Best Smith and Wesson auto

Never owned a S&W auto but have shot a friend's Mod 52 a bit. Silky smooth and very accurate.

3913. Or any of the alloy frame guns. The all steel nah.
I sold most of my boat anchors. Great guns well made but just to heavy. These days they could make two guns out of one.

I only have two. They were both police trade-ins. Both go bang every time, are reasonably accurate, and have decent triggers.

Most of my S&W semi-autos were owned before many of us took pictures of our guns, and definitely before we all started putting pictures of our guns on this thing called the internet. But to your question, I would think that a model 39 or variations, i.e., pre model 39, no dash, -2, model 52, etc. should be acquired as representative of 1st. Gen guns. For second Gen., I would favor the 539 and/or 639 pistols, especially with the winged adjustable rear sight. I never cared for the 1st. Gen model 59s, or 2nd. Gen model 559s and 659s. All seemed like the grip was similar to a 2X2 to me, YMMV on this. In 3rd. Gen guns, Sky's the limit. I've owned and liked the 3913, 3906, 5906, 10XX series guns, etc. In Performance Center guns, my experience is with the 945, 952, 952-1, CQB 4563 and 4566, 4" and 5" DPA 5906s. I've handled, not owned, but greatly admire the 845. The '90s-early 2000s PC guns were the epitome of S&W semi-auto pistol design and execution IMHO. I admit I am not enamored of the current S&W plastic semi-autos, ray gun looking revolvers, or 1911 types, even if emblazoned with the Performance Center logo. I've come to believe these current "Performance Center" guns are production quality guns with a few features changed. NOT at all equivalent to the beautifully machined, inside and out, precisely fitted actual PC guns of the era I mentioned. I've always considered the actual Performance Center guns to be equivalent in overall build quality to guns like the Swiss and German P210 pistols....

Another vote for the 645. It's a great shooter, accurate, good looking.

1006 for sure. Because TEN!

My choice is the Model 945. Well-made, accurate and incorporates the best of the Smith 3rd Generation and 1911-type pistols.

I found the link below while searching for spare parts sources. How's about that... testimonials were pouring in back in 2008 on The High Road. I'm sure there are a lot more threads on the S&W 3rd Generation. Makes me want to buy more variants. I just have the one Model 915. I'm beginning to think one is not enough...

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/smith-5904.381726/

This thread needs more pics.

Here's my aforementioned 4566TSW. I polished the side since it was pretty beat up and the TSW badging was pretty unattractive even in good condtion to me.

The Model 39 has been mentioned; have a 439 LNIB (side question; believe it has a hardchromed barrel).
As has the Model 52, which is an absolute sweetheart; soft shooting, straight shooting, wonderful trigger.
Both feel great in the hand.
The 59 iterations always worked, but also felt like a 2x4; really prefer the single stack.
The 3913 is a honey; flat, light, reliable. Used one to murder a rabid fox. A buddy still has it; just got away from the DA/SA business.
Magazines are starting to become problematic for the older Smiths.
Moon

My first semi-auto pistol was a 459. It was not accurate at all and under mild use developed a bend on the base/flange on the guide rod. I sold it about 8 years ago with zero regrets.

With that said, I really liked the scale and feel of the original CS9 (Chief's Special). I almost bought a brand new in the box CS9 around 2008 or 2009 ($650) but decided against it due to lack of parts, spare mags and appropriate holster. I don't regret that decision either.

If S&W re-released the original CS9 today, but replaced the safety/decocker with just a decocker like the Berretta 92 G model I think it would fly off the shelves. There's no need for a safety on a DA/SA hammer fired pistol.

To me, the biggest flaw of all of this generation S&Ws was the backwards safety/decocker. Down should be "fire" and up should be "safe". Not to mention the safety lever being in the up/fire position interferes with an overhand slide rack. Now imagine the same guns but with the safety/decocker reconfigured to just a decocker like the Berretta G model. Now that would have been a winner!

eastbank said:

this 3913 in 9mm is my only S&W auto loader.

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The 3913 was my first for concealed carry. Ran well with anything. Wish I would have kept it...

I currently own 14 3rd gen S&W's. The best I can do is narrow down the best by caliber. My pick for 9mm is the "value line" 915. For 40, I'm partial to the 4046. Lastly for 45, the 4566.

Tallball said:

I only have two. They were both police trade-ins. Both go bang every time, are reasonably accurate, and have decent triggers.

Smith And Wesson Model 915

• Tallball
• Feb 14, 2018

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Yeah, the model 915 was the Value-line partner of the model 411.

After the Clinton AWB/Hi-Cap mag ban passed, S&W re-issued them as the 910 and 410.

KY DAN said:

I am going to start collecting about 2-5 pieces of each model and am looking for direction to start.

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Buy a walk-in safe for storage, and bring a wheelbarrow of cash.

KY DAN said:

Your not lying, I spent 2014-2019 collecting at least two of the k f frame and n frame series 1950s on up and I thought I was going broke lol.
.

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There's a potload more 3rd Gen models...

m39-2 my first centerfire handgun

KY DAN said:

Well snap dragons this calls for reevaluating this goal lol

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Shucks, thought KY DAN was just a pen name for Elon Musk!

Anything that starts with 45xx or 10xx.

I bought a few of both in the early 2000’s. They were much cheaper then than now.

Dan-O said:

Anything that starts with 45xx or 10xx.

I bought a few of both in the early 2000’s. They were much cheaper then than now.

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No doubt, particularly the 10xx--you can start shopping for those at $1K.

6904 or a 6906 would get my vote. Double stack, yet still very concealable.

While I use and carry the 45 3rd Gen pistols more often, I would have to choose the 3913 as the "best" pistol S&W Produced.

It is everything the 39XX series Father - the ASP 9mm, aspired to be. And S&W stole heavily from both Paris Theodore and Charles Kelsey's designs.

My personal favorite 3rd Gen and actually my favorite handgun extant, is the original 6-round mag, rail free 4513TSW. I carried mine off duty and in plainclothes for over a decade. Great 45 carry gun!

These days I carry a CS45 or a CS9 more often than not. Those CS models are underated guns. Regards 18DAI