I bought the jankiest gun at Buds: S&W 3914

[MattyD380]

I was in Lexington over the weekend, so I stopped by Buds... with a $100 gift card and a hunger for a cheap hipster gun.

I zeroed in on a scuffed-and-roughed 3914. It didn't necessarily look abused, per se--but it was definitely the most "meh" looking pistol in the entire case. Haggled down to $350, applied my $100... had me a classic DA/SA single-stack 9mm for $250.

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Some serial number searching suggests this one was made in 1990--early in the continuum of 3rd gens. It has the narrower tab in the barrel hood and slightly different machining around the ejection port vs. later 3rd gens. Compared to my 1994 6904 (on the left), here.

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It also has the thinned-down levers, which my 6904 doesn't--nice feature, in my opinion. Overall, it feels pretty much like my 6904 with a thinner grip. Which is exactly what it is.

But man... sheathed in Hogue rubber, that thin grip feels great.

And while the frame is riddled with idiot scratches and the slide is burnished with holster wear, mechanically it's solid. The angled surfaces in the frame that cam the barrel don't show a lot of wear and the frame rails still have decent amounts of anodizing. The extractor has plenty of tension and the entire gun locks up tight with the mag inserted. Looks like the guide rod is aftermarket... but seems to work/fit just fine. Overall, the gun feels solid, substantial and well made. Just like every 3rd gen I've had.

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So, I threw some oil on it and headed to the range.

I've owned a 3913TSW, but I always shot my venerable 6904 better--I chalked it up to the wider grip offering a bit more stability. So, I was curious to I'd do with a 39XX again...

While my shots were grouping slightly right, they grouped decently. I later noticed that the front sight was a touch left of center... could explain the right-ness. I slowed down and applied some Kentucky windage (I live in Kentucky--I can say that). Got a halfway decent 10-shot group @ 10 yards.

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In terms of handling, the gun felt nimble and natural. Extremely comfortable to hold. Extremely comfortable to shoot. With the thinner grip circumference and the straighter backstrap, the trigger reach is noticeably shorter vs. the 6904. Plus, the rubber grip makes the recoil disappear.

And I personally love the DA triggers on 3rd gens. This one is no exception. It's not necessarily light... but it's consistent and stack free throughout the stroke. I tend to think the hammer release happens a little later in the trigger's travel vs. Sigs and Berettas. And, for some reason, that seems to give me better control. Combined with the thinner grip and shorter trigger reach, this thing is one hell of nice shooter in DA. I wouldn't mind converting this one to DAO, honestly.

It feels just like you want a compact gun to feel. It shoots well enough for... anything you'd need it for. Plus, it's 1911 thin and 100% reliable: I put 100 rounds through it, zero issues.

Overall, it's a superb little DA/SA blaster. And, most of all, it makes me realize how much of a gap guns like this left behind. It's solid, well made, safe, easy to shoot, easy to carry.

And for $350... I don't know how you could do better.

[Duelist]

Sounds about like the 3913 that I kept. Great little gun.

[MattyD380]

Sounds about like the 3913 that I kept. Great little gun.

Nice. Yeah, I'd like to get one of the Lady Smith 3913s with the sexy raked dustcover. But I'm happy with some stoic black patina, for now.

[Duelist]

Nice. Yeah, I'd like to get one of the Lady Smith 3913s with the sexy raked dustcover. But I'm happy with some stoic black patina, for now.

I had one of those, too, but it was worth more and the one I kept has a better trigger, so when I was thinning out the herd of 3rd gens to two, I kept the one with the better trigger, and my 4516-1.

[camsdaddy]

I would say that was a great way to spend the card and the cash. I have a 3913TSW with the 7 round mags and it was the first pistol I ever purchased. Reading this makes me want to bring it out and take to the range soon. Enjoy!

[HeavyDuty]

Nice score! I would have jumped on it, too.

A 3913 was my main pistol for most of the lean years, and it served me well - I don’t have a round count, but it must be up there after doing a couple of Wally World WWB 100 round boxes a session and one or two sessions a week for most of a decade. It’s in great shape, I took care of it and always lubed before and after range trips. It was demoted to a bedside gun years ago, and it would be great in that role again. I considered going back to it for a EDC, but parts are starting to be an issue and it is not a practical pistol to RDS. I would just replace the dead sights and enjoy it for what it is.

[MolonLabe416]

The 39 series of pistols are much underrated. Enjoy.

[camel]

I have often thought. If smith did a compact browning high power. These were the guns to have.

Much more shootable at least for me than a Glock 19.

[UNM1136]

The 39 series of pistols are much underrated. Enjoy.

Very, very much underrated. @OP I will give you a c-note more than you paid for it....Always wanted to build an ASP....


pat

[Rock185]

Definitely good little guns. I had the use of a 3914 for several months and was impressed with both it's reliability and accuracy. It influenced me in later acquiring a 3913 of my own. I've had the 3913 for some years now. It has not disappointed.

I liked the thinner levers, as on some of the Ladysmith versions. I milled down the safety and slide stop levers on mine, and re-bead blasted them to match the original finish.

[OfficeCat]

Nice find! I picked up a 469 in similar condition, for a similar price, and for similar reasons a couple of years back at a local shop. A third gen single stack would have been more practical but I can clearly remember reading about the 469 in my grandpa's Guns and Ammo back when it was introduced and my internal eighth-grader finally got to scratch that itch.

[farscott]

The 3914 models had the shortest manufacturing lines of the 391x pistols. They were only offered for a year (1990) or two as they sold poorly compared to the 3913 and 3913LS. This was the time when S&W had the "whiz wheel" and "Model of the Week" and when stainless carry guns were sexy due to the corrosion resistance and FBI adoption of a stainless S&W. No surprise that the 3914 and 3914LS (yes, there was one) were dropped from the catalog.

My wife has a 3914 that she still loves. I just cleaned it for her a month or so ago.

[HeavyDuty]

Definitely good little guns. I had the use of a 3914 for several months and was impressed with both it's reliability and accuracy. It influenced me in later acquiring a 3913 of my own. I've had the 3913 for some years now. It has not disappointed.

I liked the thinner levers, as on some of the Ladysmith versions. I milled down the safety and slide stop levers on mine, and re-bead blasted them to match the original finish.

I swapped out the ambi safety on mine with a single sided, and the black grip module for grey.

[TDA]

The 3914 models had the shortest manufacturing lines of the 391x pistols. They were only offered for a year (1990) or two as they sold poorly compared to the 3913 and 3913LS. This was the time when S&W had the "whiz wheel" and "Model of the Week" and when stainless carry guns were sexy due to the corrosion resistance and FBI adoption of a stainless S&W. No surprise that the 3914 and 3914LS (yes, there was one) were dropped from the catalog.

My wife has a 3914 that she still loves. I just cleaned it for her a month or so ago.

The “regular” 3914 was made from 1990-1996, but there weren’t a lot of them. I want to say like less than 2000 guns, but now I can’t find where I thought I saw production figures. The 3914 Ladysmith was produced 1990-1991, and the 3914NL was just made for a hot second in 1991.

[MattyD380]

Nice score! I would have jumped on it, too.

A 3913 was my main pistol for most of the lean years, and it served me well - I don’t have a round count, but it must be up there after doing a couple of Wally World WWB 100 round boxes a session and one or two sessions a week for most of a decade. It’s in great shape, I took care of it and always lubed before and after range trips. It was demoted to a bedside gun years ago, and it would be great in that role again. I considered going back to it for a EDC, but parts are starting to be an issue and it is not a practical pistol to RDS. I would just replace the dead sights and enjoy it for what it is.

Nice! I can help thinking "if this was my only pistol... it would do the job." Sounds like it kinda was... and did... for you. Cool to know you put that many rounds through it and it's still solid. I did the little gun. Plan to hang onto it.

[MattyD380]

Much more shootable at least for me than a Glock 19.

Same here.

[MattyD380]

Nice find! I picked up a 469 in similar condition, for a similar price, and for similar reasons a couple of years back at a local shop. A third gen single stack would have been more practical but I can clearly remember reading about the 469 in my grandpa's Guns and Ammo back when it was introduced and my internal eighth-grader finally got to scratch that itch.

Haha. I find my internal eighth grader calls a lot of the shots, these days.

[MattyD380]

The “regular” 3914 was made from 1990-1996, but there weren’t a lot of them. I want to say like less than 2000 guns, but now I can’t find where I thought I saw production figures. The 3914 Ladysmith was produced 1990-1991, and the 3914NL was just made for a hot second in 1991.

I'll admit the stainless ones are "objectively" sexier. But... I kinda like the patina on the black finish? Plus, I already had the 6904. Which is actually fairly minty, and pretty damn fine looking. I have a 5906 and 4506-1 to satisfy my 3rd gen stainless urges... so... we're good there, too :)

[HeavyDuty]

I’ve told the tale here about how I used to correspond with Steve Melvin in those days, and how I insisted to him the NL was a good idea - even though I didn’t have the money for one. I should really keep an eye out for a clean one.

I think the 3913NL is pure sex.

[TDA]

I’ve told the tale here about how I used to correspond with Steve Melvin in those days, and how I insisted to him the NL was a good idea - even though I didn’t have the money for one. I should really keep an eye out for a clean one.

I think the 3913NL is pure sex.

It was the first gun I bought on my brand new city handgun permit back in the day at the local super pawn & gun.

[farscott]

The “regular” 3914 was made from 1990-1996, but there weren’t a lot of them. I want to say like less than 2000 guns, but now I can’t find where I thought I saw production figures. The 3914 Ladysmith was produced 1990-1991, and the 3914NL was just made for a hot second in 1991.

Were the 3914 models made that long for commercial sales? They were in the 1992 catalog (I need to dig up my hard copy), but my understanding is that almost all of them were made for commercial sales in the first year or two of production. They just did not sell. There is some evidence that some were made in 1993 due to the TZx serial number prefix, but my understanding was those were NYPD guns. At one time, NYPD authorized the 3914 and S&W would do small runs for the stores that supplied the department's officers. My wife's 3914 has a VAT (1994-1995) prefix and was originally bought by an NYPD officer.

[HeavyDuty]

It was the first gun I bought on my brand new city handgun permit back in the day at the local super pawn & gun.

A NL? Envious.

[DDTSGM]

Asking about a little different animal - a 3913.

These guys have them - looks supicious, though - anyone have dealings with them? Texas Gun Store

https://firearms-texas.com/product/smith-wesson-3913-9mm-police-trade-in-pistols-fair-condition/

I used search and found a thread that mentions them, but no actual online purchases were referenced.

[feudist]

Classic "Wrong place, wrong time" story.
Released at the height of the Wundernine craze, discontinued just as the wave of "Shall issue" legislation was sweeping the land.

[Lester Polfus]

Asking about a little different animal - a 3913.

These guys have them - looks supicious, though - anyone have dealings with them? Texas Gun Store

https://firearms-texas.com/product/smith-wesson-3913-9mm-police-trade-in-pistols-fair-condition/

I used search and found a thread that mentions them, but no actual online purchases were referenced.

The picture appears to be the same exact one used in this listing on Sportsman's Outdoors Super store. (https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/204109/3913f/smith-and-wesson-3913-9mm-police-trade-in-pistols-(fair-condition))

You go first.

ETA: Sportsman's Outdoor Super Store is in Ohio, not Texas. A quick look seems to show no connection between the two outfits.

[TCinVA]

I carried a 3913 for years, only giving it up because a relative needed a reliable carry gun and that pistol fit the bill for them. They're great little guns.

[Vista461]

I love 3rd Gens.

[MattyD380]

The picture appears to be the same exact one used in this listing on Sportsman's Outdoors Super store. (https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/204109/3913f/smith-and-wesson-3913-9mm-police-trade-in-pistols-(fair-condition))

You go first.

ETA: Sportsman's Outdoor Super Store is in Ohio, not Texas. A quick look seems to show no connection between the two outfits.

Yeah, I noticed that too. I also noticed all the “pay by bitcoin/crypto” kinda stuff on the homepage. That’s often a red flag. And… prices are all very good. Not, like to the point they’re unbelievable… but consistently very good throughout the listings.

it seems like…. they’re trying to not seem like they’re trying too hard.

[DDTSGM]

The picture appears to be the same exact one used in this listing on Sportsman's Outdoors Super store. (https://www.sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com/products2.cfm/ID/204109/3913f/smith-and-wesson-3913-9mm-police-trade-in-pistols-(fair-condition))

You go first.

ETA: Sportsman's Outdoor Super Store is in Ohio, not Texas. A quick look seems to show no connection between the two outfits.

Thanks for providing me with that info.

I'll go first next time.

[Glenn E. Meyer]

I passed up a great sale on a 3913LS when an LGS was folding back in the day. Reason, sending kid to very expensive college. Sigh. Congrats on the gun.

[Gary1911A1]

I like my older 6906. I also have a 3913 which I like better because it is so flat and I get a better trigger pull with the trigger breaking so far back.

[fpnunes]

3913/3914s are really great guns. I had two back in my ASP collection days as reasonable alternatives for daily carry. Karl Sokol worked over a 3913 for me and Wayne Novak a 3914. Unfortunately, I didn't shoot either very well and preferred carrying a Colt Officer's model instead. Now, so many years later, I wish I had both pistols back. First thing I had done to both was going to a single sided safety that had two tiers milled off.

[JAH 3rd]

I bought a new 6906, curved trigger guard, decades ago. I still regret trading it in on another firearm purchase. Same story on a 686 6" barrel revolver. Same story on a........well you get the picture.

[Brian T]

Asking about a little different animal - a 3913.

These guys have them - looks supicious, though - anyone have dealings with them? Texas Gun Store

https://firearms-texas.com/product/smith-wesson-3913-9mm-police-trade-in-pistols-fair-condition/

I used search and found a thread that mentions them, but no actual online purchases were referenced.

I'd be leery of them. (956) area code, that is the lower Rio Grande Valley. I spend some time down there, maybe I can pop in.

[DDTSGM]

I'd be leery of them. (956) area code, that is the lower Rio Grande Valley. I spend some time down there, maybe I can pop in.

Thanks!

[Lester Polfus]

I'd be leery of them. (956) area code, that is the lower Rio Grande Valley. I spend some time down there, maybe I can pop in.


Thanks!

The address returns to Monty's Shooter's Supply, (https://www.google.com/search?q=monty%27s+shooters+supply&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS853US853&oq=monty%27s+shooters+supply&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i60.4809j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8) which the internets seems to think is "permanently closed."

They also have 16 pages of machine guns you can "add to your cart" right now. You know how online stores have those little pop ups that say "Somebody in Springfield Missouri bought a pair of shoes?" Well, while I was looking at the machine guns, somebody from London England bought a Mossberg 500 shotgun from them. That's gonna take some paperwork.