New carry spoon... S&W 3913

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

This is my "new" concealed carry spoon. It was given to me by my father, who bought it when he was a detective and never fired or carried it. He went through his safe and gave me guns that he thought I'd like and this one is especially good to carry. It's very thin, light and easy to carry and shoots well. I've put enough rounds through it to trust it and be familiar with it. Right now, I'm using a Bianchi Model 6 suede leather IWB holster, but that may change.

This S&W Model 3913 replaces the Sig P239, which is a great gun, but it's just a little too big and heavy for daily carry (for me). This is a single stack, so it's thin and I may have a gunsmith remove the safety to make it even thinner... I do not carry it with the safety engaged!

Geronimo '74 · 02-23-2011, 03:23 AM

That's a nice looking spoon.
I've always like the compact and robust looking S&W's

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Is it double action only? If so, the safety isn't that important.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Man, I just could not give up my P239. It's the most accurate gun I've ever owned. It's at Robar now for re-refinishing and so the P220 Carry is the main carry gun for a few more weeks now.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

If the 239 were a double stack, it would be fine. But since it is a Democrap gun...I pefer my P226...

sc_rufctr · 02-23-2011, 03:46 AM

Handsome little thing...

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-beard

If the 239 were a double stack, it would be fine. But since it is a Democrap gun...I pefer my P226...

My P226R is also at Robar now for refinishing. It's a super gun and I have the SCT mags and grips for it. But it's not really CCW-friendly. I like a single stack for carry duty. Mine is .40 and, of course, they don't make larger mags for it. But they recently came out with a mag extension plate, so now I can carry 8+1. Nine rounds is enough for casual CCW. When I'm out in the bush or on the bike, I take the P226 with the .357SIG barrel and a full SCT mag. It's heavy that way, but when open carrying, it doesn't matter so much.

My first-ever CCW spoon was a S&W 415, which looks sort of like the one above. I bought it weeks before the '94 Crime Bill passed, so I made some money when I sold it two yrs. later.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Rick, my issue with the P239 is the width of the grip. There is no need for it to be that wide with a single stack. I do agree that in .357Sig, my P239 was a tack driver.

Tim Hancock · 02-23-2011, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-beard

Is it double action only? If so, the safety isn't that important.

+1..... If it is not double action though, no way would I carry that with the safety off with one in the pipe and cocked.

Geronimo '74 · 02-23-2011, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

+1..... If it is not double action though, no way would I carry that with the safety off with one in the pipe and cocked.

Not meaning to highjack

I saw a cop doing that.
Don't know if the safety was on or not but the hammer was definitely cocked, holstered but cocked...
Looked very freaky/unsafe to me. I tried to take a picture but he must have felt that I was looking at his gun and he was eyeballing me back, so I didn't...
(I'm no expert but I think it was an FN spoon)

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

The 3913 is DA/SA so the 1st trigger pull is DA and is long and hard! I carry with one in the chamber and the hammer down with the safety "off". My issue with the Sig P239 is the width and weight. I weigh 185-195lbs with a 34" waist and it's too heavy/wide for me. I do enjoy shooting the Sig and it's easier to break down to clean than the S&W's. I like the stainless slide and alloy frame, too!

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geronimo '74

Not meaning to highjack

I saw a cop doing that.
Don't know if the safety was on or not but the hammer was definitely cocked, holstered but cocked...
Looked very freaky/unsafe to me. I tried to take a picture but he must have felt that I was looking at his gun and he was eyeballing me back, so I didn't...
(I'm no expert but I think it was an FN spoon)

Condition 1 is fine - cocked and locked.

If he's carrying condition 0, that is another matter

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Pics don't do justice to this pistol and truly thin it is. I'll post better pics tonight as I'm at work now, using the iPhone.

Geronimo '74 · 02-23-2011, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-beard

Condition 1 is fine - cocked and locked.

If he's carrying condition 0, that is another matter

Probably was locked, I sure hope it was.
It looked weird for a layman like me.
Good to know that is was probably safe.

wreckersteve · 02-23-2011, 04:54 AM

I have had one for years and loved the little Smith. But it is up for sale if someone would like one also.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Steve, post your 3913 on the S&W forums and it will sell in a day or two as they are very popular with that crowd!

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

The grip is very thin, like a 1911...

sc_rufctr · 02-23-2011, 04:52 PM

Nice.

What's the finish on the gun? That looks like a special coating or something.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Peter,
It's a stainless model, which has an aluminum alloy frame with a stainless steel slide. This is 100% "stock", nothing has been modified. My father never even fired it, he bought it, put it and the box in his safe since the late 80's... He did this with with several other pistols that he has given me as well. I'm not complaining!

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Here's my S&W 3913 (stainless) and my Sig P239 for comparison...

HighNoon Horsehide holster fits the 239 and 3913 perfectly, which is great because it's a $140 holster (I didn't pay that for it)

After my 1st week carrying the S&W 3913, I find it much easier to carry than the Sig P239. Both guns are excellent concealed carry pistols, but the S&W 3913 has it over the Sig P239 by a small margin, in my humble opinion.