. . . Or something like that.
DustyDogDan, it sure looks to me like you do a pretty decent job of hunting stuff, given the image you found.
I've got, oh, six-or-so of the 3913LS and they date from 1990 to 2006. I once thought about acquiring one for each year of production but let that idea Slip-Slide(ing)-Away when realized was the number "17" - as in the number one would need to acquire to realize an intended coverage of guns.
Insofar as references are concerned, the Blue Book of Gun Values and the Bible of S&W Collecting, the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson, No. 4, place the manufacturing dates as 1990 through 2006 (see above).
The "Oct. 1996" date on or in your printed material, DustyDogDan, relates to the date when the maroon S&W "Lady Smith" bags became part of the gun-buying deal even if the factory said "December 1996" because the printed material became a part of the offered product before that product actually made it to store shelves.
Um, get that? Heck, I don't even know if I did.
Anyway, that whole printed material/date thing is kinda-sorta like the inside-top of the Model 39, whereupon referenced is April of 1955.
Now, it didn't matter that a Model 39 was manufactured, placed in its blue box and made ready for shipment 10-Years After, many if not most of the brilliant sellers making their Model 39 wares available through the various auction houses - on-line, 0ff-line or not even - would exclaim, "This 1955 gun . . ." or, "Made in 1955, this fine gun . . ."
Nope. Sorry. Ain't no way "made," "born" or "first shot in . . ." didn't and still doesn't jibe with da facts.
It's possible that your newly acquired 3913LS could've been made and/or purchased in December, 1996, and be accompanied at that same time with a darn nice maroon exterior with gray interior bag, but it's also possible that the 3913LS was purchased in 1990 and the maroon exterior with gray interior bag purchased on eBay in 2021 - generally speaking, around Christmas.
Should you provide your 3913LS' serial number, in whole or part (but make sure it's at least the first three CAP letters) then a much better idea as to that fine S&W's build date will likely be subsequently provided by any of those who have already contributed to this thread.
But Wait! There's More!
Not really a lot more, but more just the same.
Aw, heck. I forgot what I was a-wanting to write.
It'll come to me at some point. Or maybe not.
Oh! If you don't care for that bag there are plenty of folks who will take it off your hands. Especially during the aforementioned season of frivolity as demonstrated by lamp-shade wearers everywhere!
That bag will bring some good money. While I haven't seen an advertisement for Lady Smith bags since two, three years back, I haven't been looking, either. Those that are looking are probably seeing prices in the $150 to $200 realm, depending on the treatment received by the available bags.
Well, the price of poker, er, a Lady Smith bag just went up because a just-conducted three searches on a well known "One Man's Junk . . ." site turned up NO BAG! Amazing!
A reminder: Serial Number!
Later.
