reliability check. I'm hoping he will do one of his famous step by step posts of the work he will do for me on this "1013".

And most recently (12:29 today) I added this DAO 10mm to my collection, which includes the 1006 and 1076:

I could go on with my Shorty 40 and my 4040PD, both treasured 3G guns, but I'll stop for now, with one caution for you, once you find out just how good your 3913LS is you will likely want to add more of these fine weapons to what could quickly become a collection (accumulation?) of these old and out of production guns.

digiroc

 

[deanodog]

I don't carry every day but the third gens would be my choice. I transport them in my vehicle at times and have these to choose from.

 

[SMSgt]

A 6906 is my primary EDC. As for being past its prime, I don't think it's even reached puberty yet!

 

[pharmer]

A 6906 is my primary EDC. As for being past its prime, I don't think it's even reached puberty yet!

I couldn't say it better. Since 1994, this one's on me at all possible times, usually in the nylon IWB to the left of the "ostrich hide" one it's pictured in. Joe

 

[kraynky]

I did carry a 3913NL for a while, but like someone else said earlier, it was too nice take a chance on messing it up, so I went to a Shield. However, when the weather turns cold here, I take every chance I get to carry my 4516. Providing I'm not going to be on foot all day. It is a tad heavy, but there's something very comforting about having that weight nestled inside my pants above my hip.

I'm keeping my eyes peeled for a good deal on a CS45 too! Well, there's also that 3914 I want to find............

 

[BAM-BAM]

Settled on 3rd Gen Smith's in the early 90s.....my first was a 3913.

Primary carry 95% of the time is a 3923NL from the first year of production.

Back ups are a PC Shorty 9 or a 6906.

Over the years I've acquired back-ups to each......... and back-ups to those back-ups....... and maybe a few more here and there!!!!

I've been shooting for 55years .... handguns for 40+....... only thing better than a 3rd Gen Compact 9mm for concealed carry is a 3" 66...... but that's a whole other story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MackTech]

I leave the house everyday with a LCP Custom in my pocket plus a 3913 in a IWB Cleveland Kydex holster. Sometimes in cold weather I go 4026 or 4566. I did buy a new Shield but it's already sold, 3913 rules with me.

 

[digiroc]

I've got another story to tell (once again) ...

Settled on 3rd Gen Smith's in the early 90s... only thing better than a 3rd Gen Compact 9mm for concealed carry is a 3" 66...

Despite my love for the 3G autos I too like a revolver as my primary defensive weapon, but I do carry a 3G of some sort as back-up to my wheel gun.

Like you I don't find a K frame to be too heavy or too big for concealed carry. The weight and extra round of my 547 six shooter in 9mm gives me comfort in the case of needing rounds on target in a hurry.

I'll resist posting the photo as this is a semi auto thread, and I'm sure you've all seen it before.

digiroc

 

[66snub]

Occasionally, I carry a 5943 when its cooler outside and I can hide the full length grip. 17 plus 1 in 9mm and a reload would/should see me through pretty much anything.

 

[MattyD380]

I've been carrying my recently acquired 4516-2 fairly often. It's heavy, yes. But the footprint is very manageable. It actually carries quite well appendix style--even though I don't have a really good holster setup for it yet (just using a neoprene blackhawk).

I also have a 645 which I will carry on occasion too. I have this generic, open-bottom nylon holster that handles its size surprisingly well--even in the appendix position. The muzzle sticks out of the bottom, and grip lays roughly parallel with the waistline, so it really doesn't print much. I don't know if it's the "tactically cool thing" to do... but it's kind of neat to be walking around Kroger in a t-shirt and jeans with a big old 645 in your pants. YMMV.

My 6904 was actually my main carry gun for quite a while, until I got my latest Sig P239--which pretty much answers all my CCW/AIWB needs at the moment. 6904 is a great gun, though and I'd bet my life on it any day. I shot circles around a P228 I had with that 6904. Never selling that one.

 

[Ascension]

I work in a Pawn Shop and carry a 3rd gen most of the time, Normally it's ether my 5943 or my early pre rail TSW 4013 every day. Carry both in a Don Hume level 2 duty holster. Will carry my 1066 on occasion also as well as several other 3rd gens I own but the 5943 is the day to day workhorse. With the alloy frame my 5943 is as light as a Glock shoots accurately and is dead nuts reliable. It's the pistol I want on my side if it ever hit the fan in the shop and I have to trust something with my life!!

 

[davidenorth]

I am waiting for my new grip for my 6906 from Smith & Wesson then I will start carrying it.

 

[GaryS]

I'll be going out in a few minutes to do some errands. I'll be carryin my 3913TSW (pre rail) in a new to me Bianchi Pistol Pocket designed for the 3rd Gen compacts.

 

[wyo-man]

Recently purchased a S&W 4054. As soon as I fire enough rounds to be comfortable it will be my carry (unless I need something smaller depending on clothing).

wyo-man

 

[rwt1405]

Bought my 3953 new in 1991, and other then a short period of carrying my Glock 30 (late 1990's), it is still my primary carry weapon, with my 642 as BUG or when I need to pocket carry only.

 

[RufusG]

I've tried a couple dozen different carry guns over the years (semis + revolvers, 9mm, 45acp, 357, one 45 colt) and my current rotation consists of three 9mm double stacks, all 3rd gen Smiths. Not counting the 5906 in my car. Considering the pile of mags I have, it'll likely be too hard to change to something else, not that I feel I need to.

 

[stansdds]

For CCW I have carried only two handguns... so far. My first was a S&W 640-1. Carried it for years. Several years ago I decided to upgrade to a semi-auto CCW piece. Looked at Glocks and the relatively new, at the time, M&P. I settled on a used 6946 for $300 OTD. It has a light and smooth DAO trigger that reminds me so much of that on my 640-1. No safety to fumble and 12+1 capacity stoked with 147 gr Winchester Ranger T loads, just big enough and heavy enough to let me know that it is there.

 

[BB57]

I'm still partial to my 2 1/2" Model 66 and 2 1/2" 686+ in the cooler months, but during the warm seasons here in eastern NC, I carry a 6906. Handguns are like trucks, it's the condition that matters, not the age, and saying a 3rd Gen S&W is past its prime just because it is old is ridiculous.

 

[Cal44]

I figured I'd post a picture here of my 3913 LS now that I got it after the 10 day wait.

We need more 3rd Gen pictures anyway.

 

[GaryS]

Third Gen pictures always deserve a "like".

I figured I'd post a picture here of my 3913 LS now that I got it after the 10 day wait.

We need more 3rd Gen pictures anyway.