Pawnshop Finds

[john1950]

It seems to me lately that my best sources for 3rd. generation autoloaders are pawnshops.
Not a lot of gun stores where I live (Northwest Washington State), but quite a few pawnshops.
Everyone is trading in Granddad's old shooter to buy the latest in Tactical Finery.
Most pawnshops are pricing every old model 10 as a priceless treasure. There has been a 39-2 nickel on Armslist @ $900 with no box and papers and it sure ain't new in the box.
My latest deal was a year in the making.
I spotted a 3913 TSW 9 Tactical (OK tactical finery), mint, 1 mag, no box or papers, in a Pawnshop near Seattle, last year.
He had some neat stuff. A 457@$540 (if you are looking PM me), and a 15-3 for $450. No bargains
He wanted $690 and would not budge.
Every 3 months or so I would visit it and try to do a deal.
Nada.
Last week I went by, still there.
I had decided the price was ahead of the market, but it would catch up.
The owner wasn't there and his son was.
New game.
Offered $600.
He immediately went for it.
Looks unfired, I have played with it enough to burnish barrel contact points.
The barrel contact point on the on the frame was barely marked. No finish wear on hammer, etc.
So I bought a new 3913 TSW for less than when it was new.
This will be a shooter and carry gun.
By coincidence I was able to purchase a new 7 round 3913 magazine with the metal floor plate.
It was on Ebay with no bids 'til the final seconds.
The 3914 Ladysmith you see will be the focus of my next post in this series.

 

[jfd]

Nice gun, think your price very good too. Seemingly much harder to find the "9 Tactical" 3913 TSW than the one laser marked on slide as just "Tactical". I've been led to believe the "9Tactical" has matched barrel and slide, the regular "Tactical" does not but don't know if this actually true. Either way the 3913 TSW is a great gun.

 

[usamade]

It seems to me lately that my best sources for 3rd. generation autoloaders are pawnshops.
Not a lot of gun stores where I live (Northwest Washington State), but quite a few pawnshops.
Everyone is trading in Granddad's old shooter to buy the latest in Tactical Finery.
Most pawnshops are pricing every old model 10 as a priceless treasure. There has been a 39-2 nickel on Armslist @ $900 with no box and papers and it sure ain't new in the box.
My latest deal was a year in the making.
I spotted a 3913 TSW 9 Tactical (OK tactical finery), mint, 1 mag, no box or papers, in a Pawnshop near Seattle, last year.
He had some neat stuff. A 457@$540 (if you are looking PM me), and a 15-3 for $450. No bargains
He wanted $690 and would not budge.
Every 3 months or so I would visit it and try to do a deal.
Nada.
Last week I went by, still there.
I had decided the price was ahead of the market, but it would catch up.
The owner wasn't there and his son was.
New game.
Offered $600.
He immediately went for it.
Looks unfired, I have played with it enough to burnish barrel contact points.
The barrel contact point on the on the frame was barely marked. No finish wear on hammer, etc.
So I bought a new 3913 TSW for less than when it was new.
This will be a shooter and carry gun.
By coincidence I was able to purchase a new 7 round 3913 magazine with the metal floor plate.
It was on Ebay with no bids 'til the final seconds.
The 3914 Ladysmith you see will be the focus of my next post in this series.

Nice pistol. I don't think the 7rd mag will work on the 9tsw, the 7rd is for the cut away grip on the non rail early model tsw. I think yours only uses the 8rd, the bottom plate looks different than my 7rd, so maybe it will still work?

 

[t-bird]

Thanks for the story and pics. Very sweet 9 mm.

 

[nocents]

wow....they both look unfired new.....very nice

 

[Badkarma 1]

A very nice find! I too am haunting pawn shops more frequently these days in search of nice older Smiths at reasonable prices.
Dale

 

[john1950]

The 7 round magazine works in all my 3913s and 3914s. The metal floor plate magazines are designed for the full length receiver. The short 7 round magazines for the first 3913 TSW have a plastic base to match the notched receiver.

 

[Big Shrek]

Pawnshops often have hidden treasure...the trick is making solid, but not slaughter deals...
If you get a good rep at a few shops, they'll even call you when your Hot List stuff comes in...
I have a few biz cards with a specific list of a few guns on it I give to shops that I do regular biz with.

The trick is getting a Good deal without beating them up...
that way you get the repeat good deals for decades

In my case, I don't care what the condition is as long as the firearm is functional...
I'll refinish...or re-purpose...depends on what I want it for
Parkerizing is relatively easy...all things considered
So when they get in that scabby Marlin, or Calico, or stuff on my list,
they know I'll still buy!

 

[1775usmarine]

My LGS has a 3913tsw and a 6906 I believe they are both priced at 599, though I know they have been there for at least a yr and a half. The boss (my wife) has allotted me to a one gun purchase per yr from here on out. I'm tempted to get the 6906, though a guy in my state has one for 425. He's about 230 miles away. I told him if he gets no hits and decides to keep that I would be interested in it in a year lol. If not and the other is still at the LGS figure the same as the OP the price will catch up.

 

[usamade]

My LGS has a 3913tsw and a 6906 I believe they are both priced at 599, though I know they have been there for at least a yr and a half. The boss (my wife) has allotted me to a one gun purchase per yr from here on out. I'm tempted to get the 6906, though a guy in my state has one for 425. He's about 230 miles away. I told him if he gets no hits and decides to keep that I would be interested in it in a year lol. If not and the other is still at the LGS figure the same as the OP the price will catch up.

The 3913, I consider a vintage shield, they are very close in size, obviously the weight is somewhat different due to metal verse polymer... But these aren't seen much for sale at a decent price, I have a first gen non rail 3913tsw and it would be the very last firearm I would ever sell if forced.. I still love everything about it, I also own a shield9 but the 3913t is just something you need to own, if you know where to get one at a decent price it's a must have.

 

[Kadonny]

The 3913, I consider a vintage shield, they are very close in size, obviously the weight is somewhat different due to metal verse polymer... But these aren't seen much for sale at a decent price, I have a first gen non rail 3913tsw and it would be the very last firearm I would ever sell if forced.. I still love everything about it, I also own a shield9 but the 3913t is just something you need to own, if you know where to get one at a decent price it's a must have.

Agreed, I've been on the lookout for a pre-rail 3913tsw or even better a pre-rail 3953tsw. The 3953tsw is a grail gun for me.