If you couldn't EDC your beloved S&W 3rd Gen...

[18DAI]

I agree with those who classify their 3rd gen guns as "almost too nice to carry...". Thats why Ive recently started carrying my 457 and CS9.

I dont do the brand loyalty thing though. I havent purchased a "new" s&w since 2001 and have no intention of doing so. They dont make a gun I want or have a use for.

They certainly have a great advertising department and evidently are getting a great return on that investment. And their customer service is top notch. But it should be what with all the practice it gets with returned guns. Regards 18DAI

 

[nocents]

I agree with those who classify their 3rd gen guns as "almost too nice to carry...". Thats why Ive recently started carrying my 457 and CS9.

Regards 18DAI

this is exactly how I ended up with 3 3913's....the first 2 were WAY to pristine to carry...then Iammo offered up a few for sale that had the repatriation markings on the frames which to me made them a guilt free ccw

 

[BAM-BAM]

I agree with those who classify their 3rd gen guns as "almost too nice to carry...". That's why I've recently started carrying my 457 and CS9.

. Regards 18DAI

Bought the first 3913 I saw in a LGS ....1st year production....... and did the same with a 3913NL........ LOL both were ANIB........ but not for long!

Both are still in 'better than nice" shape...... picked up a few more "used?" 3913s,NL and 3914s over the years.....dirt cheap ...... everyone wanted hi-caps...

but IMHO you can't beat a 39xx for a concealed carry 9mm....... the operative word there is "carry"!!!

 

[Tom S.]

Colt 45 acp in one of the cut down frame versions, manufacturer of your choice. You cannot find a gun that has more accessories or parts available - period.

 

[digiroc]

Quite So BAM-BAM ...

... Like any City the "Burgh" has problem areas and drug issues...... but the "burbs"...especially the ones on the outer edges of Allegheny Co. are pretty quite.

I'm in a fringe area of Pittsburgh near the airport. It's pretty quiet here, unless I'm shooting in my backyard.

digiroc

 

[Amp]

I'm in a fringe area of Pittsburgh near the airport. It's pretty quiet here, unless I'm shooting in my backyard.

digiroc

You want quiet, come down below RT 70.

Oh and my 3913 turns 27 years old tomorrow.
I have the original receipt

 

[BruceB]

I would suspect that 3rd Gen fans would align more with the revolver group than the new-fangled auto folks.

Yup. I considered models like the Chief's Specials and the value line autos as 3rd Gen, so the only other things left would be my K-frames. I'm very brand loyal, it was a stretch to let my wife's Walther .380 (by S&W) into the safe. I wouldn't carry that *** though unless it was the last one available and I was out of ammo for anything else.

 

[Amp]

I went to Sig for a while

 

[fiasconva]

I semi-retired my 5906 and went with the M&P9 FS a few years ago. I still bring the old warhorse out and carry it from time to time but M&P is my primary.

 

[Big Shrek]

This is a poll just for those members who EDC one of their beloved S&W 3rd Gens. I'm interested today in finding out what your best alternative would be (what you'd actually buy and carry daily or often) if suddenly all 3rd Gens mysteriously vanished overnight off the face of the earth (humor me on this one!).

The main point I'm trying to evaluate is how much "brand loyalty" there would be when the main S&W pistol alternatives are plastic and when there are other alternatives available in both all-metal and plastic?

Just for fun, of course. I don't really believe that all the 3rd Gens are going to mysteriously disappear overnight. Well, not tonight anyway!

I've already planned out and enacted my EDC-alt-feckit-mod.

Awhile back did a test between the Star 45 & the S&W CS45,
determined that the Star model 45 is slightly more accurate
and the same size as my CS45.
Since I often carry BOTH at the same time, with the Star
as Primary & CS45 as BUG, it probably will save the CS from
being taken if not used during a defensive shooting.

See, that's the downside of carrying a beloved 3rd Gen,
and having to use it defensively...it'll get confiscated.
And then it may literally be years before if gets returned,
and some states/cities Don't Return them after all is cleared.

So now, given the choice of using an inexpensive Star pistol,
instead of a pricey CS45, which also shoots slightly smaller groups...
well, the choice is kinda obvious...

Also just picked up a Star 243 last week to take over the
BUG spot from the CS45...which will help keep my very nice
looking CS's looking good far longer while they relax as
Bedroom Guns in a popit safe So as soon as I've gone thru it
properly and made sure it's reliable, it'll get the BUG spot.
It will eventually receive major modification of a .40-S&W slide
springs, mags, and barrel to make it a technical model 240
Always felt that 9mm wasn't quite enough, so that'll solve it...

 

[digiroc]

... I often carry BOTH at the same time, with the Star as Primary & CS45 as BUG, it probably will save the CS from being taken if not used during a defensive shooting..

If you are involved in a shooting they are going to take any weapon you have on you or even in your car.

digiroc

 

[ShelbyV8]

I have already changed over to SW99/Walther P99 AS. They are TDA with a de cocker and second strike like the 3rd gens. My SW99c holds 9 rounds of 40 is the same length slide, shorter grip, and lighter than my 3913NL. They have a better trigger than any of my 3rd Gens. I have them in 9mm, 40, and 357 sig full size and the compact 40.

 

[GRIZZLYBEAR]

I carry one of the 10** series pistols.

Since I like the 10mm I would have to carry a Colt Delta, Kimber 10mm, or Glock 29

 

[T2C]

Smith & Wesson makes the finest revolvers in the world, bar none. If I replaced a Gen 3 S&W semi-auto with a S&W, it would have to be a J Frame or K Frame.

 

[TTSH]

Smith & Wesson makes the finest revolvers in the world, bar none. If I replaced a Gen 3 S&W semi-auto with a S&W, it would have to be a J Frame or K Frame.

84 votes as of this morning and the S&W J-frame is the clear winner.

But the poll was really about brand loyalty just as much as it was about the particular model choices. In that regard, S&W scored 42 votes out of 84 votes cast... exactly 50%. Interesting!

The rest of the results show a pattern that makes sense given what I think I know about 3rd Gen owners. The Shield (a rather obvious S&W-made EDC replacement) scored very high as did the all-metal Sigs and apparently there are some K-frame snubbie fans out there too.

Glock did reasonably well and then the numbers start to trickle down for other alternatives, possibly because I didn't list a few decent/popular options like the CZ family and even 1911's.

Surprises? Yep. Just one lonely vote for the S&W M&P compacts (no love there??? why???) and no votes at all for the new plastic Sigs like the supposedly desirable 320c. Also, just one vote for the Ruger pistols and just one vote for Springfield pistols. Given that my LC9s and my SR9c are two of my favorite alternative carry guns, that shows I may be well outside of mainstream 3rd Gen afficiando thinking (yet again!).

Thanks to all who voted so far! There is still time left... so as they say, vote early and often.