S&W 3906

JN01 · Mar 10, 2019

I was browsing a local gun shop yesterday and came across a S&W 3906. Always been a fan of the 3rd Gen TDA S&Ws. I knew that they didn't make a lot of the 3906s, and this one is in excellent condition, I couldn't pass it up for $360 out the door.

When I got home, did a little more research and found that they only produced around 2-3000 between 1988-1990. Recent sales of them have averaged from around $575 and up. I'm not usually one to stumble upon a bargain, but I think I did OK this time.

The S&W 39 series is a classic. It feels great in the hand. Being all stainless steel, it has a bit of heft to it, but should make it a pussycat at the range.

.455_Hunter · Mar 10, 2019

Very nice!

I wish they made them with the round trigger guard.

MachIVshooter · Mar 10, 2019

JN01 said:
I was browsing a local gun shop yesterday and came across a S&W 3906. Always been a fan of the 3rd Gen TDA S&Ws. I knew that they didn't make a lot of the 3906s, and this one is in excellent condition, I couldn't pass it up for $360 out the door.

Why, you lucky :cuss:

I'd pay a lot more than that for a clean 3906.

But I can't be too green, since I just scored a beautiful 1903 mfr Marlin 1894 for $500 and traded a Glock 20 plus $150 for a pristine 28-2 P&R gun.

Very nice score!

JN01 · Mar 10, 2019

Got lucky again- Midway has 9 round magazines on sale for 40% off.

Old Dog · Mar 10, 2019

Sweet; my favorite 3rd Gen Smiths are the ones with the hooked trigger guards and arched backstraps. Great find and an amazing price.

Old Dog · Mar 10, 2019

MachIVshooter said:
Why, you lucky

I'd pay a lot more than that for a clean 3906.

But I can't be too green, since I just scored a beautiful 1903 mfr Marlin 1894 for $500 and traded a Glock 20 plus $150 for a pristine 28-2 P&R gun.

Very nice score!

You guys are killing me ... either I don't get out to my local shops as much as I should, or the guys who do are pretty savvy and scooping up all the good deals ... or I need to move to your areas.

NIGHTLORD40K · Mar 10, 2019

.455_Hunter said:
Very nice!

I wish they made them with the round trigger guard.

Some of the 639s have a round guard-

IMO, as good as the 3rd Gen. guns are, they were mostly a result of cost cutting mods to the 2nd Gen., and not really better.

The OPs gun is still very nice at a great price. Good work!

Tallball · Mar 10, 2019

NICE PISTOL!

Shipwreck · Mar 11, 2019

I am jealous. Congrats!

bannockburn · Mar 11, 2019

JN01

At that price you should be buying lottery tickets!

Congrats on a great gun at a great price!

stillquietvoice · Mar 11, 2019

Nice find, great gun and a steal for the pistol. I have a 5904 and love it.

jsbethel · Mar 11, 2019

Those that have them know that they are the best! Your pistol is early and may have a recalled grip. If your grip has no dimple on the bottom, S&W owes you an updated grip.

JN01 · Mar 12, 2019

I understand that the recall was a result of a small number of the pistol grips breaking (and thus disabling the gun) when dropped. Guess I'll have to avoid dropping mine, it doesn't have the dimple and S&W says they no longer have replacements.

Trunk Monkey · Mar 12, 2019

Old Dog said:
Sweet; my favorite 3rd Gen Smiths are the ones with the hooked trigger guards and arched backstraps. Great find and an amazing price.

What is it about the hooked trigger guard?

Old Dog · Mar 12, 2019

That feature has no real functional purpose for me, I always just liked the way those pistols look ... But for sure, the pistols with the arched backstraps vs. the straight ones seem to just feel better in my hand and point naturally.

9mmepiphany · Mar 13, 2019

I like the hooked trigger guard because it reminded me of the ultimate M-39...the ASP

I had a original M39-1 as my first semiauto pistol and it was a great shooter...I traded it from my first S&W revolver; a 8.375" M27.

Years later, I shot an 3906 extensively and they really were soft shooting, but at the time I thought it too heavy for a duty gun and went with a SIG 226 instead

JN01 · Mar 22, 2019

Probably wasn't necessary, but I picked up a new replacement grip from Midway just to be safe.

Janos Dracwlya · Mar 23, 2019

That's a great score; I would love to get one of these.

SwampWolf · Mar 23, 2019

jsbethel said:
Those that have them know that they are the best! Your pistol is early and may have a recalled grip. If your grip has no dimple on the bottom, S&W owes you an updated grip.

My Model 6906 pistol was purchased in 1989, not long after the recall. I called the "recall number" (1-800-338-2466) immediately and Smith & Wesson sent me a set of replacement grips that do not have the dimple as described. So, I dug through a box of parts (I don't throw old gun parts away, you never know

) and found the original grips. They do have the dimple!? Maybe I should give it a drop test.

My Model 6906 was my duty pistol for several years prior to my retirement from le (after we transitioned from revolvers) and it served me well; very reliable and durable. My pistol is an early one and has the "hooked" trigger guard, a configuration designed for the earlier popular way of gripping a pistol, the index finger of the support hand holding fast to the forward portion of the trigger guard. In terms of aesthetics, I, too, prefer the "looks" of the rounded guard.

RA40 · Mar 23, 2019

Excellent find! Enjoy!

jar · Mar 23, 2019

I was actually carrying my 469 lately which was the original factory made compact Wonder 9. Also an M&P Bg380 as backup.

JN01 · Apr 6, 2019

Finally got to take it to the range. 100% reliable (as expected), was able to get very nice groups with it, and with the extra weight, it was a very soft shooter.

S&W 3906

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