S&W 3913TSW Melonite (1 off)

[Dparker]

A few weeks back I posted about buying 2 consecutive numbered NOS S&W 3914TSW's. The individual that I purchased them from also had a S&W 3913TSW in Melonite. The individual had email documentation from a S&W employee who was the Asian Market Sale Manager and someone from this site. Apparently the S&W employee client (Singapore Police) wanted S&W 3913TSW in Melonite. So the S&W employee pulled 2 stainless 3913TSW's from the S&W vault, took them to production and had them redone in Melonite. The emails state that the production guys messed up one of the 3913TSW while etching it. Thus leaving only one S&W 3913TSW in Melonite. In the emails it states that the Singapore Police elected to purchase Glocks. The S&W employee purchased the "1 off" 3913TSW in Melonite. I took a chance and emailed the S&W forum member to make sure the emails were legitimate. Fortunately he emailed me back and said the account was accurate. The S&W Forum member had placed the 2 3914TSW's and the 3913TSW Melonite on an auction board and the person I purchased the S&W 3914TSW bought all 3 to resale.

Fortunate for me the person selling the 3914TSW & 3913TSW Melonite lives in a town next to me. After confirming the emails I purchased both 3914TSW's and the "1off" 3913TSW Melonite. S&W did a great job on the Melonite on the 3913TSW.

As in my other post, 18DAI made a comment about "only if someone from S&W back in those days kept really good records of all the "1 off's" that were produced. Man what a very true statement. Anyway, attached are some pics of the NOS 3913TSW Melonite.

Cheers!!!
David

 

[quikdraw67]

Very, very nice.

I have a 3914NL and a 3914DAO, and I count myself fortunate.

To say I'm impressed would be a major understatement.

Congrats.

 

[NCBeagle]

Interesting story and thanks for the pictures.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[4T5GUY]

Yep that IS special. I can appreciate your diligence and perseverance in doing all the checking and research.

Sometimes it's worth spending the extra time finding out the "authenticity" of something we think is very different. It's not easy and takes up time but it pays off in the end if only personally. Plus it can be fun.

I spent six months sending emails and making phone calls on a S&W semi I thought was very special. I e "met" some really great people. I ended up getting many statements and a typed, on letterhead/notarized letter from someone who confirmed the pistol's authenticity. This was one a S&W Letter would not have helped.

Jim

 

[18DAI]

That is one beautiful "Unicorn" Dparker! Congrats on scoring it!

And it is yet another example of never say never when it comes to S&W 3rd Gen pistols. Thanks for sharing it with us! Regards 18DAI

 

[GaryS]

Ditto.

Maybe someday I'll find one of the rare 3914TSW out in the wild.

I'll just add that a production run of 3913TSW in Melonite would have been a great product. Actually, just about any of the stainless 3rd Gens in Melonite would be terrific.

Alas...

Very, very nice.

I have a 3914NL and a 3914DAO, and I count myself fortunate.

To say I'm impressed would be a major understatement.

Congrats.

 

[4T5GUY]

Maybe someday I'll find one of the rare 3914TSW out in the wild.

I felt I was lucky just finding an excellent pre-rail 3913TSW. It took me YEARS of actively searching everywhere. For some reason you, (and others,) were not willing to part with one.

Jim

 

[rosewood]

Great find! I am a tad jealous.

I contacted the mothership a couple of years back asking if they would melonite (or armornite as they now call it) my 3913. They said they would only refinish a gun to how it left the factory. I was disappointed. I bet if they were willing to do it, lots of folks would use that service.

Rosewood

 

[equin]

Wow, very cool!

 

[Tntcwg3]

Nice find, sure is a pretty pistol!