Model 3914DAO

[Duckfood]

A few weeks ago, at my LGS, I saw a 3914 in a display case of new guns... Knowing that these haven't been made in quite some time, I asked my buddy behind the counter about it... He said that they received a handful of them... "New Old Stock" is what he said... I am unsure exactly what that means... Is it possible that this gun was lost in a warehouse for 20 years before someone picked up that old stack of newspaper in the corner and found a stash of firearms???

I played with it for a few minutes, gave it back, and I came home and did a little bit of research on here... There are very few bad things said about this firearm... I went back this weekend and placed it in layaway...

I have included a picture of the label in case someone has the ability to decipher the serial number and turn it into an approximate year of production...

Please feel free to share any personal experiences with the 3914...

Thanks

 

[GaryS]

There are a couple of other threads here on this, but I'll give you the short story.

They were made specially for NYPD to NYPD specifications. Production started in the late 1990s or so and it was on the authorized off duty list until fairly recently. NYPD officers buy their on and off duty firearms, but are required to buy from the authorized list.

A few years ago, the gun was removed from the list and officers could no longer buy them. It appears that unsold stock was sent back to S&W and some of them have shown up a various FFLs.

Yours was made on 6/24/2015, so it's a late production. I think that's the last year they were made, but only the factory knows for sure. The date of manufacture is listed about "Model" on the label. Smith has taken the mystery out of production dates.

As shipped to New York for sale, it came with three magazines. I have no idea if the guns sent back and resold to FFLs were shipped that way.

Mine shoots beautifully with a very smooth double action only action.

The one in this post is mine and has more information, maybe more than you want to know.

 

[Duckfood]

Has more information, maybe more than you want to know.

Too much information??? No way... That is exactly what I am looking for... Thanks!!!

 

[GaryS]

You're welcome. I think you'll like that fine firearm.

Too much information??? No way... That is exactly what I am looking for... Thanks!!!

 

[BLUEDOT37]

One of the theories on them is that they were made from spare parts held aside until the PD contracts expired. Dunno.

Curiously, mine has a serial# a couple digits higher than yours but was made (9) days before yours.

I found mine (Jan-2018) at a LGS who's mainly a SIG dealer, usually has a small assortment of S&Ws, but never has any used guns.

It was mixed in with a bunch of other new "plastic" S&Ws & I wasn't sure exactly what I was seeing at first when I came across.

It was brand new & his distributor had offered him only the one to purchase.

Goes well with my 3914 (mfd. Oct-1989).

.

.
.
.

.
.
.

.

 

[stansdds]

The final version of the DAO pistols do not have quite as nice of a trigger pull as the ones with the partially cocked hammer that was shrouded by an extended slide and receiver. But the last versions will fit in standard 3rd gen holsters, the earlier versions require their own holsters if you want a retention strap over the rear of the slide.

 

[Duckfood]

The final version of the DAO pistols do not have quite as nice of a trigger pull as the ones with the partially cocked hammer that was shrouded by an extended slide and receiver.

Yeah... There is a lot of talk on here about how nice and smooth the triggers are on a number of these models... The trigger pull on this firearm is as long and heavy as you would expect from a DAO handgun... It is a bit grittier than I have read about... I am assuming that a good cleaning and a few hundred rounds will smooth it out...

 

[StephenWhoDat]

I have a 3914DAO and absolutely love it. Carried it for a couple years when I used to carry 9 thrillimeter. Mine was bought directly from a detective with NYPD who purchased it new and only fired a couple magazines through it. For some reason, it doesn't say "NYPD" on my box label though. I've always wondered about that. If anyone knows why that is, please let me know.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

The trigger pull on this firearm is as long and heavy as you would expect from a DAO handgun...

It's actually the same double action pull you get from a TDA 3914, without the single action option.

Typical DAO 3rd Gens (3953, 3944, etc) have a short(er) trigger pull but lack the re-strike feature of a TDA or NYPD-DAO.

.