Ooops I did it again

[GaryS]

We're preparing for a move from MA to TX and part of that has been disposing of firearms that don't get used a lot.

One of those a few weeks ago was a pre rail 3953TSW that I just couldn't bring myself to put in a holster. It was ANIB, so it was pretty close to perfect.

I'm also not "supposed to" buy any new guns as they all have to be moved.

Sadly for me, I can't resist the used gun page of a local dealer that I've done a lot of business with. Last week we were out of town and I was bored so I looked at the used gun page.

There was a listing for a 3953TSW with a TDU prefix. Not consistent with a pre rail, so I guessed that it was a later rail version. Not exactly a grail gun, but one I'd be interested in if the price was right.

In this case it was a bit high at $550.00, but it was listed with three magazines.

I kept track of it expecting it to get sold before I got back from my trip, but it was still listed this morning. A call to the shop and they put it on hold for me.

While it doesn't come with a box or papers it looks unused. One of the magazines hasn't seen a round, the other two look like they were used a few times.

So, it came home with me. Given what 39xx magazines go for these days, I think the price was fair.

Pictures once I get some time. First it needs to be cleaned and lubricated.

 

[4T5GUY]

There was a listing for a 3953TSW with a TDU prefix. Not consistent with a pre rail, so I guessed that it was a later rail version.

So does it have a rail? Many of the TDU prefix TSW's are non-railed "railed." I have a 4513TSW TDU that is like this and have seen others here have them also.

$550.00 wasn't a bad price all things considered. Good for you and what's another one to pack up and move.

Jim

 

[petepeterson]

Are you doing this to save having to move them, or because you can get more in MA for them?

 

[Engine49guy]

I moved from Taxachusetts to free Florida in 1981.
No state income tax, no FID" Cards, no snow shovels or winter tires...btw we are now also a state where a license is not required to conceal carry.
You will love Tx!

 

[GaryS]

It has a rail. Which I might well remove as it's easier to find holsters for guns without a rail.

Rather than multi quote, I'll just say that the later 3953TSW guns are almost impossible to find in MA. Actually, they don't seem to show up anywhere for sale very often.

TX doesn't require a LTC, but I'm going to get one anyway. If for nothing else, the reciprocity benefits as most of the states we'll be traveling to will recognize a TX LTC.

So does it have a rail? Many of the TDU prefix TSW's are non-railed "railed." I have a 4513TSW TDU that is like this and have seen others here have them also.

$550.00 wasn't a bad price all things considered. Good for you and what's another one to pack up and move.

Jim

 

[Maddog 521]

What part of Texas are ya'll looking at?

 

[GaryS]

Outside of Austin, mostly in Williamson County. We saw a couple of nice houses that we'd likely make offers on, but we can't until we have a contract on our house up here.

Back to the gun. I field stripped it and it's clean as a whistle, but dry. I'd guess that the owner put no more than a couple of magazines worth of ammunition through it and then put it away.

The little bit of scuffing on the rails is from lack of lubrication. The lugs on the frame are fine. The recoil spring is so new that I'll probably hold off on changing it for now. Of course the box with the S&W parts is already packed and somewhere in the pile of boxes. At least most of my cleaning stuff is still out and available.

Okay, being the guy I am, I finally found the box with the S&W parts. I cleverly marked it so that the moving people wouldn't suspect what was in it. So clever that I forgot what I'd marked it.

Anyway, I replaced the recoil and magazine springs. Cleaning is yet to come, but here are some quick pictures.

What part of Texas are ya'll looking at?

 

[GaryS]

I called the factory and got the manufacture month and year. December 2000.

 

[Derosa]

Here is an early welcome to Texas. Move here before August. Any August. Trust me it gets hot. In August you will fully know why. I have seen lizards cry from the heat.

 

[Jeppo]

That price seems more than fair to me. Congrats!

 

[Miami_JBT]

I moved from Taxachusetts to free Florida in 1981.
No state income tax, no FID" Cards, no snow shovels or winter tires...btw we are now also a state where a license is not required to conceal carry.
You will love Tx!

But we still don't have an actual right to carry because the courts ruled in Norman v. State that carrying is a privilege and the laws are only an affirmative defense.

 

[GaryS]

We got back from the Austin area Wednesday evening. Wednesday morning the temperature is finally broke but it was as high as 108 while we were there. My wife doesn't like the heat that much but we'll of course have air conditioning. The heat bothers me much less but I hate the cold of New England during the winter.

I hate snow and having to move it even more.

With luck and a lot of luck that is will be celebrating Thanksgiving in Texas this year and not going home afterwards. That is because we will be home.

Here is an early welcome to Texas. Move here before August. Any August. Trust me it gets hot. In August you will fully know why. I have seen lizards cry from the heat.

 

[K Frame Keith]

Wait…you're moving from MA to Texas and selling guns? lol.

 

[GaryS]

Sold off guns that spent most of their time in the gun safe. If I decide to replace them, I'm sure I'll find something in Texas.

In fact, I'm worried that I might find TOO MANY guns I want in Texas!

Wait…you're moving from MA to Texas and selling guns? lol.

 

[JohnHL]

Congratulations, Gary on two fronts.

First, congratulations on throwing off the shackles of "Cloud Cuckoo Land".

And if you ever get a little nostalgic for the lunacy, you won't be far from Austin, where they try to be their best version of "Cloud Cuckoo Land" on the Colorado River.

No, not the Grand Canyon Colorado River, but it is the longest river in Texas.

Second, congratulations on that nice 3953TSW.

I got mine from a dealer in Merrick, New York on 09/24/2016, almost 7 years ago to the day.

I think it only came with one mag, but I did get the original blue plastic case with label and docs, but no fired case.

Condition was not ANIB, but very good to excellent.

It also had the coveted (by me) VJL prefix.

Spec order # (Julian Date): 3276 (10/03/03)

I paid $450 seven years ago, so $550 today doesn't seem out of line.

I also like that it can be easily switched to DA/SA and back, unlike the earlier, pre rail model.

I'm curious about your "TDU" prefix.

As our Absent Comrade, John (18DAI) said on an earlier post:

The TDR serial prefix, among others starting with TD, usually indicates an LE order pistol. Regards 18DAI

So if yours is an LE gun in ANIB condition, perhaps you found one of the rare "Contract Overrun" pistols.

Might be worthy of a letter, although I asked Roy Jinks about my CS9, and he "teased" me by saying, "it was shipped to an interesting police department."

I never applied for the letter because I've never heard of an "uninteresting police department."

So congratulations, once again.

Best wishes in your new and more deserving home.

John

 

[GaryS]

Thank you, John.

It's times like this that I miss 18DAI the most.

Thinking about it a bit, it did come with three magazines. That's typical of LE guns as non LE guns come with two.

While processing the paperwork I was chatting with the salesman and mentioned that part of my calculation on the value of the gun was the three magazines. I think I surprised when I said that they go for about $45.00 used on Fleabay. He quickly looked on line and looked at me in surprise. He said, "You're exactly right." LOL. There were some new in the package going for $100.00.

It took me a while to realize that the Colorado River in Texas isn't the same as the other one. Lake Travis is beautiful and surrounded by million dollar plus houses.

We'll be about an hour north/northeast of Austin in Williamson County. That's less urban, but more conservative than Austin. Austin used to be weird and fun, but now it's just weird and creepy. I try to avoid going into the city, especially downtown. When I have to go, I'm armed and often check on Texas3006.com if places I'm going ban open or concealed carry.

I've also joined Texas Gun Talk and will shortly introduce myself there.

Congratulations, Gary on two fronts.

First, congratulations on throwing off the shackles of "Cloud Cuckoo Land".

And if you ever get a little nostalgic for the lunacy, you won't be far from Austin, where they try to be their best version of "Cloud Cuckoo Land" on the Colorado River.

No, not the Grand Canyon Colorado River, but it is the longest river in Texas.

Second, congratulations on that nice 3953TSW.

I got mine from a dealer in Merrick, New York on 09/24/2016, almost 7 years ago to the day.

I think it only came with one mag, but I did get the original blue plastic case with label and docs, but no fired case.

Condition was not ANIB, but very good to excellent.

It also had the coveted (by me) VJL prefix.

Spec order # (Julian Date): 3276 (10/03/03)

I paid $450 seven years ago, so $550 today doesn't seem out of line.

I also like that it can be easily switched to DA/SA and back, unlike the earlier, pre rail model.

I'm curious about your "TDU" prefix.

As our Absent Comrade, John (18DAI) said on an earlier post:



So if yours is an LE gun in ANIB condition, perhaps you found one of the rare "Contract Overrun" pistols.

Might be worthy of a letter, although I asked Roy Jinks about my CS9, and he "teased" me by saying, "it was shipped to an interesting police department."

I never applied for the letter because I've never heard of an "uninteresting police department."

So congratulations, once again.

Best wishes in your new and more deserving home.

John

 

[seasoldier85]

"It also had the coveted (by me) VJL prefix." ?

Please explain

 

[JohnHL]

"It also had the coveted (by me) VJL prefix." ?

Please explain

Nothing cryptic.

My initials are "JL".

John

 

[seasoldier85]

Ha Ha, I thought I was going to find out that my VJL serial numbered CS45 was some kind of rarity. I love that little cannon, used to shoot IDPA with it. Thanks.

 

[JohnHL]

Ha Ha, I thought I was going to find out that my VJL serial numbered CS45 was some kind of rarity. I love that little cannon, used to shoot IDPA with it. Thanks.

You're welcome!

Here's a link to a thread I started about my preference towards serial number prefixes that contain my initials.

Not surprisingly, quite a few members commented about their preferences for "personalized" numbers:

"VJL"

Unfortunately, my CS40S (my 2nd S&W and one of, if not the most favorite) has a "VJF" prefix and I have been able to modify it so it can be a CS45.

I've made a number of mods to it although it can be easily returned to its original condition.

Here's a link to a thread I started about it.

BTW, all of the mods I made to my CS40 can be performed on a CS45:

Hail to the Chief: an Anthropomorphic Fantasy (with pictures)

John

 

[BLUEDOT37]

I'm curious about your "TDU" prefix.
As our Absent Comrade, John (18DAI) said on an earlier post:

The TDR serial prefix, among others starting with TD, usually indicates an LE order pistol. Regards 18DAI

Interesting.

I have a TDR14xx pre-rail 4553TSW, with the box, but nothing indicates to me that mine is a LE order.

.



.
.



.

Ba-de-ya, dancing in September

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Sold off guns that spent most of their time in the gun safe. If I decide to replace them, I'm sure I'll find something in Texas.

In fact, I'm worried that I might find TOO MANY guns I want in Texas!

Howdy! You will find too much at Gun shops and shows that could never exist in Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. I may as well introduce you to one of your new pushers in Houston: Collectors Firearms - The Best Damn Gunshop in the World

 

[JohnHL]

Interesting.

I have a TDR14xx pre-rail 4553TSW, with the box, but nothing indicates to me that mine is a LE order.

.



.
.



.

Ba-de-ya, dancing in September

Only pistol I have with a "TD" prefix is my CalDoc 6906.

None of the boxes with labels I have indicate LE, although I know they are because there was a time when the S&W C/S folks would tell me where they were first sent.

John

 

[GaryS]

I'll dig through my files and look up the serial number of the CalDoc 3913 I had for a while.

The only hint I have about LE guns is that they come with three, not two magazines. I have an ex LE 6906 that came with three mags. And of course my 3914DAO came from the original purchaser with three mags. The prefix for that was TZR.

CalDoc 3913 with TDT prefix. That came to me without box and only one mag, but it had the CA inventory number on it.

Almost forgot. I had a trade in 5904 with a TDD prefix.

That's all I know.

Only pistol I have with a "TD" prefix is my CalDoc 6906.

None of the boxes with labels I have indicate LE, although I know they are because there was a time when the S&W C/S folks would tell me where they were first sent.

John