Non-Railed, Caliber Marked TSW’s

[GaryS]

That has to be an ultra rare variation. No wonder you couldn't track that down. Might even be a one off or prototype.

OK, so technically this is a non-recessed grip frame 3913TSW pre-rail, but it's the closest thing I've ever seen to a non-railed, caliber-marked 3913TSW. Yes, I tried to track this particular gun down, and no, I was not able to purchase it.

 

[4T5GUY]

OK, so technically this is a non-recessed grip frame 3913TSW pre-rail, but it's the closest thing I've ever seen to a non-railed, caliber-marked 3913TSW.

I sure wish I could see all the numbers on it.

Can you see what the three lettered prefix of the serial number is? Thanks for posting the picture for sure, very interesting.

Jim

 

[18DAI]

I was going to suggest that looked like a 3913TSW top end on a standard frame TercGen, till I saw the beavertail shape.

S&W put that same "cut" - chopped looking beavertail on the original rail free 3913TSWs. Looks like you found a Unicorn!

And the picture was too pixilated when I blew it up to make out the serial prefix. But it sure resembled "TD.....something. TDU, TDT and TDR being common LE gun serial prefixes for models made after the "official end of production", for LE orders of 50 guns, or more.

Very interesting pistol. There you go, TercGen proved they DO EXIST! Regards 18DAI

 

[GaryS]

Odd that it's not caliber marked either.

 

[TercGen]

I would have to agree with you guys - this was a very rare pistol. I've never seen another like it. Like you noticed 18DAI, it's definitely the pre-rail beavertail, and very obviously has a full-length grip frame.

Digging around, I found a few more pics of this gun, including the serial # and the box tag. It's listed as a 7-round! Spec ord would date this to '98 most likely, which makes sense for the normal pre-rail 3913TSW's. I'd have to agree with Gary, probably a one-off or prototype of some kind.

 

[4T5GUY]

Thank you for the better pictures and also for keeping my original post alive. Seems there are some different combinations with the 3913TSW pistols and other TSW's (?) It's really cool seeing different ones, at least to me.

There's that same yellow high lighting of the product code. Am I starting to see a pattern here or what?

Jim

 

[cnette01]

The latter, (caliber TSW marked pistols,) were matched frame with slide. The are numbered so.

Jim

That's very interesting. I have a 4013 TSW (non caliber Tactical marked billboard) that was purported to be part of the CHP series. I checked the frame and slide and it does have matching numbers. Does this mean that my 4013 TSW is a later model that was matched frame with slide?

 

[4T5GUY]

That's very interesting.

No that's very interesting.

My 4013TSW is not frame/slide numbered matched, but neither is my 4006TSW CHP. (Last picture.)

I'm getting more confuseder.

It's obviously number matched so frame and slide were meant to stay together throughout. That's great.

Jim

 

[cnette01]

My CHP 4006TSW doesn't have matching interior numbers either for the frame/slide.

 

[4T5GUY]

Does this mean that my 4013 TSW is a later model that was matched frame with slide?

Your example is the earlier 4013TSW.

The picture I "stole" and attached is of a latter one. I've seen a few of these that were non-railed but they were high priced and low condition. Some day though.

Jim

 

[18DAI]

Later production and SOME LE Special order TSWs, did away with the matching numbers on the slide and frame.

They were still as well made and as tight, in my experience. Regards 18DAI

 

[JohnHL]

I'll need to check my notes to recall which models, but one TSW had a number on the frame but I could not find one on the slide, until I removed the rear sight.

And one had a number on the slide but I could not find one on the frame, until I removed the sear spring.

Both the Lord and S&W work in mysterious ways.

John