S&W third gen pics

Here are the one I have

I am getting a couple more in the next week or so.

4013TSW


3913LS

5906, 4006, 4506, 1006



Another of the 4506, with the 4516 and CS45

Are these DA/SA with a decocker? Or is that a safety? Or both?

DA/SA, with a manual safety that decocks the hammer and disconnects the trigger linkage. You can pull the trigger all the way through the stroke, but it does nothing. Down for safe, up for fire. It does not spring back up when applied, as a pure decocker system would.

They are also available in DAO with no manual safety, and a few were made with SIG-Sauer-like frame-mounted decockers, also with no manual safety. With only one or two exceptions, all also have magazine safeties.

The third Gen S&W guns are really nice, too bad they are so hard to find now. I love my glocks, but I'm more accurate with the heavier guns. If I can't find a 3rd gen S&W when its time to buy my next one, I think I'll get a Beretta model 92. The heavier guns seem to work better for me.

Jdorian

You should have no issue finding a great deal on a 3rd Gen at any of the auctions site.

PX 15-

can you speak on your chiefs special? I've only heard good things about them

taaf:

Well, here's the story on my CS9.

My first compact 9mm pistol was a NIB 3913 bought in 1995. It was quite accurate, absolutely reliable, and easily concealed. This was before I retired (in 2000) and I was fortunate enough to be able to buy whatever "flavor of the month darling" pistol the gun mags were excited about, so I bought a couple of Glock 26's and put the 3913 away.. Then I replaced the Glocks (I hated the glock trigger) with a Sig P239. It was excellent, but I just wasn't 100% happy with the length and stroke of the DA/SA trigger.

I replaced the Sig with a Walther P99c/AS and it was extremely accurate, and 100% (as possible) reliable. I loved the "AS" (anti-stress) DA/SA striker, but it was a double stack and a bit bulky to my smaller hands. I replaced the P99c/AS with an early production PPS and it developed ejector problems at around 200 rds. and I sent it back to S&W for repairs. It was returned, not fixed, and I sent it back to S&W a second time and told them to fix it correctly or keep it and send me a new PPS.

My 2nd PPS was fine until it bobbled and I completely lost confidence with it and sold it. The problem was probably ammo related, (WalMart Winchester ball ammo), but no confidence in reliability means I won't carry that particular firearm for personal protection.

I replaced the PPS with a NIB S&W 6906 from CDNN for $399.99. It's basically a double stack 3913 and I really like it. I was so pleased shooting the 6906 I wanted another single stack 3rd gen. Smith for cc, (I have put my original 3913 away for my Son, who loves it), so I found out CDNN had a few 3913LS's ($499.99), so I bought one of those. I really love that pistol.. Slim, accurate, and very concealable in my FIST iwb holster.

Then, (I'm finally getting around to answering your question) I decided to buy a NIB CS9 since they are being discontinued along with the rest of the 3rd gen Smith line. I have long liked the "looks" of the diminutive CS9 but truthfully you just seldom hear much about them.

I "googled" and researched the CS9 on the various firearm forums, and it seems folks who have them love them IF the grip fits the hands of the owner. (Even then there is a gentleman who takes the 3913 grips and "remakes" them to fit the CS9 perfectly, and the result is just a slimmer grip).

Luckily when I took the CS9 out of the box it fit my hands perfectly..

I like the size and feel of the CS9 and even tho I have other choices (including a very nice HK P7). I find myself picking up the CS9 when I go walk my dog in the woods several times each day.. If I were to carry a 9mm pistol when away from home(I always cc a Seecamp, often nothing larger), it's a toss-up between the LS and the CS9. The LS being thinner, offering one additional round, and having an external safety only on the off (left) side it's just a tad thinner. But even tho the LS has these two attributes over the CS9 I just enjoy cc the CS9..

I'm a senior citizen, so I'm old, but never said I'm smart..

I think every person in the world who has owned a 3913, particularly in the LS configuration is convinced it's one of the best compact 9's ever manufactured.. I agree, and I've tried most of the competition, but even having said that I'm just partial to the CS9.

For my needs RELIABILITY is the absolute most important quality of a self defense firearm. I am of the opinion that NO matter the name or how much you spend you will not find a pistol more reliable, and with a longer or better history of reliability in actual use, than the 3rd gen Smiths have earned.

I believe if the CS9 fits your hands you will fall in love... If not you might consider the grip change option, and if you never get the CS9 to fit your hands to your satisfaction then I suggest you give the LS a try. In fact I think EVEN if you keep the CS9 you STILL save up your pennies (as I have done) and get a 3913LS too... You can never have too many 3rd gen Smiths, and as with land, they aren't making any more...

I think that probably the LS fits the vast majority of owners hands better than the CS9 because of the blocky "Hogue designed" factory rubber grips on the CS9, but if the grips fit your hands once you pick up your CS9 I don't think you'll be anything but 100% happy.

So the answer to your question is that I love my CS9, it fits my hands perfectly, is very accurate at self defense range, and I have full confidence in it's reliability.. I prefer to cc it over a sibling with slightly more capacity and is thinner, so that should tell you love has bloomed.

Please let us know how you like your CS9.

Best Wishes,

Jesse

thanks for that PX15! I've been jonesing for another 9mm and a nice compact one would be nice. You may have just convinced me to start hunting for a nice used SW.

taaf:

I could be wrong, but I honestly believe 3rd gen Smiths are going to pick up in popularity.

There are still some folks out there who hate S&W because the British owners (at that time) caved in to the Clintons, but that situation is no longer true.. The folks who own and run S&W are American and imo trying their absolute best to rebuild the company.

I know for a fact that Smith & Wesson has an excellent Customer Relations/Warranty reputation, 2nd to none in the firearms industry, and quite possibly the best of the bunch.

The discontinuation of the excellent 3rd gen line of pistols was not because the pistols weren't good, but because fashion has changed to the point the "plastic guns" are very popular..

Add the fact that it cost more to manufacture a steel gun vs a plastic gun, the economics are such that S&W (and anyone else) can make plastic guns cheaper thus increasing the bottom line, which of course is always PROFIT.

As with anything else, no longer made, if that product was a quality product there will always be a demand for it. And I think demand will increase, NOT necessarily with the average gun owner, who might only own one firearm, but with the "gun nut" like myself who just enjoys guns and will be attracted to a quality line of pistols that are no longer being made.

Just as with my old Colt Cobras, and Detective Specials... Price keeps increasing on good ones because they aren't making any more..

I was amazed that the last advertised retail price of the LS was over $900, and the CS9 was over $800... No wonder folks with limited income (which is roughly, EVERYBODY) buy plastic guns at $5-600 vs the older style 3rd gen Smiths.

I'm of the opinion that the third gen Smiths are excellent pistols, whose time, simply because of trends, has, for the most part, passed. I don't see a return to these fine pistols as plastic is "in", witness the M&P which basically replaced the 3rd. gen line.

But we are very lucky in that we are here in time to take advantage of the fact that there ARE plenty of NIB 3rd gen pistols still available, and at a very reasonable price. That won't always be the case, and that's why this old fart has bought a NIB 5906, 6906, 3913LS & CS9 while the getting is good.

IMO buying my NIB 3913LS w/2 mags and a lifetime warranty for 500.00, when the retail price was $909.00 strikes me as a good deal.

Buy a NIB CS9 w/2 mags and a lifetime warranty for $600.00 when the retail price was over $800.00 isn't as "good" a deal, but CS9's simply aren't available in the same quantities as other models and I WANTED one so I'm quite happy with deal too...

I think the NIB 5906 and NIB 6906 @ $400.00 ea. were excellent deals.

I've had the others, I prefer the Smiths...

No problem with those folks who disagree, but all I have to say is that for ME there is simply no better pistol, or pistol value on the market for self defense purposes than the 3rd gen. Smiths..

I know that at self defense range (7 yards or less) I am confident that I can place the majority of rounds in any of my Smiths into the center mass of a threat, and I have full confidence in the reliability of my firearm choice..

You can buy other brands, spend more, or less money, get more or less capacity, but you won't be any better protected with your choice, IMO, than I will be with my 3rd gen Smith cc 9mm pistol of choice.

Best Wishes,

Jesse

My old girl. A Model 5904, I am ashamed to admit I had it up for sale recently. She's been 100% faithful to me...I'm so sorry baby!

im saving to get an internal guide rod laser unit.

Click to expand...

Why?

Early production 5906.




And his granddad, the original Model 59

My 3913NL

A few of mine:

Shorty Forty:



6946:



4056:



4556:



1046:



4586:

My police trade-in 4506-1 with MMC Adjustable Sights. I love this gun.

-JD

22lr:

Here's my old farts 2c worth regarding the fine Lasermax vs the equally fine Crimson Trace Lasergrip products.

First, I think both brands epitomize the best in pistol lasers.. Basically it's just "you pays your money and takes your choice" type deal.

I'm a big fan of CT Lasergrips, as I've used them on my personal defense pistols for years. (Sig P239, S&W638, and now S&W5906). I have never been less than 100% satisfied with a Crimson Trace product, and I would recommend them without reservation..

Having said that, some folks prefer the location of the Lasermax laser (replacing the guide rod) and if I had a firearm I wanted a laser on and CT didn't make one I'd buy a LM in a heartbeat.

My understanding is (and I could be mistaken) the LaserMax is not adjustable, whereas the CT is. You can "fine tune" the CT if that's a big deal, but for personal protection I should think the accuracy of the LM is more than adequate.

The big deal to me is for a person desiring a laser equipped self defense firearm to go ahead and spend the money for the quality LM or CT, rather than buying a cheaper version from another company..

The LM and CT's are the best of the best imo and you won't go wrong with either.. Buy the one that best suits your taste and you will be happy.

Best Wishes,

Jesse

More pics

The Chief special pics were from the auctions I won (cs40, cs45, cs9). I'm not that good with a camera.

I have several 3rd Gen., but this is my most unusual, a gun produced in relatively few numbers, the 5943 SSV (short slide variant). I've never seen another two toned finish.

Here's a pair of recently acquired 4566's......Zebulon

Does anyone have a link that lists out all of the S&W autoloaders?

Specifically, I want to see what model #'s are alloy frames.

Any help would be appreciated!