What's going on with 3rd Gen magazines?

[GaryS]

If you buy the ones from Midway with the flat baseplates, I can swap base plates out for curved ones with you.

Better hurry though, Midway is limiting purchases to a maximum of 10.

I do prefer the curved baseplate. It's more comfortable for range use and I don't normally carry my all-metal 3rd Gens. If I did, I'd want the flat baseplate. Right now, MidwayUSA is out of the curved baseplates even as an option. Numrich has the curved baseplates in stock, but the price is a little steep, especially considering shipping.

As you point out, MidwayUSA is out and Greg Cote has only 5 left. My problem with Greg Cote is his flat shipping fee of $6.95. Makes buying one or two magazines at a time very expensive for an old, retired poverty case like me. At least with MidwayUSA, I can combine the magazines with other parts & stuff I need from them and the shipping fee is usually just $4.95 anyway.

As you can probably tell, I am extremely cost sensitive... so it's not just a matter of finding the magazines. It's a matter of not over-paying for them as well.

 

[oldman10mm]

Going to the Akron Ohio gun show tomorrow. The clip/magazine guy puts the S&W magazines aside for me to go thru before others can see them. We'll see what new ones he has.

 

[TTSH]

TTSH....just wondered if you have any of the 7rd steel base plate ...true "flush fit" magazines for the 39xx series??????

I have only read about them. They are the stuff of legend!

I had one, but traded it to another member for a flat bottom 8 round magazine.

Aughhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why not to me???

I found that the "hook" on the curved base plate magazines were more of an "issue" for printing. That's just me.

This seems to make sense... plus you get an 8th round.

 

[TTSH]

TTSH, I've sent you a PM

PM returned.

 

[TTSH]

Going to the Akron Ohio gun show tomorrow. The clip/magazine guy puts the S&W magazines aside for me to go thru before others can see them. We'll see what new ones he has.

Please keep your good friend "TTSH" in mind.

And forget that other guy... GaryS. He has too many 3913 magazines already!

 

[GaryS]

I didn't know you were looking for one of those. You apparently missed the thread where another member had one, but couldn't figure out how to get the base plate off. We did a swap because I was curious about that. I figured that out and then also figured out that if you put in an eight round spring, you had an eight round magazine with a flush base plate. Here is the thread. Which you apparently missed.

Anyway, i sold or traded that away after I had dissected it.

Had I known it was such a rare bird, I'd have held on to it.

Oh well.

And I object to your characterization of me having "too many" 3913 mags. I only have 14. And two black ones that go with my 3914. And, as Loretta Lynn once sang, "One on the way."

Aughhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why not to me???

 

[nocents]

Aughhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why not to me???

.....TTSH....this is what they look like if you run onto one... ..

 

[GaryS]

You're going to give him a stroke, showing pictures like that. A 3913LS, KSD grips, and the original style magazine.

That's first class gun pr0n right there.

.....TTSH....this is what they look like if you run onto one... ..

 

[ejfalvo]

FWIW I picked up a few 457/4516 mags at CDNN early today.

 

[TTSH]

I didn't know you were looking for one of those. You apparently missed the thread where another member had one, but couldn't figure out how to get the base plate off. We did a swap because I was curious about that. I figured that out and then also figured out that if you put in an eight round spring, you had an eight round magazine with a flush base plate. Here is the thread. Which you apparently missed.

Anyway, i sold or traded that away after I had dissected it.

Had I known it was such a rare bird, I'd have held on to it.

Oh well.

And I object to your characterization of me having "too many" 3913 mags. I only have 14. And two black ones that go with my 3914. And, as Loretta Lynn once sang, "One on the way."

Hopefully, you know I'm just yanking your chain. And yes, I did see and do remember your thread (see my old "like" for your post #24).

The funny thing about those rare bird "flat bottom" magazines is that I probably wouldn't even recognize one in some shop's bargain bin or at a show just because my brain is tuned into looking for the typical ones we all know and love. In fact, I'm getting so good that I can reach in and find one without even looking... and even in the dark!

As you say, it would be very cool to own one just due to the rarity factor alone. But as a practical matter, I'm happy enough just to find a regular one in good shape at a decent price.

Anyway, "too many" is a subjective thing and it all depends on how many guns you own that take those magazines. The way I see it, I own seven pistols that use 3913/3953/908 magazines. My immediate goal is to own 3 magazines for each pistol. That's 21 magazines according to my math. So me owning 21 magazines would be "just right" and not "too many"! As of this morning, despite one more "score" yesterday, I believe I'm still 2 short of that goal. That said, a "recount" is probably in order since my recent inventory went partially on my records and not all of them by actual count.

So, it's all a question of how many you own per gun. Since I believe you sold off one 3900-series gun, I think you are over 3 magazines per remaining gun. To me, that means "too many"!!!

 

[TTSH]

.....TTSH....this is what they look like if you run onto one... ..

You're going to give him a stroke, showing pictures like that. A 3913LS, KSD grips, and the original style magazine.

That's first class gun pr0n right there.

I'd need to get a good look at one out of the gun to ever be able to remember what to look for. My brain just isn't tuned into looking for such a rare bird.

And GaryS is correct: I don't own a 3913LS or NL yet. For the most part, they exceed my "no approval needed" price cap and Lord knows they don't exactly grow on trees around here. The good wife would never approve one anyway when she sees me able to buy regular, plain vanilla 3913's in very decent shape for under $500.

As for the KSD grips, I haven't gone down that rabbit hole yet... and it may surprise some that I don't ever intend to. Simple reason: I'd go broke (and a little crazy) trying to put them on all the 3rd Gens I own. Like any addiction: It's better never to start than to start and try to stop. So no thanks!

 

[oldman10mm]

At the Akron show today,picked up 5 S&W mags. A 6906,a 4013TSW/4053TSW/4056TSW,and 3 3913s'(2 still in OEM S&W packaging).

 

[TTSH]

At the Akron show today,picked up 5 S&W mags. A 6906,a 4013TSW/4053TSW/4056TSW,and 3 3913s'(2 still in OEM S&W packaging).

Oh sure... but what did you pay for them?

Seriously, congratulations.

Now... how much do you want for them?

 

[oldman10mm]

There were a lot more mags(9,40,45)I would have bought had I had more cash with me but some of the cash I had went to other stuff( a 500 box of 41cal lead bullets,some misc tooling,and a nice striped N frame grip.

 

[Craig19]

There were a lot more mags(9,40,45)I would have bought had I had more cash with me but some of the cash I had went to other stuff( a 500 box of 41cal lead bullets,some misc tooling,and a nice striped N frame grip.

How was the Akron show? How much did they want for the 6906 mag?

 

[oldman10mm]

6906 mag ended up at $25 with the tax.

 

[Craig19]

Nice. Thanks. I'm probably going to hit Berea next month.

 

[Towns]

I recently paid a fellow forum member what amounted to $23 per mag for 6906 mags. Now I have to also admit that I bought one for $40 from that online auction site that I'm too ashamed to name. Hey, I'm learning.

 

[85V65Sabre]

I recently paid a fellow forum member what amounted to $23 per mag for 6906 mags.

That's a good deal on 6906 mags, sure is nice to have members that help each other out.[emoji4]

 

[oldman10mm]

my current stash of mags
9mm,mostly for my 59XXs' 69XXs' & CS9,I'm planning on picking up a couple 3913 pistols.

40S&W,don't have pistols but with the 3rd gen 40s' dropping in price,I want to pick up a variety. the 4013s' and CS40 are for 10mm conversion.

10mm,over the past month I've shipped out 7 to around the country. Until I get more,my stock is staying at that level.

45,don't have a 45,just acquire them for others.

my stock is constantly changing from doing gun shows every weekend. Some in the pictures are being held for requests for at the upcoming April 23 SWCA Ohio 'bunch' meeting.

 

[GaryS]

Nice collection. And nice pictures of those GM drive train parts. I can't remember how many of those 10and 12 bolt center chucks I took out when I was working for my dad.

my current stash of mags
9mm,mostly for my 59XXs' 69XXs' & CS9,I'm planning on picking up a couple 3913 pistols.


40S&W,don't have pistols but with the 3rd gen 40s' dropping in price,I want to pick up a variety. the 4013s' and CS40 are for 10mm conversion.


10mm,over the past month I've shipped out 7 to around the country. Until I get more,my stock is staying at that level.


45,don't have a 45,just acquire them for others.


my stock is constantly changing from doing gun shows every weekend. Some in the pictures are being held for requests for at the upcoming April 23 SWCA Ohio 'bunch' meeting.

 

[TTSH]

my current stash of mags
9mm,mostly for my 59XXs' 69XXs' & CS9,I'm planning on picking up a couple 3913 pistols.

40S&W,don't have pistols but with the 3rd gen 40s' dropping in price,I want to pick up a variety. the 4013s' and CS40 are for 10mm conversion.

10mm,over the past month I've shipped out 7 to around the country. Until I get more,my stock is staying at that level.

45,don't have a 45,just acquire them for others.

my stock is constantly changing from doing gun shows every weekend. Some in the pictures are being held for requests for at the upcoming April 23 SWCA Ohio 'bunch' meeting.

Nice collection. And nice pictures of those GM drive train parts. I can't remember how many of those 10 and 12 bolt center chucks I took out when I was working for my dad.

Holy Cow and Mama Mia too! That's a whole lot of very valuable 3rd Gen Magazines!

I think your stash of 3rd Gen magazines is worth more than my entire 3rd Gen pistol collection!

Very nice indeed!!! Thanks for posting!

 

[TTSH]

Another example...

One dealer I hit today... certainly not a personal favorite of mine... absolutely insisted that S&W is still doing small runs of 3rd Gen magazines every year. While I don't think it is widespread, it could explain the occasional appearance of CS45 and 4516/457 magazines in new style packaging from time to time. And those aren't the only ones.

This wouldn't surprise me. From time to time magazine components show up at Brownells or Midway. Along with other small parts.

Another example of long unavailable 3rd Gen magazines suddenly showing up today at MidwayUSA:

Smith & Wesson Mag S&W 4013TSW 4053TSW 4056TSW 40 S&W 9-Round SS

Now, these fit a somewhat later gun (one that's even MA-legal!) so maybe that has something to do with it.

Meanwhile, Greg Cote is down to just one Model 3913 curved baseplate magazine left. Doesn't matter anyway. I'm kinda out of "magazine money" for now.

 

[oldman10mm]

gunmagwarehouse also shows them as available.

 

[TTSH]

gunmagwarehouse also shows them as available.

Yep! Looks like they've got 8 left. A bit more expensive than Midway or Greg Cote, but such is life.

When the time if right, meaning after the next big show in April, I think I'll likely do as someone suggested and go with MidwayUSA on some flat baseplate magazines and then order some curved baseplates for them later if/when they ever come in. There seems to be a good supply everywhere for the flat baseplate magazines.

By then, I could be in pretty good shape anyway.

 

[hoss@fol43]

If legislation introduced here passes and signed into law... there might be tons of magazines available from the West coming out of CA when retailers (and owners) need to dump them.

While nothing over 10 rd magazines have been the law of CA land for years as far as buying new ones is concerned, possession of so called "high capacity" magazines (over 10 round) was grandfathered and we were able to keep what we already have.

Some of the legislation introduced in the aftermath of the San Bernardino shootings, if passed and signed into law, will remove that grandfathering and ban possession of any magazine over 10 rounds.

Also being considered, is legislation that will ban semi-auto's capable of accepting over 10 rd. capacity magazines... meaning any semi-auto with a magazine well is in jeopardy.

So there might be a glut of stuff flooding out of CA before 1/1/17 when new laws take effect... magazines, semi-autos, people...

You assume that we Americans in Kalifornia will turn in our magazines and guns to our communist handlers, eh?

 

[Gunhacker]

You assume that we Americans in Kalifornia will turn in our magazines and guns to our communist handlers, eh?

Naw, only just mentioning what's currently in play here in CA, and the possibility of a new law, if passed, that might scare up some magazines if/when CA retail businesses need to dump what they've got.

My plan is to make a break out of this state before things get anymore ridiculous than they already are. I'm also sick and tired of reading about great new semi-auto pistols coming out that I'll not see in CA unless the CA roster can be successfully be over turned in the court challenge being waged.

 

[GaryS]

I can hook you up with curved base plates.

Yep! Looks like they've got 8 left. A bit more expensive than Midway or Greg Cote, but such is life.

When the time if right, meaning after the next big show in April, I think I'll likely do as someone suggested and go with MidwayUSA on some flat baseplate magazines and then order some curved baseplates for them later if/when they ever come in. There seems to be a good supply everywhere for the flat baseplate magazines.

By then, I could be in pretty good shape anyway.

 

[Practical]

What are magazines?

It just makes me want to focus on S&W revolvers for FUN and keep to Plastic Fantastic guns (auto's) for 'defense'.

 

[TTSH]

I can hook you up with curved base plates.

Actually, a couple members have quietly offered to swap or otherwise help me out in that regard. This is a wonderful forum! But I may have accidentally overstated my need, desire and/or "love" for curved baseplates. With last week's purchases and if all goes well with a swap in the works this week, I'll be pretty much in balance and where I want to be by week's end.

I was just thinking out loud about the future and the April show in Marlboro where I might have the cash to add 2-3 more magazines (with a little luck and if the price is right). But if I strike out at the show, MidwayUSA and those flat base 3913 magazines will likely be my best & cheapest fallback.