Me Too....
JMOfartO:
Amazing to hear someone talk of the "problems" with 3rd generation Smiths, when if a person cares to, he or she, can simply "google" the subject, or go to any (or all) of the various firearm forums and use the "search or find" option and it won't take long to find out that contrary to the 3rd generation Smiths having problems, they are fantastically reliable.
I bought my first 3rd generation Smith (3913) in 1995 and to this very second it has never failed in any way. (Yep, knocking on wood here).
In the ensuing years I have had the Glocks, Sigs, HK's, Walthers, Bersa's, KelTec's, Stars, Beretta's, and in overall performance, as a package, none have been any better (if as good) as the 3913.
I WILL admit that my 3913 was not as accurate, (at self defense range) when it comes to absolutely printing the smallest group as several of the other 9mm pistols I've owned. I'm talking the difference of a tiny group in the X ring, vs a larger group, STILL in the X ring.... So, for practical self defense, no difference.. In a crisis after you add the "fight or flee" pucker factor, adrenalin rush, etc, there is no practical difference.
If I want to print the smallest group I will take out my HK P7. More accurate than any other pistol I've ever owned, or had the opportunity to shoot.
If I want to cc a larger caliber pistol than my LWS32 I will look in my 3rd generation Smith drawer and, depending on circumstances, or mood, or phase of the moon pull out my 6906 (double-stack 3913), 3913LS, or CS9.. Generally the CS9 because it fits MY hand perfectly, and just "feels right"..
I can't pick up my original 3913 because my Son loves it and has asked I "put it away" for him, and I've done that... So, basically it's "his" 3913 once he finishes his education and moves away.
Recently I've rekindled my love of the 3rd gen Smith pistol and bought a NIB 5906, 6906, 3913LS and CS9. Plus plenty of extra mags..
I added a set of Crimson Trace Lasergrips for the 5906 and it is now my "home defense",get me to the 12ga in the closet choice. My wife loves to shoot it as it has low recoil because of it's heft, and the Laser helps her accuracy.
The 5906 replaced a fine Walther P99/AS.. Nothing at all wrong with the Walther, but my wife and I are senior citizens, and CT didn't make a Lasergrip for the P99/AS. Truthfully if they had I probably wouldn't have bought the 5906... But they didn't, I did, and it's been a very satisfactory swap. Just something neat and "old school" about the 5906 we like.
I think the LS is about as good a choice for a cc 9mm pistol as you would want.. In my experience all 3rd gen. Smiths are as reliable as a pistol can be, and the LS is no exception.. Very accurate, thin, and almost vanishes in a FIST Kydex iwb holster.
By the way my single FIST Kydex iwb makes for a perfect fit for the 6906, LS AND CS9. I'm a big FIST fan.. They make an u g l y holster, but it's THIN and does the job perfectly. (Not too pricey either).
Just personal opinion, but finding someone complaining about the quality, performance, or reliability of a 3rd gen Smith is a rare thing. Of course everything made by man can fail, so perhaps the complainer got one of the rare "bad" ones?
Just personal opinion, no offense to contrary opinions.
I would not be surprised now that the 3rd gen Smiths are discontinued their popularity will go up...
Go figure....
Best Wishes,
Jesse
