Traded for a 3953... anyone else like these?

elkhunt

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I traded into a 3953 this weekend. It came with 3 mags, hogue and factory grip, Wolff and factory springs and a nice holster. The trigger is ultra smooth and predictable DAO'ish. It's like having a flat, 9 shot 9mm revolver, pretty good set up. Anyone care to comment on your experiences with one?




 
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There are those who think this is the best CCW ever made. The DAO trigger lends itself perfectly to the probable high stress moment of self defense. Firm but predictable and accurate without staging. Slim single stack frame that is free of anything that might snag and simple no safety operation. Top that off with ultra reliability and relatively light weight and what's not to love?

My son-in-law owns a 3953TSW (rail removed) and I have the 6946 double stack version of your 3953. I carried a 6904 for years and still like that gun for many of the same reasons I stated but now it's the 6946 that has the edge as my EDC because I just love the smooth profile and the DAO trigger.

As for shooting I can only comment on myself. The groups from my 6946 are more consistent than with most other 3rd gens because I rarely throw a "flier" with the DAO. I always suggest that a person not try to stage the trigger but instead press on through smoothly with the front post on target.

I predict you will be equally impressed.:)
 
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It looks like a great set up to me, I think you did very well here. I am still new to the third Gens, but it is quite a sickness we seem to have, you buy one and the next thing you know you start collecting them.
My new to me EDC is a 6946, replacing my 6906....but a 3953 is on my soon to get list.
 
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Nice set up you got there. To my surprise I shot my 3953 well but ultimately sold it to keep all my 3rd generation pistols TDA. There are quite a few 3953's listed on the large auction site. Enjoy that classic 3rd gen goodness.
 
I am one of those who believes the S&W 3953 is the greatest CCW S&W ever designed. I traded one and a half S&W 39-2 pistols for mine, which is also a re-import.
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I would like another 3953; however, the S&W DAO pistols are not so popular here in metro Atlanta and are difficult to sell or trade. I owned a 5946 a while back, it took a long time to sell when I decided I did not need sixteen 9mm's. To me, these are $300.00 guns. I never see them that cheap, everyone asks $450.00+ for second and third generation pistols. I don't see them sell quickly either.
 
I see yours was re-imported to the USA. I'd bet it has an interesting history.

As I mentioned on another thread today, I found one of these on GunBroker.com and bought it for $270. It appears to be a former police pistol and is marked "N.P.D."

I think it is an intriguing and relatively unique gun. I shoot the first shot with my 3913, in DA mode, well enough to make me think I can work with the DAO format in the 3953. I really like the size (not too small) and weight (enough to help with recoil) of these pistols. And I think I will like the thin profile of the 3953 a lot! Congrats on yours...
 
I daily carry a 3953 by choice. I use the flat magazine base pad and find that it aids concealment appreciably.
 
Slight thread deviation: Tonight I fired 150 rounds in my new-to-me 3953, actually a bit of a beater, a former "N.P.D." gun. Very accurate and easy to handle; 100% reliability. Still not sure how it affects the muscle memory needed to use the 3913 well, but lots of fun to shoot. The DAO (without re-strike) function seemed a bit strange at first but works like a charm. So, its off to the gunsmith for a bead-blasting of the slide, not to make it like new, but to make it look better than it does after many years of being carried in somebody's holster.
 
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