Slenderizing the Slim. A 3914 story (with pictures)

[JohnHL]

Earlier today (12/30/2020) 18DAI satrted a thread about the model 3913NL and stated that with the corrosion resistant stainless steel slide and single sided safety, it might be an excellent solution for those who choose to carry a small pistol in humid environments.

It was thinking along those lines that inspired me to make some changes to a model 3914.

Herewith is an encore for those who may have missed it a couple of years ago.

I hope you enjoy it.

Happy New Year!


It's been an unusually long but typically hot and humid summer here in the regions 'round the ridge.
It's October 5 and the weather people are predicting another week of high 80s.

Consequently, I've been looking for ways to make concealed pieces lighter, thinner, and more suitable for hot, humid, sweaty carry.

So I swapped my 3914 carbon steel slide for a stainless part, converted the pistol to NYPD style DAO (second strike capable), replaced the slide stop with a "take-down" pin, fitted a pair of 469/669 stocks with a narrowed back strap, and installed a rounded mag base plate.

It shoots well like this and fits easily in a back pocket.

And yes, it is narrow.

Makes the normally svelte 3953TSW look positively chunky!

John

 

[18DAI]

I like. You are evidently quite talented in the gunsmithing department! Regards 18DAI

 

[JohnHL]

Thanks, 18!

Missouri summers being much like North Carolina summers, I can't help but paraphrase the old axiom: "Humidity is the mother of invention."

In reality, these are all just simple "hacks" as the hipsters say.

John

 

[Sevens]

Haha I like that quote!

I can't say I like the absence of a slide stop, but I can definitely see the slimming it's removal would get ya.

It's a neat looking setup that photographs well!

 

[JohnHL]

Thanks, Brother Sevens!

That may have been the shortest post I've ever read from you!

John

P.S. I enjoy your verbosity.

 

[Sevens]

Okay
That made me laugh

 

[gunhobbit]

I could stand to hear some more about that 469 grip "hack."

 

[squidsix]

You could trim a few mils off the slide too, or do Hi Power cuts to cut weight from the front. If you mill off to the depth of the slide serrations or roll marks, you will not effect integrity.

 

[JohnHL]

I could stand to hear some more about that 469 grip "hack."

The 4/669 side panels fit the frame openings without modification

The back strap, being designed for a double stack frame, was obviously too wide.
I removed an equal amount of material from both sides until the back strap was the same width as the 3914 frame.
I then fabricated a wider "U" shaped piece of springy steel to fit inside the back strap (over the plastic stud) to retain the side panels in place of the original, narrower "U" shaped metal retainer.
Lastly, I fashioned a plastic spacer to fill in the area at the top of the back strap which positioned it tighter to the frame.

For those with sharp eyes, look closely at the angle of the grip panels as compared to the angle of the grip frame.

As you can see and I mentioned in an earlier thread, (3rd Gen grips on 2nd Gen Pistols (with pictures)) S&W straightened the grip frame approximately 2 degrees more vertical on the 3rd gens as compared to the 2nd gens, yet you never see or hear that mentioned when the upgrades to the 3rd gens are listed.

John

 

[JohnHL]

You could trim a few mils off the slide too, or do Hi Power cuts to cut weight from the front. If you mill off to the depth of the slide serrations or roll marks, you will not effect integrity.

You have some "mad" file skills, squidsix!

You have steady hands like a Bridgeport and vision like a micrometer!

If I get up the nerve, I may try that on a junk slide before I commence to cutting on a usable piece.

Thanks for the suggestion and inspiration!

John

 

[GaryS]

Interesting modifications. If I ever find a 3913 at a decent (cheap) price, I'm going to give the DAO modification a shot.

Since, thanks to you, I was able to do the 457DAO modification, I know what needs to be done. And, also thanks to you, I have the firing pin retainer that will work.

The grip mod is interesting, but I'd need to see pictures of the parts you fabricated to even be able to think about doing that.

 

[JohnHL]

Thanks, GaryS!

Yeah, Confucius was right about pictures.

The wife took the good camera on vacation so it might be a week before I can post some more.

John

 

[squidsix]

Your modification solves the problem, in my mind, of adding a curved grip to these little pistols. I find the grip curvature of the 39 perfect and this seems to reproduce it on a smaller scale. Color me impressed.
You wouldnt need to use files to take off some of the slide. A belt sander would work just fine.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Interesting............

 

[MidWesternBoy]

That's impressive out of the box thinking!
I too would love to see the modded and fabbed pieces up close.
Eliminating the slide stop makes perfect sense to slick it up.
Did you consider somehow filling the slide stop gap in the frame? I'm cringing a little to say this but, JB weld would probably work well for that as just a dust cover.

 

[mbliss57]

Nice job. I like to see talented people customize their guns to fit their lifestyle. I am not one of those. I would have to sub contract that out! I stop at swapping out different slides, springs and grips. More than that and I am just not talented. Or I don't have the right tools and equipment.
I think this is a very good example of taking what you have available and customizing it to fit conditions and desire.

 

[squidsix]

Nice job. I like to see talented people customize their guns to fit their lifestyle. I am not one of those. I would have to sub contract that out! I stop at swapping out different slides, springs and grips. More than that and I am just not talented. Or I don't have the right tools and equipment.
I think this is a very good example of taking what you have available and customizing it to fit conditions and desire.

I don't think you need fancy tools and equipment, just a handy set of files and some sandpaper, and you can do a heck of a lot of little things that make a great pistol out of a good one. I have found the smallest of touches change everything about the daily utility of a 3rd gen pistol, and all of them can be done with a bit of sandpaper and some scraps of wood.

 

[JohnHL]

Your modification solves the problem, in my mind, of adding a curved grip to these little pistols. I find the grip curvature of the 39 perfect and this seems to reproduce it on a smaller scale.

Amen to that, Brother!

I recall the S&W double stacks as being roundly criticized for the "fat" grip that only people with large hands could shoot.

S&W responded with the straight back grip and I lazily succumbed to "groupthink" and believed "curved grips are for large hands and straight grips are for smaller hands."

And even though I have always preferred the "look" of curved grips, I have average size hands and therefore thought I should be shooting with straight grips.

But try as I may, I struggle when trying to shoot with straight grips and find it much more natural with the curved grip.

As I searched for a reason for this contradiction I had my epiphany, to wit:

Curved grips are NOT for large hands.
Curved grips change the angle of the wrist in relation to the trigger finger.

That may be the reason S&W straightened the grip angle 2 degrees on the 3rd gen pistols over the 2nd gen.

Then again, it could be because the discipline of handgun shooting was transitioning from one-handed point shooting to two-handed sight shooting, and raising the pistol to eye level changes the angle of the wrist.

I don't know if either previous scenarii is what motivated the folks at S&W, but the curved grip sure works for me.

You wouldnt need to use files to take off some of the slide. A belt sander would work just fine.

Easy for a man with your talents and skills to say, but to me, that's like telling a struggling single action shooter to practice with a full-auto machine gun!

Thanks again for the kind words and encouragement!

John

 

[MidWesternBoy]

Now that I've thought about that window in the frame, it's interesting that you can see the orange follower and presumably when loaded the next round to be chambered.
If that were able to stay transparent, but keep out debris, it would be a neat way to see you're on the last round. Kinda like the Deval and ASP clear grips and mag window.
Real world useful? Probably not. Just day dreaming.

 

[JohnHL]

That's impressive out of the box thinking!
I too would love to see the modded and fabbed pieces up close.

Thanks, MWB!

When the wife gets back I'll grab the "good" camera and take some pics of the modded parts.

Eliminating the slide stop makes perfect sense to slick it up.
Did you consider somehow filling the slide stop gap in the frame? I'm cringing a little to say this but, JB weld would probably work well for that as just a dust cover.

Yes that gaping "maw" is a trifle disconcerting and I did think about closing it up.
Luckily my love for sloth won the moment and I left it alone.

I could rationalize that the slide stop hole has become a "witness" hole that tells me I'm out of ammo now that the slide doesn't lock back.

But seriously, I've never been so certain of the universal desirabilty of my custimizations that modifications to major components should be made permanent.

Even now, there are members of this forum who are crying, "Blasphemer! How dare thee modify a beloved Smith & Wesson!"

Fear not, y'all.

All of my "Frankenguns" can be returned to stock configuration.

John