Nakanokalronin
New member
I recently picked up a 5904 and immediately started cleaning it when I got home. It was rough seeing what had to be years of neglect.
I completely tore down the slide and frame which included the rear sight. It's a good thing too since it allowed me to take out the pointless mag disconnect. All of the parts cleaned up fine and there's actually very little wear on anything inside, but it was as dirty as can be. There was crud in the magwell that looked like caked on sand. It took multiple cleaners, brushes, rags, a plastic scraper and elbow grease to get off the crud in the slide and frame. I let all of the small parts sit in Hoppe's 9 and they all wiped clean with less effort. The barrel looked new after it's cleaning so I have to conclude that this was definitely a gun that was carried a lot, shot a little and almost never cleaned. It came with two mags and one had balls of lint falling out of it as soon as I took off the floor plate. Even though both mags were worn on the outside, they cleaned to a mirror shine on the inside.
After cleaning I lubed everything that needed lube and put it back together. It now functions as smooth as my Beretta Elite which feels like the slide is riding on bearings. The DA trigger pull is smooth and predictable and the single action pull and reset is very short. The only type of gun I own with a trigger reset this short are my 1911s so I'm very happy about that.
Overall it's got a bit of wear, but honest wear that gives the gun character. I have mint firearms and some with edge wear and I like them both for different reasons. Now I just need to get it to the range and see if it shoots as nice as it functions.
Now the bottom of the grip does not have a dimple to indicate the updated grips. It has what almost looks like a center punch mark towards the back that I've seen on other grips although I'm not sure what that means. The LGS gave me a brand new set of factory curved back grips for free when I asked if they had any, but they don't have the dimple either so they went straight into my parts bin.
The good thing is S&W is sending me the updated grips for free that will ship in 3-4 days. I know people say that S&W is not supporting the 3rd. Gens anymore, but the rep told me a few things that makes me think they do as well as my 5904 was made in 1989
. First off he straight up told me they still support them and have all sorts of parts like frames, slides, barrels and other internal parts. Some are still set up to be restocked. The grips he's sending me weren't at the building/location he was at, but they were in stock at "the other warehouse". Maybe S&W is stocking parts for warranty work and for those few LEOs that still use them. Some reps might not look up other locations for parts, but this guy seemed like he knew what he was talking about. I also know that places like Brownells and Midway still have "backorder okay" or something similar on the 3rd. Gen parts they do sell so all is not lost for those with 3rd. Gen autos.
I can see why these 3rd. Gens can be addicting. I'm now currently looking for a 3913.
I completely tore down the slide and frame which included the rear sight. It's a good thing too since it allowed me to take out the pointless mag disconnect. All of the parts cleaned up fine and there's actually very little wear on anything inside, but it was as dirty as can be. There was crud in the magwell that looked like caked on sand. It took multiple cleaners, brushes, rags, a plastic scraper and elbow grease to get off the crud in the slide and frame. I let all of the small parts sit in Hoppe's 9 and they all wiped clean with less effort. The barrel looked new after it's cleaning so I have to conclude that this was definitely a gun that was carried a lot, shot a little and almost never cleaned. It came with two mags and one had balls of lint falling out of it as soon as I took off the floor plate. Even though both mags were worn on the outside, they cleaned to a mirror shine on the inside.
After cleaning I lubed everything that needed lube and put it back together. It now functions as smooth as my Beretta Elite which feels like the slide is riding on bearings. The DA trigger pull is smooth and predictable and the single action pull and reset is very short. The only type of gun I own with a trigger reset this short are my 1911s so I'm very happy about that.
Overall it's got a bit of wear, but honest wear that gives the gun character. I have mint firearms and some with edge wear and I like them both for different reasons. Now I just need to get it to the range and see if it shoots as nice as it functions.
Now the bottom of the grip does not have a dimple to indicate the updated grips. It has what almost looks like a center punch mark towards the back that I've seen on other grips although I'm not sure what that means. The LGS gave me a brand new set of factory curved back grips for free when I asked if they had any, but they don't have the dimple either so they went straight into my parts bin.
The good thing is S&W is sending me the updated grips for free that will ship in 3-4 days. I know people say that S&W is not supporting the 3rd. Gens anymore, but the rep told me a few things that makes me think they do as well as my 5904 was made in 1989
I can see why these 3rd. Gens can be addicting. I'm now currently looking for a 3913.
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