S&W 3rd Generation Club

[BigShep85]

I have now owned two of these in this year, I bought a 4506-1 and loved it but after some carrying in the woods my O.C.D.'s kicked in and I couldnt stand the thought of the blued hammer and trigger getting wet while I was out in the hunting so I sold it. I soon missed it and when the opportunity came up I got another, it is a 4506 no dash and it is now on its way. I will post pictures as soon as I get some.

This thread is for all the 3RD genration S&W owners to post their pictures questions knowledge and whatever else they want about these great guns, to me they are some, if not the, best semi autos ever made.

I do have a question now to anybody who might have the answer: Did the 4506 with the round trigger guards come with chromed triggers and hammer or did they change them to blued when they changed the trigger guards to round?

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I've owned some, but am currently without any, hence no pictures.

The first semi-automatic pistol I ever bought was a 5904 in 1991. I have also had a 6946 but didn't like the DAO trigger (actually it is better than many, but long stroke triggers don't work well for me), and one of my all time favorites, a 3913 LadySmith. (I ain't no lady, but I love the appearance of this gun anyway.) Not one of them ever malfunctioned in any way, even the 6946 that I got well used with a recoil spring hanging like a limp noodle, or the 5904 that I put a bushel of ammo through.

 

[Dollar An Hour]

Here are my 3913 NL & 3914 TSW.

 

[wbwanzer]

I'll play. 3913

 

[Hangingrock]

This a first issue 4506 that I recontoured the trigger-guard and machined the slide to accept the Novak sight. S&W issued a recall on the original one piece grip offering as a replacement straight or curved. I opted to stay with the straight.

 

[ImjinScout]

Well I don't have any pic's yet, but I fell for the 3rd Gen addiction myself, it all started with a 6906 that I wanted for carry, then came the 4566TSW, and last week I added the 4003TSW. As was posted these are great guns, and they are all I shoot now,

 

[Smoke14]

5906

 

[Wishoot]

I have a 4006. It's not the prettiest girl at the dance, but she sure can shoot.

 

[41]

Dollar an Hour, I have a 3914 that looks just like yours. I don't know very much about the 3rd generations though. What does the TSW stand for? I don't know if mine is a TSW or not.

 

[Viper]

I am quite fond of the 3r gen S&W's. I had three, but, unfortunately, lost them in a burglary in February. I am partial to the 45 ACP and was lucky enough to find these two 2006 build Smiths NIB in a small gun store in MA in March. They are a CS45 and a 457S.

 

[ku4hx]

I bought a NIB Smith 1006 in 1989, maybe 1990, and to this day it's still one of the most accurate smoothest shooting guns I own. Second only to my BHP bought around 1969.

 

[308win]

I have two

4506-1
4044

The 4044 is my favorite and most carried CCW handgun. The 4506 is my favorite pistol.

 

[modifiedbrowning]

I had a 5906. I just picked up my 3913 today.
I also have a 2nd generation 745.

 

[robinkevin]

I don't own one, but sure would snatch up a nice 5906 even found one at a good price and I hand the spare funds. I like the contour of the 5906 backstrap better than others.

 

[Confederate]

Steel pistols are pushing the boundaries in weight, but anyone who can still carry a 1911 .45 can carry any of Smith's stainless steel beauties. Granted, I don't think Smith could make the 645, 659, 3906 and 5906 for under $800 (sales price). The price of steel and workmanship has skyrocketed. People will pay a grand and up for 1911s, but not these. The polymer pistols have won the day, and maybe rightly so. Still, these ride comfortably in the right kind of holster and can be worn all day. The front sights definitely need some red paint or nail polish. (When I splashed some on the front sight of my 659, I started calling it "Boy George!")

The first generation of S&W autos just didn't work. Later they were made to work, but it was a rough start. Many people just gave up on them. I have a friend who had a beautiful nickel 59 that jammed intermittently, even with round nose. He still doesn't trust the first generation







S&W 3906, 3rd gen 9mm




S&W 457 .45 auto, 2 gen.




S&W 5906




Second generation 659 9mm, one of my all-time favorite pistols.




Second generation 645. Has never jammed.




Comparison, 2nd gen 659 and 3rd gen 5906 9mm. Still can't tell
which one I like best.

 

[huntsman]

4566

 

[iLikeOldgunsIlikeNewGuns]

My 5906 was my first cartridge-firing handgun, after collecting cap n balls for a few years. It was offered to me by a family member (not biological, but close enough) who knew I would be a great home for it, and he decided he'd rather have a kayak than a handgun. I didn't hesitate for a split second to say sold! It's extraordinarily sentimental to me, and a great shooter to boot. I am currently saving up for a 1006, which I have lusted after for over a year now.

Here's a photo of my 5906, with a ridiculous 'zombie stick' 33rnd mag sticking out of it

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

S&W 457 .45 auto, 2 gen.

This is actually a "Value Line" variant of the 3rd. Also in this group are the 411/410, 915/910 and 908.

The Third Generation (four-digit model numbers) was noteworthy for a myriad of variations on the same basic gun, differing in size, caliber, metals, finishes and action type. They even had a rotating wheel chart to keep track of them. http://www.thegunzone.com/whiz_wheel.html Generally, the numbering system is straightforward, but it has a few oddities and inconsistencies (e.g., the 6906 is not all stainless steel, but the 5906 is).

 

[JERRY]

it makes me sick when i think of the 645 and 3913NL i sold and or traded off....

right now my only 3rd gens are two 3953s.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

There is quite a bit of parts interchangeability between the different models. For example, if you don't like the 3913's bobbed hammer, you can put a spurred hammer from a 59 series on it. Magazines interchange between all the generations.

 

[monkyboy1975]

4043


I love mine.

 

[Sauer Grapes]

I picked up a 4506 and a 5906 last year from the same seller. Clearly two of the best shooting combat guns in my collection. I carry the 5906 during the colder weather or if capacity warrants something more than 7+1. {like a trip to Philly, lol}
I'm keeping my eye out for a .40cal.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I'm kind of a fan........

1006, 4506, 4006, 5906:


4506 (same one), 4516-1, CS45:

 

[roaddog28]

My 5903 9mm. Best semi-auto I own.
Howard

 

[Onward Allusion]

41
Dollar an Hour, I have a 3914 that looks just like yours. I don't know very much about the 3rd generations though. What does the TSW stand for? I don't know if mine is a TSW or not.

TSW stands for Tactical Smith & Wesson but some say Team Smith & Wesson. Regardless, they are the most accurate 3rd generation Smiths. The TSW series have the gaudy "Tactical" (laser etched?) onto the slide in huge letters (IMO)...ugh... Makes me cringe. They have a modified barrel bushing and riveted on accessory rail. They come in blacken stainless, matte stainless, and faux stainless frame/real stainless slide. The 5906/46 TSWs are probably the most accurate semi handgun you can get without investing over a thousand or two. The 5906/46 TSWs also have the newer straight one piece wrap around grips.

There was a prototype that was made back in 2004? that had the integrated rail milled into the frame. It is a collector's piece these day. Only a handful were made before it was decided that departments probably didn't want to spend that kind of cash and for such a heavy gun.

The 3rd gen Smiths are the best value in the market these days. LE Trade-in supplies are gonna dry up soon and prices will sky rocket. If it were still made today, I guarantee that it would cost around a thousand. Any time I have extra cash and there's a 59xxTSW around, I will buy it. I currently have over a dozen 3rd gens in one form or another. Another often overlooked 3rd gen is the value line 915. Alloy frame and steel slide. No ambi safety and basic one dot front sight. Aside from that it is as accurate as any 59xx. There's one seller on GB that has a bunch of 915 LE Trade-ins for around $220. Yup, an ACCURATE real steel/alloy deal for WAY under $300. The poor-man's Sig...