I might be addicted to S&W Automatics.

I can say with certainty that if S&W wouldn't have decided to abandon servicing these gen 2 and 3 type guns I wouldn't have replaced them with Glocks. 3913NL, 3953, 4506, 645, 3913, 6906, 639.

What a nice collection! I really like the 3rd gen stainless ones. More interesting to me than 1911s. I've got a cs9 and a 5903 both with the aluminum frame. Always on the lookout for 4506, 5906 and one of the 10xx to add to my collection!

wiscoaster: Young glass-hopper, you so Funny !

JERRY: Interesting factor in your decision to change to modern guns because of consistent technical support. My quotes of other peoples' comments never seem to work.

Ignition Override said:

wiscoaster: Young glass-hopper, you so Funny !

JERRY: Interesting factor in your decision to change to modern guns because of consistent technical support. My quotes of other peoples' comments never seem to work.

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I was miffed when S&W sided with the clinton deal long ago.... but I held on to them, then after they came out and said that they would not support these guns with any type of service I knew that I had museum pieces because if something broke I was left with few options. I just didn't have the money to own 'looking at' guns AND practical carry guns. since I was issued a Glock service gun and attended a Glock armorer's course, I decided it was time to let go of the unsupported past. none of my guns were just range toys. they were primary ccw guns, house guns, and back up guns. I haven't bought a S&W semiauto since.

Nice collection for sure but I don't see any of Smith & Wesson's finest among them: the Models 41, 952, 52 and 945.

There appears to be a clear lack of Performance Center models here. Let's fix that now. Most of mine are PC guns. I got rid of all my standard Smiths, other than my two 52's. The PC guns are really awesome pistols.

Top row: 52, 52-2, PPC9, Target Champion, PPC9 6"

Bottom row: 952-1, 952-2, Comp 40, 945, 845

SwampWolf said:

Nice collection for sure but I don't see any of Smith & Wesson's finest among them: the Models 41, 952, 52 and 945.

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Yeah I know. I just corrected that. Standard Smith & Wesson autos are tough and reliable, but mediocre from a performance and accuracy standpoint.

The 5906 PPC models are actually the best Smith & Wesson built, in my opinion. They aren't as pretty as the 952, but they perform better. A bit hard to find though, especially the long slide model below.

One of my favorite pistols is the Model 945. I guess they stopped making it because no one was buying them. A pity.

SwampWolf said:

One of my favorite pistols is the Model 945. I guess they stopped making it because no one was buying them. A pity.

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They stopping making all the PC autos.

Today it’s just a name a slap on guns that take a slight turn off the standard production line for some slide cuts or a different trigger. They are the same guns as the standard versions for all intents and purposes.

The Performance Center used to be a high end custom shop.

bc1023

Yeah I know. I just corrected that. Standard Smith & Wesson autos are tough and reliable, but mediocre from a performance and accuracy standpoint.

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I would tend to agree with your appraisal of the standard line-up of S&W semi-autos. They were for the most part well built, reliable, and durable. But for me they had just average ergonomics (never have taken to a slide mounted safety or decocker), triggers, sights, and overall accuracy. Very good guns; just not stand-out, great guns

After all these years, my favorite carry gun was the CS9. Sure wish I could find another one in good condition. Don’t see many on the used market.

Museum pieces or not.....my 908 and 6904 both just arrived at the store over a nine-day timespan. Even my slender Gürly Händs find the 908’s .98” thickness ideal, and the double-stack 6904’s size also very appealing.
Wunderschön!

Although I already have three carry guns, both of these Smiths would work quite well.

They aren’t known as guns which easily break (?), or malfunction with OEM mags.

* Why worry that some spare parts are no longer avail.--- for a very well-designed gun? The Real risk seems to concern basic, but especially detailed disassembly and Losing an internal component.

I "misplaced" the rear sling swivel (looks like a tiny cylinder is attached) on the VZ-58 and these are extremely scarce.

DR505 said:

I have a blue 539 and a nickel 559 sitting in the safe, unfired, in their original boxes. I need to take them out and give them a go.

View attachment 958765

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Hey DR505- what is the difference between a 439 and a 539? Your pic looks a lot like my 439.
BTW, a buddy and I went thru' 3 used 39s; all of them ended up doubling or even tripling. All were purchased used, and had nice triggers...a little too nice! Was there any reputation of sear troubles in the 39 series, or had someone been inside all of these, bubba-smithing?
Have a LNIB 439, with a less than stellar trigger, and what I believe to be a hardchromed barrel.
Moon

JERRY said:

I was miffed

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Off subject entirely, but Jerry, are you likewise "miffed" about having to change your avatar to be relevant to the "times"?

halfmoonclip said:

Hey DR505- what is the difference between a 439 and a 539? Your pic looks a lot like my 439.
BTW, a buddy and I went thru' 3 used 39s; all of them ended up doubling or even tripling. All were purchased used, and had nice triggers...a little too nice! Was there any reputation of sear troubles in the 39 series, or had someone been inside all of these, bubba-smithing?
Have a LNIB 439, with a less than stellar trigger, and what I believe to be a hardchromed barrel.
Moon

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The 539 is steel

The 439 has an aluminum frame

SwampWolf said:

Off subject entirely, but Jerry, are you likewise "miffed" about having to change your avatar to be relevant to the "times"?

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I'm not changing it.

halfmoonclip:
The 439 and 539 are further 'decoded' in the chart I posted in remarks #20... it's a Really Big chart...

>>>>......if you decide to look at one of the two blue boxes in the upper left area.

That chart can usually help a lot. It is the only way I could differentiate between several offerings on Gunbroker.

Ignition Override said:

halfmoonclip:
The 439 and 539 are further 'decoded' in the chart I posted in remarks #20... it's a Really Big chart...

>>>>......if you decide to look at one of the two blue boxes in the upper left area.

That chart can usually help a lot. It is the only way I could differentiate between several offerings on Gunbroker.

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The 539 has a steel frame

That’s the difference between the two

halfmoonclip said:

Hey DR505- what is the difference between a 439 and a 539?

Was there any reputation of sear troubles in the 39 series, or had someone been inside all of these, bubba-smithing?
Moon

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I know of no sear issues and have not heard of any with this model.

bc above is correct regarding aluminum v steel frames.

Did I see some 52's?

Halfmoonclip, About those Model 39 sears. They are tensioned by a tiny coil spring, just on one side. I don't recall having a 39 double, but it always appeared to me the sear sure was a lot of mass to be reset quickly with that tiny spring. Perhaps S&W came to the same conclusion. The 2nd. and 3rd. Gen guns have the sear tensioned with a much larger and more robust leaf spring.

My first pistol several years ago was a 459 , sold it and bought a 5906. My other three semi autos are M&P's

Ignition Override said:

That chart can usually help a lot.

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It does but there seems to be a least one discrepancy: the Model 6906 has an aluminum alloy frame, not a stainless steel one, as improperly indicated in the "chart"-unless I'm reading it wrong.