S&W 3913LS (or DAO 3953) Experience?

[PX15]

Anyone have any experience with one of these?

I bought a new 3913 in 1995 and it's been a fantasic pistol, but my Son has claimed it..

I've always liked the looks of the LS version, and I'm considering purchasing one if I can find one in good condition I can afford.

IS the LS version DA/SA? I notice in photos there is an external safety but only on the left side.

Any thoughts on the DAO 3953?

Thanks!

Jesse

 

[PX15]

Anyone have any experience with one of these?

I bought a new 3913 in 1995 and it's been a fantasic pistol, but my Son has claimed it..

I've always liked the looks of the LS version, and I'm considering purchasing one if I can find one in good condition I can afford.

IS the LS version DA/SA? I notice in photos there is an external safety but only on the left side.

Any thoughts on the DAO 3953?

Thanks!

Jesse

 

[S. Kelly]

The DAO 3953 is a great gun, slim, light and easy to shoot.

 

[JN01]

Other than the slightly different frame shape and the non-ambedextrous safety, the 3913LS is exactly the same as the 3913. The lack of a safety lever on the right side makes it a little thinner (of course if you're left handed it's not so good).

 

[jsbethel]

I bought my girlfriend a 3913LS and decided after a trip to the range that I wanted one for myself. I later purchased a NIB 3913NL from another forum member. They are great pistols. CDNN has NIB 3913LS models for $499 according to a recent email I received from them.

 

[camsdaddy]

that seams to be a common problem with 3913. I have one and of all the guns "we" own she likes it the best. Lesson learned dont let anyone shoot your 3913 they will find a way to want it

 

[PX15]

Originally posted by jsbethel:
CDNN has NIB 3913LS models for $499 according to a recent email I received from them.

jsbethel:

I was planning on buying a used 3913LS for sale on (I think it was) Gunbroker.. That used LS was $475 w/no box,no papers, one mag, rated by the seller @90%

After seeing your comment about the CDNN pistols I called my salesman there earlier today (Neal Ray)and he said they had indeed had TWO left..

So, now they have ONE left. I ordered one of the LS's + 2 extra factory magazines.

Just wanted to thank you for posting the information because you are responsible for my getting a NIB 3913LS at used LS prices.

You "done" good....

Thanks!

Jesse

 

[jsbethel]

I'm sure you will very pleased with that purchase.

 

[rushbeau]

Papa X-Ray,

I purchased a 3953 about seven years ago. It was previously owned, but the owner never used it. I have expended 2,500 rounds of standard-pressure 147-grain ammunition through this pistol. That 3953 has never malfunctioned, and it is very precise (shoots good groups) and accurate (sights are well-regulated). The trigger is very smooth. I really like this pistol.

Though the trigger reset on my pistol is short for a double-action-only trigger, I still cannot work the trigger as fast as I can a traditional double action trigger. I do not think this is a problem - the trigger is just a little different from my other 3rd generation pistols.

I hope you found this post helpful.

Best wishes,
Rushbeau

 

[PX15]

Originally posted by rushbeau: <pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> </pre>
Papa X-Ray,

rushbeau:

If I hadn't found the NIB 3913LS when I did (and at the price I did) I would have bought the 3953, even though I've never had a dedicated DAO pistol. I do appreciate your input because I'm very fond of 3rd generation Smiths and I might buy one of those NEXT.

Hey, it was worth the post just to see some "phonetic alphabet" being spread around. I was an Air Traffic Controller (like the way I capitalize the first letters? Ego?)for thirty years until my retirement in Jan, 2000.

I was "Papa Xray" for thirty years.

Best Wishes,

Jesse

 

[rushbeau]

Hi Papa X-Ray,

I'm glad you found a new 3913. I hope you come to like your new pistol as much as I like my 3953. I have several S&W third-generation pistols (3953, 4006, 6906, and 1006), and each has expended many rounds without any malfunctions. I had only experienced Smith and Wesson third-generation pistols and did not realize they were "jammamatics" (as "reported" in a gun magazine), and I was supposed to have purchased a 1911 because the gun magazines say they are perfect

. Seriously, though, I have as much confidence in my S&W pistols as I do in my revolvers. I have H&K, Sig Sauer, and Khar pistols (which are all very good), but I still prefer Smith and Wesson.

My dad was an F-100 pilot in Vietnam (May66 - Sep67). He flew 426 missions and was shot down once. The ejection hurt his back and neck, so he flew O-1 Birdogs as a forward air controller (not quite an air controller, though) for the rest of his tour.

I was an intelligence officer in the Navy.

Best wishes,
Rushbeau

 

[PX15]

Originally posted by rushbeau:
Hi Papa X-Ray,

My dad was an F-100 pilot in Vietnam (May66 - Sep67). He flew 426 missions and was shot down once. The ejection hurt his back and neck, so he flew O-1 Birdogs as a forward air controller (not quite an air controller, though) for the rest of his tour.
I was an intelligence officer in the Navy.
Best wishes,
Rushbeau

Hi Rush:

I don't know what most folks call the old F100, but when I was stationed in Kunsan, Korea in 1962-3 it was our "top line" fighter and we called it the "lead sled".. I think later one of the century fighters, (F105, or 06?)was also called the "lead sled".. (Our nuclear bombers were the B57, Canberra's and they were neat.) I got to fly once in a B57 and it was a blast.

The last time I saw an F100 it was painted red and would shortly be used as a target plane. That was back around the early-mid 1980's when my stepson was a USAF controller at Tyndall AFB.

Sounds like your Dad had a full plate back in the VietNam conflict. If he flew the "Bird-dog" he must have cohones the size of bowling balls. I hope he is well. I had several controller friends who were "slick" pilots, or Cobra pilots, and I think one, (Will Radford) Bird-dogs too..

Back to guns:

Funny anyone would call the 3rd gen S&W pistols "jammomatics".. I consider the 3rd gen. S&W pistols to be about as reliable as any pistol ever made. Reliability is JOB 1 for me in a self defense firearm, so if I didn't think a pistol was reliable I certainly wouldn't keep it. I just sold a Walther PPS yesterday and the money from that sale is what enabled me to buy the 3913LS.

I bought a NIB 3913 (not LS) in 1995 but my Son has put dibs on it, so it's put away for him. But before I packed it up it NEVER failed one time. Recently since CDNN has basically bought out the all metal 3rd gen. discontinued Smiths I have bought a 6906, 5906, and now 3913LS.

I plan to put Crimson Trace Lasergrips on the 5906 and use it for my home defense choice (the pistol that hopefully will buy me time to get to the 12ga. pump shotgun in the closet). The CT equipped 5906 is going to replace a Walther P99/AS in that duty. The P99 is an excellent pistol but I can't get CT's for it, and I'm old and need all the help I can get.

Again, my best to your Dad, he's been places, seen and done things most folks never have to experience, and that's a good thing. I'm very proud of the way Americans have rallied around our fighting men and women today, even the ones who might disagree with the war in general. Our VN vets were NOT treated well, and that's still a national disgrace in my mind.

Best Wishes,

Jesse

 

[rushbeau]

Hi Papa X-Ray,

North American Aviation called the F-100 the "Super Saber", because it was an updated and hot-rodded F-86 "Saber". F-100 pilots called it the "Hun". Often times they referred to the F-105 "Thunderchief" as the "Thud", because it had a glide ratio akin to a rock (but it was fast on the deck. It could exceed Mach 1 at sea level, but it had a turn radius about the size of Oklahoma). Unfortunately, my dad had several friends who experienced this first-hand over North Vietnam.

Thank you for the kind words. My dad just had his seventieth birthday. He really misses flying "Huns". He flew O-1, T-33, T-34, T-37, T-38, T-39, F-4, F-100, and FB-111; and, he says the F-100 was his favorite airplane to fly (he has 2,500 hours flying time, was an instructor pilot (T-33, T-37, and T-38), and is a Command Pilot).

If your interested, I had started a thread titled "Combat Masterpiece" in the revolver section (1945-present) in early July of this year. I had described my dad's ejection experience and had asked for some information about the S&W Combat Masterpiece he carried in Vietnam. That thread quickly turned into a nine-page discussion which proved to be very enjoyable and informative with lots of photos, war stories, and flying experiences - and even some discussion about the S&W Model 15 (there are many great folks on this Forum). Please feel free to contribute to it if you want.

It sounds like you made a great choice for a home defense pistol. The CT Lasergrips sounds like a good idea. My dad installed a Lasermax guide rod laser sight in his Glock 26, and has not been pleased with it. The Lasermax unit costs around $600; and, it is difficult to use for defense because the activation switch is the takedown lever (push it to either side to activate), and activating the laser is a very un-natural movement. It is, however, easily activated by inserting the pistol into the holster. It's a bit embarrasing to walk around a restaraunt while your laser sight is flashing on the floor!

Best wishes,
Rushbeau

 

[PX15]

Originally posted by rushbeau:
If your interested, I had started a thread titled "Combat Masterpiece" in the revolver section (1945-present)

It sounds like you made a great choice for a home defense pistol.



ru:

I'll check out your thread mentioned, thanks.

As to the CT vs LaserMax..

I'm a dedicated CT fan. I had one on my Sig P239, (before I sold it in a lustful frenzy to acquire another "A" grade HK P7) and I still have one on my J-frame Smith Airweight Bodyguard. Fantastic products, and I see that LaserMax finally jumped on the bandwagon and have new models now very similar to those of the CT.

CT has a website, you might care to check it out. Those folks are fantastic, customer support is 2nd to none, and the price is not too bad.

I like it too that the windage/elevation is adjustable on the CT's whereas that's not the case with the LaserMax type.

Best Wishes,

Jesse

 

[Larry from Bend]

I hope you like your 3913LS as much as I've enjoyed mine. Yesterday, I took my LS to the desert, along with a 6mm-06 that I had been reworking and which needed to be shot on paper. I plinked with the LS in between shooting groups with the rifle. The LS still amazes me. With 115 grain white-box jhp WW ammo it will stay on a softball size rock @ 50 or so yards. It just kinda points itself. Before this, I had a 669 for 22 years and didn't care for it at all - in fact, I had quit 9mms all together. I too have a 638 Airweight that I get a lot of use out of. Those CTs look like a good compliment, I wonder how they work for a southpaw?

Best Wishes

Larry from Bend

 

[PX15]

Originally posted by Larry from BendI too have a 638 Airweight that I get a lot of use out of. Those CTs look like a good compliment, I wonder how they work for a southpaw?
Best Wishes
Larry from Bend

Larry:

Thanks for your input. As to the 638 w/CT's? They work perfectly.. I'm a lefty too..

I'm planning on buying another set of CT's for my home defense 5906 as soon as I get some more money..

Thanks!

Jesse

P.S. You'll love the CT's...