S&W 3rd gen goodness

W

wnycollector

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Up until two weeks ago I was the happy owner of four S&W 3rd gen pistols (910, 915, 5903 and 6904). With scores at a gun show and two local gun shops I have added a 5906 (sn TDJ5XXX), a 908S (sn BDH1XXX) and a 457 (sn TDR1XXX). All the pistols came with their factory blue boxes, owner's manuals and two mags. The 5906 and 998S are both in excellent condition. The 457 looks to be virtually unfired. I ended up paying $1100 for all three pistols. Only the 5906 has been to the range this far, but I plan on rectifying that this weekend with the coming of 50°F weather. This little binge has made me really appreciate what spectacular firearms the 3rd gen Smiths are!

If someone could provide me with dates of manufacture on the pistols it would be greatly appreciated.
 

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Yes, I really like my 5903 and would also like to pick up one in another caliber or possibly a nice compact model.
 
As a fan of 3rd gen Smiths I have to say you got some great looking pieces. It took me a while before I found out what good deals 3rd gen Smiths are my first being a 1076 and then the addition took off lol. Be careful, it can become addictive.
 
3rd-gen Smiths tend to be the most under-rated, unappreciated semi-auto handguns out there. They seem like the Chevrolet Caprice of the gun world... only cops love them. I used to have a 910 and now wish I hadn't sold it. I've still got its slightly fancier brother, a 915 and it's one of my best handguns. My only complaint is the lack of decent aftermarket sight options out there.
 
Only have a 4006. Bought it several years ago as a police trade-in.

Love it to pieces. Just about the only gun in 40 S&W that I actually enjoy shooting. It's been 100% reliable too.
 
3rd Gen goodness combined with 10mm goodness ... :cool:

S&W 1006.


This 1006 likes to throw it hard and heavy...

 
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3rd-gen Smiths tend to be the most under-rated, unappreciated semi-auto handguns out there. They seem like the Chevrolet Caprice of the gun world... only cops love them.
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I was agreeing with everything you were saying about Third Generation Smiths-and then you compared them with a Caprice...:eek:
 
I love my 1006... as well as the one magazine that I feel makes the collection.

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FBI 15 round magazine. [emoji41]
 
S&W 3rd gen goodness

I only have one 4006.
But Im usually eyeing any 3rd gens I see at the show or in any of the LGS I stop in.
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Nice find on some clean 3rd. Gen guns. I've been a fan since the 3rd. gen was released, and owned I don't even know how many. Characteristics they all share are functional reliability and bullet proof durability. I still have examples in 9MM, 10MM and .45 ACP.

BTW Screwball, I'd heard of those extended magazines but don't know if I've seen photos of one. I bought a 1006 as soon as they came out (had both adjustable and fixed sight guns), had 2 1026s and at least 2 1076s, but never came across any of those magazines made for the FBI.
 
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rock185 said:
BTW Screwball, I'd heard of those extended magazines but don't know if I've seen photos of one. I bought a 1006 as soon as they came out (had both adjustable and fixed sight guns), had 2 1026s and at least 2 1076s, but never came across any of those magazines made for the FBI.
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It popped up on GunBroker about a year ago... auction ended during the SuperBowl, so didn't have any issue winning. Paid about $430 for that magazine. [emoji41] If you go to the 10mm Firearms forum, there is a thread where it popped up... I questioned if I should bid, and then surprise that I won. I still laugh at it when I read back. [emoji23]

When the FBI issued their 1076s, they issued one of those, and two 11 rounders. I've seen one collector with 11 rounders, but a handful of people with 15s. Living in NJ, with a limit at 15, it was something I wanted to have. Also, it makes a collection where you have something maybe 6 to 8 people are known to have one.
 
Why so much love for 3rd gen's but none for 2nd gen S&W autos? At least with the 2nd gen you can replace the stock grips with some pretty aftermarket ones!
 
I have a 5906 and a 4506. Both are great guns but I confess they have not been shot in years. Also have a model 59 that has not been shot in at least 15 years.
 
Skans said:
Why so much love for 3rd gen's but none for 2nd gen S&W autos? At least with the 2nd gen you can replace the stock grips with some pretty aftermarket ones!
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You can swap out 3rd Generation grips... my 1006 has Hogue rubber, but wood mounts very similarly.
 
Why so much love for 3rd gen's but none for 2nd gen S&W autos? At least with the 2nd gen you can replace the stock grips with some pretty aftermarket ones!
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I really love both 2nd and 3rd Gens. And I love the 1st Gens also.

Aftermarket stock choices for 1st & 2nd Gens weren't exactly fantastic either, and there is a new company in Turkey that is producing a very handsome wood aftermarket grip for 3rd Gens, the company is called KSD.

As for the "why no love", well... plenty of ways to answer that question. First way is to say that I totally love the 2nd Gens, enough so that I have five of them. The other way is to point out that S&W really did get it right when they improved the 2nd Gens and shipped the 3rd Gens. Triggers got better, ergos improved nicely, and the Novak fixed sights almost set the standard for fixed sights on semi-auto pistols moving forward for seemingly the next couple of decades.

I love the 1st and 2nd Gens, but I have no doubt that the 3rd Gen pistols were indeed the pinnacle of a hugely successful run of handguns. The S&W metal pistols are the center of my collection for sure.
 
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