3rd Generation S&W Autos

This is Such a long ‘thread’ for an ‘outmoded’, ‘impractical’ series of gun relics.

It’s hard for me to understand.

Probably need to get your hands on one, to understand.

I have carried my 6906 a couple of times. So far, it's been flawless and it's one of my favorite guns.

Trying to learn how to "quote other comments". Woops.

Steve762us said:

Probably need to get your hands on one, to understand.

Click to expand...

Have owned a 5906, now own a 908 and 6904; I both bought on Gunbroker last December.

Being ironic in my remarks should be made more obvious at times. These S&W guns, from my perspective, are just as appealing as my CZ PCR (75D), Sig P225 (German-proofed), and Sig P6.

A late state cop buddy carried a 39 on duty, and I've been thru' a few. Current 439 is LNIB, and an odd story, but they always felt good in the hand. The 59s are a brick.
Take the mag safety out of HiPows, but store the parts with the papers. Just improves the trigger, and they are range queens anyway.
Moon

I've owned a few over the years, and like so many pistols I shouldn't have sold most of them. I don't regret selling the 5906, 4006 TSW, or 909. There wasn't anything wrong with them, just not enough love to hold onto them. The 4506 and 4566 might have been kept, but for both of these the magazines tended to pop the top round out with normal handling. I didn't relish having an 8-round mag suddenly turn into a 7-round mag when I needed it most. Out of seven mags, four exhibited this quirk.

I do regret selling the 1006 and 3913, those were pretty much perfect for their intended use. Of the two, I might realistically hope to replace the latter.

the 915 . made in 1992. all metal 3rd gen. "Value series" finished in the worst black krylon paint you could imagine, but it works great.

4006 TSW is certainly a keeper for me ! I even bought an extra set of the plastic grips if they ever break, the only weakness, maybe.

Gordon said:

I even bought an extra set of the plastic grips if they ever break, the only weakness, maybe.

Click to expand...

They should hold up fine, as long as there's a small dimple next to the pry-off hole. The dimple shows the plastic is the improved formula. No dimple means it's
the original mix, that could break if pistol was dropped and landed on the heel of grip. S&W replaced the original's free, and might still do it.

I've owned several.

I'm getting old. Probably won't buy any more.

Keeping the 915 for sure though.

I still carry this CS45 on occasion. Never had a bobble with it.

mrmike7189 said:

the 915 . made in 1992. all metal 3rd gen. "Value series" finished in the worst black krylon paint you could imagine, but it works great.

Click to expand...

W.E.G.'s gun is like all the 915s I saw. Not sure what it is, but smooth, very black, and much more wear resistant than I'd expect from a value line finish. Anyone know what it actually IS?

When someone wanted to get their own a few years later, the 910 was on the other hand pretty poorly finished, couldn't talk him into it because of that. But it wasn't extraordinary; I failed to get at least a Springfield P9 (CZ75) and a Colt AR because they had very poor machining, finish. Quality of even second tier makers is outstandingly consistent and better than the 90s.

I just bought a 3913 NL, today, on-line. The seller is a local gun store, in nearby Houston, Texas, so, I will do the paper work and pick-up, in-person, probably tomorrow. Usually, I like to examine a firearm, before buying, but this one looked to be in truly excellent condition, probably not carried, as the images showed no marks or wear. This one will join my 3913 TSW, 908, and 3914 LS, in a quartet of nearly-identical pistols. With no spare parts still being made, other than springs, it is good to have the ability to cannibalize, in the future, as well as spread the wear and tear among several samples. I have aged-out of high-round-count range sessions and classes, so these should be lifetime pistols, for me, as I am already age 60. These fit me “naturally,” anyway, which lessens the need for long range sessions, as the POA/POI equation is already sorted-out. Good “old man” pistols. Life is good.

Ignition Override said:

This is Such a long ‘thread’ for an ‘outmoded’, ‘impractical’ series of gun relics.

It’s hard for me to understand.

Click to expand...

These DA/SA pistols are not outmoded, and are not impractical. They are labor-intensive to manufacture, with a high/numerous part count, so, S&W would much rather sell us Shield and M&P pistols, made of polymer, and fewer parts, that can assembled by lesser-skilled workers. Among the end-line users, fewer folks, today, are familiar with long-stroke double-action trigger operation, or the DA-to-SA transition. The Third-Generation pistols, themselves, are superb. I favor the compact 39xx-series, which is comparable to a Glock G48, in size, but S&W was making these compact single-column-mag pistols more than three decades ago; a glorious moment in time.

Rexster said:

These DA/SA pistols are not outmoded, and are not impractical. They are labor-intensive to manufacture, with a high/numerous part count, so, S&W would much rather sell us Shield and M&P pistols, made of polymer, and fewer parts, that can assembled by lesser-skilled workers. Among the end-line users, fewer folks, today, are familiar with long-stroke double-action trigger operation, or the DA-to-SA transition. The Third-Generation pistols, themselves, are superb. I favor the compact 39xx-series, which is comparable to a Glock G48, in size, but S&W was making these compact single-column-mag pistols more than three decades ago; a glorious moment in time.

Click to expand...

I think IO should buy us all a round, everytime he has to talk his way out of that...

Rexster/Steve762us:

You missed the attempt at irony in my comments. My fault, and >>> remarks #55 <<< stated this oversight.........
I was trying to be be satirical of people who look down on guns because the guns have older features. Maybe "emojis" are now standard procedure.

Really enjoying my S&W 908. Only the OEM mag prices leave some room for improvement-won't happen.

My handguns are the all-metal Sig P225 (the civilian, "Pre"-P6) , this 908, the CZ PCR and also the polymer-framed Walther P99 AS.

Recently also owned a nice Israeli 'turn-in' S&W 6904 and 5906 , but ended up with “too many” carry/hobby handguns.

LOVE MY S&W MODEL 915.

Not sure of the year my 915 was made, but I bought it new in 1995. It's a beauty. I replaced the factory Grips with Hogue black rubber grips, and the sights with Meprolight Novak style. It could use a little trigger work to smooth the single action, but it's not bad as is. There are still quite a few aftermarket grips available... some real pretty. I'm happy with the basic black spartan look, and the Hogue grip fits my hand like it was custom made for it.

After comparing it side-by-side with an Illinois State Police friend's 5904 back when I got it, I liked my 915 better. I think he did too.

IMO the S&W 3rd Generation semi-auto era was a high point in Smith & Wesson history. Perfection is sometimes better left alone.

Nice thing about the 915 is that most parts are interchangeable with the 5904. There will be spare parts available if you need them until Kingdom come.

It's one of the best purchases I ever made. Flawlessly cycles any 9mm I've put through it , shoots straight, not too heavy, feels good in the hand, 15+1 capacity... what else does a guy need?

Back in the day, our agency required that our duty guns be a double action model. I had first done the transition class from revolver in 1986 and like most guys used a smith automatic. Over the years, I carried several different models, but when I went to CID, I bought a 457, best auto I ever owned. Now, it is kind of ugly with its finish,but to me that gun is just irreplaceable. In over 20 years service, I have changed springs and sights but that gun has never had a failure. Still qualify as a retired LEO, still not one time has that gun failed to fire.

NO!
I DON’T carry my 3rd gen Smiths for edc!

1. They’re WAY,WAY to valuable to loose to an evidence locker for perpetuity if actually needed for self defense. They are either blue print perfect examples (5906 I use for NRA “stock-duty semi auto match) or Uber high-end Performance Center match guns (PPC’9’s).
Sole exception is the limited production “Super-9” with 3- fitted barrels; 9x19,9x21, .356TSW.
Except for stock 5906, all are worth $3,XXX+ EACH!

2. They ARE HEAVY! That’s what makes them superlative target guns.

3. My edc is either a Sheild 9, or more likely a Body Guard .380. Both together, including extra mags and holsters cost less than the 5906!

4. I’m retired and no longer need a full sized service pistol to lug around. I prefer to be concealed carry to avoid attention.

I’ll add a “family” photo later...

Gordon said:

4006 TSW is certainly a keeper for me ! I even bought an extra set of the plastic grips if they ever break, the only weakness, maybe.

Click to expand...

In my experience with the 3913 at least, the weakest point is the plastic magazine baseplate, which has a tendency to fatigue crack horizontally along the internal groove starting at the back and working toward the front where it slides over the flange on the mag body, and eventually the baseplate can split at the groove and dump your rounds out of the bottom of the magazine. I’ve replaced two split baseplates in 25 years and a few thousand rounds (the second one I caught early before it broke). Just periodically examine the sides of the baseplates at the back to make sure no cracks are developing, and have some spares on hand (they are a couple bucks each from S&W or parts houses IIRC).

P5 Guy said:

Belt and suspenders heavy all stainless steel S&W 639. No one's ideal carry gun but it is so soft shooting with full powered 9mm.

Click to expand...

That is one purdy shootin' iron you got there pardner. I'm jealous.

I'm a fan of thick belts and suspenders no matter what I'm carrying ... usually my beer belly.

GooseGestapo:

My 908’s weight does not compare with my former 5906.

Being a single-stack is enough to leave so many people feeling vulnerable.

Never liked the safety

lil Glock said:

Never liked the safety

Click to expand...

I never liked the S&W backwards safety, but it's a moot point because the gun isn't designed for cocked-&-locked carry, so I never use it. The safety is always off.