S&W 3913 magazine identification

[RichieMac]

Here are a few close-ups of the front and backside.

 

[budhall]

Very early on, S&W shipped the 3913s with a different flat based magazine, one round fewer, fit completely flush with the grip frame, than the later version they switched to, and we're most familiar with. As I recall these early flat based mags han a slightly shorter mag body, thus one less round, and used a metal base like the ones you show here. I'm not sure, but..... that may be the issue, if you're trying to install these early style bases on the later mag body. The lips of the later mag body might be different so as to accommodate the plastic flat and hooked mag bases. BTW, these early truly flat based mags are quite rare and most folks might not even realize what they are.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

If I find a 3913 magazine, it makes the whole gu show worth it. I was lucky enough to find two on a dusty shelf at a range shop where they had sat for years still sold at the original price. Usually, I tracke them down at gunshows and pay through the nose. Fir range purposes, i am not above using Model 39 magazines which stick out below the magazine well, but cycle in the 3913 perfectly.

 

[rosewood]

As I recall the 3904/3906 mags were initially 8rd red/orange follower plastic base - similar to the 39-2 and 439 8rd mags except for baseplates and followers. As I recall the 3904/3906 mags work in the 39-2/439 but they stick out slightly - while the 39-2/439 mags do not work in the 3904/3906?

The 9rd 3904/3906/909 mags were available later as replacements taking advantage of the additional metal sleeve length after the 3913 came out with the shorter 8rd capacity mags and the 9rd mags came standard with the later 909 pistols - so be aware there are longer 3904/3906 geometry 8rd mags similar to the one pictured except for round count markings which may be confused with shorter correct 3913/3953 8rd mags. Dont assume an 8rd single stack 9mm mag is the 3913/3953 variety.

And yes the 3904/3906 mags will work in a 3913/3953 but they will stick out exposing part of the metal sleeve at the base. I seem to remember an old post saying that the feed area at the top of a longer mag was damaged by repeated hard insertion of the mags in the shorter grip without a spacer but maybe that was a 5906 mag in a 6906.

^this^

I bought a mag sleeve for a Kahr MK9??, unsure of model and modified it to work on the 3906 mag in the 3913 to take out the gap. Works great. I carry the standard 8 round with finger groove in the gun and the extended 3906 mag with spacer as backup.

I picked up (2) 3913 mags and didn't realize they were the 7 round short mags until months later when I got them out to try out. Lucky me huh?, no really. Kept one in the future event I get a 3913 TSW with recessed/short grip and sold the other to a buddy who had one of those already and didn't have a short mag.

Rosewood

 

[GaryS]

I thought that these shipped with the early 3913 Lady Smiths. I had a very early 3914 and it came with regular style magazines, only with carbon steel bodies, not stainless.

I think you're correct about the lips on the magazine.

I had one and didn't realize what it was for, so I sold it. Probably to someone who DID recognize it and laughed at me for selling it so cheap.

Very early on, S&W shipped the 3913s with a different flat based magazine, one round fewer, fit completely flush with the grip frame, than the later version they switched to, and we're most familiar with. As I recall these early flat based mags han a slightly shorter mag body, thus one less round, and used a metal base like the ones you show here. I'm not sure, but..... that may be the issue, if you're trying to install these early style bases on the later mag body. The lips of the later mag body might be different so as to accommodate the plastic flat and hooked mag bases. BTW, these early truly flat based mags are quite rare and most folks might not even realize what they are.

 

[GaryS]

Every once in a while I'll find one and the seller doesn't know anything about it and the price is reasonable. A lot of FFLs aren't at all familiar with the 3rd Gens these days.

If I find a 3913 magazine, it makes the whole gu show worth it. I was lucky enough to find two on a dusty shelf at a range shop where they had sat for years still sold at the original price. Usually, I tracke them down at gunshows and pay through the nose. Fir range purposes, i am not above using Model 39 magazines which stick out below the magazine well, but cycle in the 3913 perfectly.

 

[rosewood]

Every once in a while I'll find one and the seller doesn't know anything about it and the price is reasonable. A lot of FFLs aren't at all familiar with the 3rd Gens these days.

This is true. I have gotten some excellent deals on 3rd gen mags since I started looking. Got a 1006 mag in August for $40 at a pawn shop. I don't really feel bad about it, they likely didn't much of anything for them anyway. Usually found in box in back of shop from years ago that came in with a used gun or the like.

Took all I could to do to hide how giddy I was.

 

[GaryS]

About five years ago I got a sealed in package 1006 magazine for $35.00 at a gun show. I didn't feel bad flipping that for enough to pay for the 457 magazine I bought at the same time, plus the entry fee, and lunch.

 

[rosewood]

Mag comparison. These are all 3rd gen.