Newbie Question 3953 model

[Kizer]

So i just found out that my buddy is getting rid of his 3953 and im new to this style. My EDC is M&P9 FS and this gun is obviously very different. So i took the gun apart to check it out inside and i noticed the inside the slide it says model 6946. Why is this? he gave me the actual box it came with when he got it years ago and on the sticker, it says, Special. Does this have something to do with the different model numbers?

 

[GaryS]

The 6946 is a double stack DAO and the 3953 is a single stack DAO. The frames are different, but the slides and barrels are the same. I would guess that originally that slide was intended to go on a 6946 frame, but for some reason ended up on the 3953 frame.

A picture of the end label would help people understand what the Special might mean.

The 3953 is a nice gun and maybe I'll be able to find one some day.

 

[TTSH]

As GaryS correctly points out, the slides on the two models are identical and interchangeable. I assume from your post that your buddy is the original owner and that he would have told you if the original slide had been replaced at some point.

It would be interesting to find out if other 3953's have slides that are so marked... ... or if you have something unique there!

 

[Sevens]

While I am certainly aware of different models using exactly the same slides (this goes back all the way to the beginning of S&W pistols) I cannot say that I have ever seen a side marked anywhere with a model number.

I would like to see a picture of this showing it, would be interesting.

 

[kaveman]

I've seen model numbers etched on the inside of many slides. Just pulled three 3953's out and checked them. Only one has the model etched underneath and it lists both 3953 and 6946. I think my 5944 slide is model marked also. Maybe it's just a DAO only thing due to the unique slide configuration. I also have one or two with the model number marked on the outside, forward right of the slide. Again, DAO models.

Tried to divine some logic to the 1 out of 3 thing. The pistol with MIM parts isn't marked. The other two pistols are earlier and have forged parts but one is marked and the other isn't. Maybe the marked slide is the earliest of the three and Smith quit marking them sometime before going MIM. I did notice that both unmarked slides seem to have a slight lightening cut where the markings are on the first pistol. Manufactured that way,......not modified.

 

[WTN1271]

I remember reading in some other threads that early versions of DAO pistols have a longer slide & frame that covers the partially cocked hammer....maybe the slides were marked to keep the correct parts together during assembly. FWIW, my 3953tsw has no markings and is of the shorter slide variety (MIM parts too). None of my TDA pistols have model numbers marked inside the slide.

 

[Kizer]

Sorry about pics. Posting from phone. Turns out it was his old duty pistol for a while.