potential 3913 purchase

[kokopelli]

I've been away from the 3rd gen guns for a while, but coming full-circle and now want to carry what I started with. -previously had a pretty good assortment- multiples of 4506, 457, 6906, CS9, carried them all at one point on/off duty.


I have an opportunity to buy a 3913, but it only comes with one mag... I really like the gun, but then I looked for extra mags and was shocked!

Where are all the 3913 magazines?! I see Promag and Triple K, but no factory mags for sale anywhere.

 

[Baxter6551]

All of us with the 3913s and 3953s (like me) have gobbled them up ! The prices on them have really gone up. I’m grateful I have 5 now.

 

[Yendor357]

Mag scarcity is simply what your run into when you buy something that has been out of production for 25 years, or whatever it’s been.

A local gun shop has a 3913 under the glass for $500. It’s been there for at least a year. It’s not very pretty. Why people take a beautiful, expensive pistol and treat it like trash, I’ll never understand.

What’s the price on the one you are looking at?

The modern version of the 3913, in my opinion is the CZ Shadow 2 Compact. Twice the mag capacity. Magazines galore. Optics ready. So that’s the direction I took.

 

[kokopelli]

Mag scarcity is simply what your run into when you buy something that has been out of production for 25 years, or whatever it’s been.

A local gun shop has a 3913 under the glass for $500. It’s been there for at least a year. It’s not very pretty. Why people take a beautiful, expensive pistol and treat it like trash, I’ll never understand.

What’s the price on the one you are looking at?

The modern version of the 3913, in my opinion is the CZ Shadow 2 Compact. Twice the mag capacity. Magazines galore. Optics ready. So that’s the direction I took.

$500 for it.

We think alike- I’m looking at CZ’s now… I want DA/SA, thumb safety/decock and aluminum frame, not plastic.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Been a third gen fan since the late 80s.
When the Glock 26/27s came out their was a glut of guns and mags in local gun shops.....I bought all the $10/15 mags I came across for 39xx,69xx and 59xx and 45xx guns.

At the time used 39xx guns were going for < $300 sometimes 3914s for much less; so I grabbed a few.

So in answer to your question; in my safes!

3913 is a great gun and my favorite EDC for the past 35 years.

Another gun you might want to consider is the Beretta 92 Compact Mec-gar makes a nice flush fit 15 rd mag for it! You can get a decocker only kit for about $50.

 

[BillyMagg]

In the interest of those gorgeous little 3913's

Been a third gen fan since the late 80s.
When the Glock 26/27s came out their was a glut of guns and mags in local gun shops.....I bought all the $10/15 mags I came across for 39xx,69xx and 59xx and 45xx guns.

So in answer to your question; in my safes!

3913 is a great gun and my favorite EDC for the past 35 years.

Another gun you might want to consider is the Beretta 92 Compact Mec-gar makes a nice flush fit 15 rd mag for it!

I think you should sell him a couple of those $15 dollar magazines for $35 bucks apiece to get him started..

I think my Daddy told me to "Share, and Share Alike"!, this is the Smith and Wesson forum!

Don't be stingy, when you are buying or selling here, be fair and upfront, like our 800lb gorilla Hand Ejector!

I've been too damn cheap, and its cost me friends, and sadly, being the steward of some beautiful Smith and Wesson's...

I just fixed that, I sold a couple of really nice round butt N frames in order to trade into a triple lock, that was very pricey, very gorgeous, NOT perfect, but such a gorgeous girl!

Sharing really does make food taste better, it really does!

Billy

 

[Brian Parrish]

The 908 mags are the same.

The ProMag magazines are good, at least mine are just fine. I carried my 3913 with one factory mag in it and 2 ProMags on my belt for about a year. By now I have three other factory mags including one still in the packaging.
Many times on the forum I have heard the bitterness toward that brand name expressed, so caution is warranted, but the only failure point possible that I can see on these is the spring. Wolff has replacement springs available.

$500 is reasonable. Not a deal by any means, but if this is going to be your actual carry piece then it is worth whatever you need to pay for it IMHO.

I see one on fleabay ends in a day or so, and the current bid is over 50 bucks. One time I searched for "Smith 9mm" under category Sporting Goods-Hunting-Pistol Parts-Firearm magazines. Then in the filter choices on the left I selected Number of Rounds -8, and then Brand -Smith & Wesson. There I found a cheap mag that was not identified as being from the 3913 because the seller did not know what he had. The 3913 mags there routinely run up to $70 or so. This is definitely part of the whole price picture.

Regards!
BrianD

 

[BAM-BAM]

Some things;
I've got 6 3913/3914/NLs; at least a couple of which are going to my sons. w/ at least 6 mags [EDC is 3 mags; one 7rd and two 8rds].

If/when I decide to sell off my "back-ups" I want to be able to add mags to the package for just the issue kokopelli faces.

I've sold/given some in the past including a couple of the rare 7rd flush fit mags [Gifted 18DAI] that came with early 3913 LadySmiths./b

Been decades; but don't the 39/39xx mags work in the 39xx guns? Factory for primary 39 mags for reloads?

 

[StrawHat]

When I sold my Model 3913, 4 magazines went with it.

Maybe I should have kept them!

Kevin

 

[VASCAR2]

I carried a 3913 NL with Meprolight tritium sights with a seven round mag in the well and two eight round mags for spares. I used a summer special holster and that was a great combo. When my Agency transitioned away from S&W 3rd Gen 5904/6904 I traded my 3913 NL. I wish I could’ve kept the 3913 NL but I really couldn’t afford it on a cops budget.

As much as I like my S&W autos I don’t carry any today. It is kind of a bummer S&W no longer supports third Gen and earlier versions.

If I find a 3913 NL for the right price I’d buy it but wouldn’t carry it today. The 3913 is a classic but time is passing it by.

 

[toddimusnimski]

If you need one immediately, then yes you will end up paying $50 and up on Ebay. Given time, gun shows are a good source when often the seller has a bunch of mags that they cant identify, or don't know how desirable they are. Same with pawn and gun shops; many will have a box of misc magazines to dig through. Visit several and often to check for newly placed stock.

8 and 9 round 39 series magazines will function just fine, just not fit flush. They'll serve nicely during range use.

I bought my 3914 Ladysmith a few years ago and slowly built up a small stash of factory magazines, both blued and stainless. 2 of them I had noticed in an out-of-town gunshop during a weekend getaway; they were in bags marked S&W Chiefs Special lol. Bought the gun later here on the forum, and the following year went back to find them still hanging on the rack and very affordable. Patience my friend!

Todd

 

[ColbyBruce]

I have been known to buy a gun that included several spare magazines and resell the gun. I have also purchased large quantities of magazines a great price then bought a gun to go with them. I bought these Sig 2340/2022 .357 Sig/.40 S&W mags for $1.25 each and scrounged up a 2340 and a 2022 in .40 S&W for my son and me.

 

[BAM-BAM]

I carried a 3913 NL with Meprolight tritium sights with a seven round mag in the well and two eight round mags for spares. I used a summer special holster and that was a great combo. When my Agency transitioned away from S&W 3rd Gen 5904/6904 I traded my 3913 NL. I wish I could’ve kept the 3913 NL but I really couldn’t afford it on a cops budget.

As much as I like my S&W autos I don’t carry any today. It is kind of a bummer S&W no longer supports third Gen and earlier versions.

If I find a 3913 NL for the right price I’d buy it but wouldn’t carry it today. The 3913 is a classic but time is passing it by.

Sorry for your loss!

If you want a DA/SA metal single stack EDC IMHO time has not passed them by! Heck folks are still carrying 39s, Browning HPs and 1911s.

If or when my original goes belly up I've got a backup or two and "a parts gun"

Todd; thanks confirming the 39 mags work.... 8+1 and 9
round back up mags.... 18 or 27 rounds you're good to go!! IIRC they made in excess or 300,000 39s over 28 years[1954- 1982] then the 439 till 1988.

 

[ACEd]

Some things;

Been decades; but don't the 39/39xx mags work in the 39xx guns? Factory for primary 39 mags for reloads?

39 and 390x mags would stick out of a 391x/395x frame

 

[BAM-BAM]

I have been known to buy a gun that included several spare magazines and resell the gun. I have also purchased large quantities of magazines a great price then bought a gun to go with them. I bought these Sig 2340/2022 .357 Sig/.40 S&W mags for $1.25 each and scrounged up a 2340 and a 2022 in .40 S&W for my son and me.

I use to frequent a "Police Supply House" that would fill special orders, take Dept guns in trade. Got some great deals on guns and magazine's over the years. They would often have boxes of new [unpackaged] mags in inventory when a lot of Depts were switching to "cheap" Glocks. They were happy to move them on at cost or lower to get them off the books

 

[BAM-BAM]

39 and 390x mags would stick out of a 391x/395x frame

Better than 'no" spare mags!

 

[kokopelli]

It seems the 3913 is not a good choice for a new EDC... I cant even find 39 mags except 50 bucks each on eBay...

its a shame one of the Turkish companies that are cloning everything doesn't make the 3rd gen Smiths- there's just nothing else like them being made.

 

[inspcalahan]

If you want them, just be prepared to pay. Same story goes for Sig P230/232 magazines, many well over $100 now.


Just be thankful you're not upgrading your twenty year old STI like I did recently. The new mags started around $125 each.....that hurt.

 

[GaryS]

The "trick" if there is one to finding 3913 and a couple of other 3rd Gen magazines is persistence.

Haunt the for sale ads here because the pop up from time to time. I've had some good experiences at gun shows because a lot of the current generation of FFLs have no idea what a 3rd Gen is and think that the magazines are junk.

I'd skip Ebay as prices there are always upper end these days.

Check any FFLs that have used magazine bins.

They're out there, but you have to hunt them down.

 

[Brian Parrish]

The "trick" if there is one to finding 3913 and a couple of other 3rd Gen magazines is persistence.

Haunt the for sale ads here because the pop up from time to time. I've had some good experiences at gun shows because a lot of the current generation of FFLs have no idea what a 3rd Gen is and think that the magazines are junk.

I'd skip Ebay as prices there are always upper end these days.

Check any FFLs that have used magazine bins.

They're out there, but you have to hunt them down.

My experience mirrors that of GaryS.
I don't think kokopelli is ready to add another $150 to the $500 he has to pay for the gun.
Then there is the holster and mag pouch, etc.
Me however? I have a 3rd gen skill set.
I shoot all of them really well.
I would not hesitate, but then I would not be without one and
I have not been without one continuously for nearly 25 years.
If OP is going for some nostalgia here, I understand the hesitation.

But kokopelli, if you are going to commit to this weapon as the ONE which you will use to save your life, then it is worth whatever your Royal Rumpelstiltskin is worth!

Furthermore, activate the slide mounted safety and you can stick it down the front of your pants without getting red sauce all over your spaghetti and meatballs! IYKWIM

Thanks for a good thread.
Let us know when you decide!
BrianD