seeking advice on a 3913 issue

[TX-Wildcat]

howdy. first post.

i bought a 3913 at a pawn shop. they dont let you work the trigger so i didnt know it had this issue.
looking for any advise on what it might be. i haven’t tore into it yet to see if anything is broken.

thank you.

View attachment IMG_7606.mov

 

[StephenWhoDat]

They don't let you work the trigger at all? In Texas?! That's crazy... Do they let you rack the slide at all? Just curious.

This is most likely a fairly easy fix. I'm not expert or gunsmith though, so I'll hang up and listen to the one who comes along next. Good luck to you, sir. The 3913 is an amazing 3rd Gen.

 

[GaryS]

Magazine in or out?

 

[ACEd]

Assuming the pistol has a magazine safety and the magazine is out, the soft trigger would be normal. It should not "fire" regardless of Safety lever position. If the magazine is in, it should "fire" repeatedly with the Safety lever off.

Assuming the magazine is in place, I take it your point is that it fails to "fire" with Safety off but "fires" after switching the safety on then back off ?

I would be looking at the Safety system - first thing I would remove the slide and post some pictures of the rear of the slide showing the Safety system including the Mag safety with safety on and off and the frame showing the levers. Look for something sticking, possibly one of the levers.

 

[GaryS]

I was thinking that a good cleaning was in order, if not done already. Actually, I might even take the safety lever out and clean it. Probably wouldn't make a difference, but it would eliminate a slight possibility.

The gun doesn't look beat up or dirty.

 

[TX-Wildcat]

the magazine was in the pistol

 

[TX-Wildcat]

They don't let you work the trigger at all? In Texas?! That's crazy... Do they let you rack the slide at all? Just curious.

the big chain pawn shops keep a trigger lock on everything. the smaller mom and pop pawn shops usually dont trigger lock them. on all of them you can work the slide and magazine release.

this day i got a 908 and a 3913 for $550 out the door. the 908 works perfectly but i really want the 3913. it’s much more comfortable in my hand.

 

[ACEd]

the big chain pawn shops keep a trigger lock on everything. the smaller mom and pop pawn shops usually dont trigger lock them. on all of them you can work the slide and magazine release.

this day i got a 908 and a 3913 for $550 out the door. the 908 works perfectly but i really want the 3913. it’s much more comfortable in my hand.

Interesting pair - As I recall the 908 is simply an economy version of the 3914 (blued 3913). Remove both slides and compare actions of Safety internals. Examine / compare geometries - not absolutely sure but rails etc may be the same.

And IF the slides interchange (and I believe they do as long as you keep the respective barrels with their slides) you might try swapping slide/barrel combos and see if the problem follows the slide (safety mechanism) or the frame (sticking or damaged levers at rear). Obviously dont force anything.

But first remove 3913 slide and check internals for sticky / damaged parts and probably a good cleaning. And I assume you have already swapped magazines - unlikely, but easy to check effect if any.

 

[TX-Wildcat]

the 3913 slide went right on the 908 frame and functions perfectly. the 908 slide did not want to go on the 3913 frame. the 3913 barrel has an extra locking lug. not sure if that is why but i didn’t want to force it.

 

[Heymatt]

Frame rails are different. 3913 slide will fit and function on a 908 frame. 908 slide will not fit a 3913 frame.
Looks like you already figured that out

 

[ACEd]

the 3913 slide went right on the 908 frame and functions perfectly. the 908 slide did not want to go on the 3913 frame. the 3913 barrel has an extra locking lug. not sure if that is why but i didn’t want to force it.

Ok my mistake on 908 slide fitting 3913 frame.

At least you have pointed to frame as most likely source of problem.

Did you find any evidence of damage or crud inside 3913 frame? 3 levers at back all move freely? Nothing really dirty, bent, or obviously bent or broken?

Good cleaning would seem to be next task.

If you are comfortable disassembling check for missing springs - if not take it to gunsmith (or send to one of the forum experts) to sort out problem or call SW and get RMA to send to them for repair.

 

[dusty3030]

Regardless worth fixing thats a great pair of pistols for that money.

 

[9Mary7]

Had a similar problem with a NOS 6904. Turned out to be an issue with the trigger return spring being installed incorrectly. A close look into both pistol frames at the trigger assy's should reveal any inconsistencies.

 

[StephenWhoDat]

this day i got a 908 and a 3913 for $550 out the door. the 908 works perfectly but i really want the 3913. it’s much more comfortable in my hand.

The model 908 was my first ever S&W 3rd Gen and the first semi-auto I ever carried as my EDC. Well over 10,000 rounds through her and she's never given me a single issue. Eats anything I feed her.

 

[Patrip]

Assuming the pistol has a magazine safety and the magazine is out, the soft trigger would be normal. It should not "fire" regardless of Safety lever position. If the magazine is in, it should "fire" repeatedly with the Safety lever off.

Assuming the magazine is in place, I take it your point is that it fails to "fire" with Safety off but "fires" after switching the safety on then back off ?

I would be looking at the Safety system - first thing I would remove the slide and post some pictures of the rear of the slide showing the Safety system including the Mag safety with safety on and off and the frame showing the levers. Look for something sticking, possibly one of the levers.

I’m

They don't let you work the trigger at all? In Texas?! That's crazy... Do they let you rack the slide at all? Just curious.

This is most likely a fairly easy fix. I'm not expert or gunsmith though, so I'll hang up and listen to the one who comes along next. Good luck to you, sir. The 3913 is an amazing 3rd Gen.

i am in the DFW area and the big pawn shop chains have the trigger locked up and wont take it off or they get fired or wrote up. You can work the slide or open the cylinder but that is it.
Cabelas has triggers locked up too but if they know you and you are interested in a gun they will take you back to the office where they have a clearing device.
Some independent pawn shops dont have locks on the triggers but they are few and far between.

Get this. A few weeks ago I drove about 140 miles round trip to a pawn shop about 3 counties away to look at a 94 Winchester in
38-55 that I was really interested in. No trigger lock but the lever was zip-tied to the stock. I could look at the outside of it but not check the mechanism inside. They would not cut the zip tie to let me look and work the lever saying they would be fired. The gal told me that “they check them when they come in” I told them that I would be taking an $1150 chance with my money that everything is 100% correct with the mechanism. They told they would not be willing to take a chance with their job.
I then offered $1000 for a gun that had sat on the shelf for over a month and they declined the offer. I then went to $1050 and then finally $1100 and they said no.

I mentioned that they apparently didnt want to sell anything while looking at the shelves holding at least 70 long guns and about 100-125 handguns.

They said “we are trying to work with you but the price is on the tag”

It was time to leave after that. Wasnt a totally wasted trip. Stopped by a gun store on the way home and found a Colt .22 automatic Match Target in new condition

 

[JohnHL]

howdy. first post.

i bought a 3913 at a pawn shop. they dont let you work the trigger so i didnt know it had this issue.
looking for any advise on what it might be. i haven’t tore into it yet to see if anything is broken.

thank you.

View attachment 766003

Welcome to The Forum!

You are experiencing what S&W armorers (which I am not) refer to as "skips double action".

It is related to the drawbar hooks not fully engaging with the double action notches on the hammer.

I encountered it on an older 4006 with an old style drawbar that had broken at the rear corner.

It has also happened when the drawbar plunger spring was not exerting sufficient force to keep the rear of the drawbar pivoted up against the hammer.

Other common problems are the drawbar dragging against the magazine body or interfering with an aftermarket grip like those Hogues.

For more detailed explanations, search "skips double action" on this Forum.
Member "Fastbolt" (S&W armorer) is who I learned it from and has several excellent posts describing cause and remedies.

John