Any 3rd-Gen Smith fans?

Good solid guns. I never cared for a magazine disconnect safety, but that's a personal thing. The TSW guns are the higher end versions. You will like it.

Looks great

HPCadm17 said:

Are any of you fans of the 3rd Generation Smith & Wessons? What is your experience with them?

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I love the S&W Third Generation Autos. They are without question some of the most robust semi auto handguns ever built. Last year Cabela's got a batch of brand new, in the box S&W 5946's, and I picked up 2 of them. They both came with 3, 15 round magazines. These guns are DAO, and were production overruns S&W built for the NYPD, and other law enforcement agencies who used them. Several of these departments like the NYPD ended up changing over to Glocks, and retired their S&W's.

So Smith & Wesson had no reason to keep them in storage any longer, so they sold the entire production run to Cabela's, for exclusive sale in their stores. It was a simple case of being in the right place at the right time. These guns also came with Novak style, 2014 dated Trijicon Night Sights. (The 5946 went out of production in or around 1999).

One of my guns is a Springfield, Mass. gun. While the other is a Houlton Maine weapon. There is zero difference between the 2. The DAO trigger took a while for me to get used to. But once I did the gun was very accurate, and has excellent ergonomics. With Aluminum being used in so many semi's these days, it was nice to pick up a couple of old school, 100% Stainless Steel guns. The Cabela's link for them is still active, but the guns have long since sold out.







https://www.cabelas.com/product/sho...680/smith-wesson-model-cf-pistols/2407616.uts

I've got a 1006, 4506, 4516, 4006 & 5906. They're not going anywhere.

I did remove the magazine safeties on all of them.

I like the 2nd and 3rd Gen smiths and currently have two.

Best one I ever owned and miss the most, was the 1086,10mm, as others have posted. Mine had been to the "shop" for carry package, it provided the best in weight and power for a carry piece, where it remained till department policy said other wise and then went to ODC, again until reg's interfered, now resides with a former partner who swears only on his death bed do I have a chance to retrieve it. Still trying to find another

armedwalleye said:

..... Machining costs were high, their numbering system would give an analytical physicist fits, and there were so many variants, but they were, and still are, solid guns that will outlive all of us.

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The numbering system is a bit difficult unless you are familiar with it. This chart helps sort it out, and makes things a little easier.

Armslist has one available in my area , a 6906 going for $500. I have no idea if that's a good price or not.

Model 39 was the 1st pistol I ever shot. Many years later i had 639. Wish I would have not sold it. Great shooter. Very short reset.

MilesR said:

Armslist has one available in my area , a 6906 going for $500. I have no idea if that's a good price or not.

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I recently got one in very good condition from AIM Surplus for $350.

JN01 said:

I recently got one in very good condition from AIM Surplus for $350.

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I just picked up a really nice 6906 on Gunbroker for $335.

I'm a long time fan, of the 1st, 2nd Gen. guns too. Still have some of the 3rd. Gens in 9MM,10MM and .45. As reliable and robust as any semi-autos I've ever owned

larryh1108 said:

I have 3 and love them. I prefer the DAO. I don't like the slide safety. Much cleaner lines.

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It’s always surprising to find someone else who likes the DOA’s.

Although I’ve owned & sold several S&W wonder nines, I still have a 5943, two 59’s, a 6906, & a 669. Three are project guns with minor issues (mostly frame finish) and maybe I’ll live long enough to finish all my projects.

Although I have no qualms about using polymer pistols as tools, metal handguns just feel more - well - enduring & substantial. Not to mention that they naturally handle recoil better with the additional weight.

Very nice. Back in '17 we had a car crash and CHP came out to do the paperwork. Following I was talking to the officer about his S&W transition that was upcoming. He really liked his 3'rd gen. He knew that they would have M&P as they would be changing over soon.

As far as being a fan, I've had a 3913 that was worked over by the S&W local PD armourer. Was a great feeling pistol but not in my hands. Couldn't hit the side of a barn at 10'. It worked well in others hands, just not mine. Picked up a 6904 and I do enjoy that one and can hit what I'm aiming at. LOL.This is after swapping in the 5904 hammer.

I agree, i would sell my P226 for a brand new 5906/3906

As I get older and face my own mortality, I'm starting to understand why people in ancient cultures were buried with their prized possessions. This also quickly hit home when a nephew, after handling my S&W 659, asked me to leave it to him. I'm actually not planning on going anywhere, but wow, it's getting to that time when I have to think about such things! All my prized guns going to kids that won't fully appreciate what it took to squirrel these things away!

Sigh.

Anyway, yes, I love the S&W 2nd and 3rd generation guns. Here are some of mine:















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^^ Very nice collection!
I hope you get to enjoy it for decades to come.

Nice Confedrate. That second to last, is it a 10mm?

This morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas.
How he got into my pajamas I'll never know.
Groucho Marx

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5906 my second pistol bought after a 469 several years ago , I like the heft and very comfortable to shoot can go through 200+ rounds easy . Only problem was a corroded mag release spring , plunger and little wear left side on the slide.

Thanks for the great comments and well wishes. I would have added cut lines, but I was in a hurry. They are:

1) 5906 9mm w/inset
2) 645 .45ACP w/inset
3) 659 (left) and 5906 9mm
4) 5906 (left) and 659
5) 457 .45ACP
6) 645 .45ACP
7) 6906 9mm

Cheers!