Just what I was told, back in 1992. If it's wrong, fine. Now we know. I assume you have researched this. Right?(keep your day job. Comedy isn't your long suit.")
New to me 3954
- Thread starter prproulx
- Start date
Just what I was told, back in 1992. If it's wrong, fine. Now we know. I assume you have researched this. Right?(keep your day job. Comedy isn't your long suit.")
681ismyfavorite
Member
why so touchy? did you make that stat up? if not why so touchy?
i could very well be wrong and only 154 3954s really were ever made and i wasnt smart enough to buy the few i could have when they were $350.00....
VTHokiesDuckHunter
Member
I'd say it is very possible.
For example, only 550 S&W 4014's were produced. (see attached letter from S&W historian.)
I would think those would sell more units than a DAO pistol.
Since I got my 4014, I've met 6 or 7 other guys on this board and others that have them. Which is what statisticians would call a "self-selecting population" or certainly a biased population.
I'm just glad to be one of those lucky 500+ people that own a 4014!
681ismyfavorite
Member
no insinuation meant towards you, just the guy whom told you....
i dont believe it regarding the 3954, but i could very well be wrong.
do you believe him?
Actually it was a woman. I was talking on the phone to someone I was transfered to, to ask about the gun. I wouldn't know her if I tripped over her.
681ismyfavorite
Member
10-4. do you believe her?
Of course. why would I have any reason to not believe her? What would she have to gain by it? what would I have to gain from it? That I was going to reply to a posting on the S&W forum, nineteen years later, to lie about it? Do you disbelieve someone when you call for information? I don't even know why we are having this conversation. You believe what you want to.
OUT!!!
681ismyfavorite
Member
her information seems to be mistaken. i question some replys i get. just because she answered the phone at s&w doesnt mean she knows what she talking about....especially if it sounds a bit off....
of course, im skeptical enough to say that 154 number is wrong, but im man enough to say i could be wrong.
will somebody in the know tell us the correct number of 3954s made?
Count off - I have 1. 
PS: To Earl - I did not mean to imply that your information was incorrect at all. It was a sincere question. Apologies extended if the text on the page left you feeling otherwise. Could very well be accurate and a cool stat.
PS: To Earl - I did not mean to imply that your information was incorrect at all. It was a sincere question. Apologies extended if the text on the page left you feeling otherwise. Could very well be accurate and a cool stat.
VTHokiesDuckHunter
Member
EarlFH:
if you saw my post about 5 or 6 up- I at least believe it's very possible.
You can all read the letter from S&W on the 4014's. If they only made about 500 4014's, (which are a DA/SA model which is more popular in general than a DAO model) and the .40 S&W was coming out as a hot round at that time, why is it not possible that they only made a couple of hundred 3954's in blued DAO?
It makes a lot of sense to me.
if you saw my post about 5 or 6 up- I at least believe it's very possible.
You can all read the letter from S&W on the 4014's. If they only made about 500 4014's, (which are a DA/SA model which is more popular in general than a DAO model) and the .40 S&W was coming out as a hot round at that time, why is it not possible that they only made a couple of hundred 3954's in blued DAO?
It makes a lot of sense to me.
681ismyfavorite
Member
its quite possible. however, twenty years after they stopped making (154) of them dont you think theyd command a premium price and be highly sought after? heck, the p.o.s. (reliablity wise) of the .22lr escort costs more when you see them around than the 3954 which seems to be fewer of them than the ASP.
VTHokiesDuckHunter
Member
.
I see why you would think that way but it's very counterintuitive. People will pay $500 for a plastic Glock, $1000 for a nice 1911, $500 for a M&P, and then when they see one of my 3rd generation S&W's at the range they want to know all about it and can't believe they're not made anymore. On the occassions that I tell them I bought an all metal framed S&W with less than 50 rounds fired through it, original box and papers, and 3 14 round magazines for $375 they don't believe it.
I was looking for a 4013 when I found my 4014 kind of by accident. $355 and it is mint with everything it came with from the factory. Try getting a comparable new production SIG for $355.
And everyone is on the lookout for new 4013, 3913's and Ladysmith 3913's, and a few other models which they see and know about, but except for a few of us, their is not as much awarness of the "black guns" like the 4014, 3914, 3954's, etc.
That's my guess at least. I think a lot of the buyers in the market don't comrehend paying a lot of money for a 10 or 15 year old gun that is not a specific collectable, even if it is NIB. Again, any of these guns are the equivalent, if not better than, a Beretta at $600 or a Sig at $800-$900.
The biggest factors, again- in my opinion, are that there are a lot of lighty shot Police trade-in 3rd gen guns diluting the market, and the fact that the 3rd gens are not in current production. I throw that last one in there because if you look at the Smith revolvers, there is a healthy market for new and old stock NIB 686's, 29's, etc.
Everytime I see a Shorty 40 MK III I it just shocks me of what an awesome gun it is, and clearly nicer than anything comarable that's in new production.
CZ, Beretta, Sig and others make very nice metal framed pistols. Kimber of course has a hit with their new Solo, and anything that is compact and of decent quality is selling well.
I'd like to see S&W come to grips with the fact that making annual runs of guns like the 3913, 4013, Shorty's, and Chief's Specials might actually complement the sale of their polymer guns and not cannibilize sales from them.
Can you imagine a refresh and modernization of the 3 CS type guns by S&W? I'd buy one of each. I don't plan to buy a BG380though.
jframe
Member
What difference does it make as to how many were made? The fact is, it's a really cool S&W not often seen in MY neck of the woods, anyway. I think he got a great pistol, and should shoot the snot out of it, because it will NEVER be worth enough for any of us to retire on, no matter how rare it is, like any other gun. I love my 3953 stainless equivalent, but I would prefer his blued one because of it's all-business look, just like I stated in my previous post. I STILL want a nice left handed IWB holster for mine; just don't want to have to wait to get it. Any yous guys got one you'd let go of?
Hey Jframe, fellow Lefty here. I wanted to try an inexpensive IWB before I committed to leather and found the Blackhawk Size 6 nylon fits perfectly. I found mine locally for less than $15 then decided it worked just fine and never upgraded.
VTHokiesDuckHunter
Member
Jframe wrote:
JFrame: I agree with you 100% that he should shoot it (and often!) I shoot and carry my 4014. I figure if the finish ever gets to the point that it concerns me, I'll send it back to S&W to be re-blackened/melonited or to another that shop that does hard chrome or melonite/tenifer type finishes.
These guns are never going to be the collectors most sought after pieces like a Colt Python, and even if I had a rare Python I'd be shooting it- just also taking care of it.
Your right that the collectors value is never really that high of a premium "to retire on"- maybe for some very rare and desirable shotguns and old Winchesters- even then, many of those guns were shot.
So shoot your Smith's and enjoy them. My only point was that there could have indeed have been low sales numbers on some of these guns- and was not implying that this meant not to shoot them or that their value would be correspondingly high. Even a pretty rare and desirable blackened Shorty Forty MK III can be had NIB for $1100. That's a lot less than many 1911's in current production. What a gun for the money!
JFrame: I agree with you 100% that he should shoot it (and often!) I shoot and carry my 4014. I figure if the finish ever gets to the point that it concerns me, I'll send it back to S&W to be re-blackened/melonited or to another that shop that does hard chrome or melonite/tenifer type finishes.
These guns are never going to be the collectors most sought after pieces like a Colt Python, and even if I had a rare Python I'd be shooting it- just also taking care of it.
Your right that the collectors value is never really that high of a premium "to retire on"- maybe for some very rare and desirable shotguns and old Winchesters- even then, many of those guns were shot.
So shoot your Smith's and enjoy them. My only point was that there could have indeed have been low sales numbers on some of these guns- and was not implying that this meant not to shoot them or that their value would be correspondingly high. Even a pretty rare and desirable blackened Shorty Forty MK III can be had NIB for $1100. That's a lot less than many 1911's in current production. What a gun for the money!
OP
prproulx
Member
Don't worry lads! I'll be shooting it!
jframe
Member
Thanks for the tip; I'll look here locally. My dealership that I work for also owns a sporting goods store, so they can probably get me one.
Similar threads
- Locked
