Third and second generation Smith & Wesson pistols are great pistols and will always be so. They will increase in value over time but in time that you probably will never have. Well worth what they cost now but don't expect to "flip" them for a significant profit in your lifetime. On the bright side, you will never lose money on one if you bought it at a reasonable price.
Smith & Wesson 5906 Question
- Thread starter YankeeIronSights
- Start date
I am not sure either "I like it" or "They're really cool" equates to any retention or increase in value. Barring any new development, I would not expect to see anything in constant dollar terms except the normal decline in value followed by a slow increase as the numbers decline and guns in like-new condition become of interest to collectors (think S&W M&P's from 1930 or Colt Police Specials from the same era, both just now gaining collector interest).
Jim
Jim
Best thing about the 5900 series is that about 15 other makers
decided to use 5900 mags to work their guns as well
Like the Keltec Sub-2000, Keltec P-11, Star M30 & M243,
Marlin Camp 9, Daewoo DP-51, Springfield XD, etc...
the list is long & distinguished
The important thing about the 5906 is that it's as solid
and long-lasting as a 1911. Only thing it really needs to keep going
are springs...all the metal parts can be made by hand,
and there's a large enough supply of spares that you'll never
really have to worry about finding spare parts.
Where there is money to be made, there's always
someone who's willing to make it.
That's why there's an old guy in Wyoming making aluminium
triggers & guards for Marlin rifles...
he went from by himself on the weekends, to a large building and
a full crew of 17 in 5 years...now he's rich AF. Still a nice guy, too
There's a guy making firing pins for Star pistols in his spare time,
averages about 50K a year doing it. He's the ONLY one making them.
And let's not even talk about why the 1022 took off because of
aftermarket cottage industries...the main reason all those makers
exist is because the original 1022 sucked so bad
Volquartzen started in a frickin BARN for pete's sake,
now just look at 'em.
Sorry, got distracted...
anyway, the S&W 3rd Gen's that are actually worth thousands,
are the special editions, and target specialty models.
Strangely enough, since the FBI dropped .40S&W,
a LOT of 'em are hitting the market now at decent prices.
Not just the .40's, either, but also the 9mm & .45acp's.
Hit up the S&W forums and learn what's rare,
and what to put serious money into.
decided to use 5900 mags to work their guns as well
Like the Keltec Sub-2000, Keltec P-11, Star M30 & M243,
Marlin Camp 9, Daewoo DP-51, Springfield XD, etc...
the list is long & distinguished
The important thing about the 5906 is that it's as solid
and long-lasting as a 1911. Only thing it really needs to keep going
are springs...all the metal parts can be made by hand,
and there's a large enough supply of spares that you'll never
really have to worry about finding spare parts.
Where there is money to be made, there's always
someone who's willing to make it.
That's why there's an old guy in Wyoming making aluminium
triggers & guards for Marlin rifles...
he went from by himself on the weekends, to a large building and
a full crew of 17 in 5 years...now he's rich AF. Still a nice guy, too
There's a guy making firing pins for Star pistols in his spare time,
averages about 50K a year doing it. He's the ONLY one making them.
And let's not even talk about why the 1022 took off because of
aftermarket cottage industries...the main reason all those makers
exist is because the original 1022 sucked so bad
Volquartzen started in a frickin BARN for pete's sake,
now just look at 'em.
Sorry, got distracted...
anyway, the S&W 3rd Gen's that are actually worth thousands,
are the special editions, and target specialty models.
Strangely enough, since the FBI dropped .40S&W,
a LOT of 'em are hitting the market now at decent prices.
Not just the .40's, either, but also the 9mm & .45acp's.
Hit up the S&W forums and learn what's rare,
and what to put serious money into.
Last edited:
If i wanted a pistol I would get it and shoot the beans out of it and appreciation be damned. The 5906 and 4006 are pistols that I would not sit around worrying about parts replacement because breakage is a rare thing. Of all our 3rd gen pistols at the dept. I occasionally would find a tab broken on the spring riveted to the trigger bar, the second tab kept the pistol functioning. I never replaced recoil or FP springs because they did not require it, nor was there ever A firing pin broken.
These are the type of pistol that although heavy were the ideal pistol for Law Enforcement particularly with the arched or straight grip.
These are the type of pistol that although heavy were the ideal pistol for Law Enforcement particularly with the arched or straight grip.
I would buy a nice all steel 3rd generation S&W for a decent price, even a .40, which I am moving away from, but any of the M&P's or Shields? Nope, not interested much in them. The price right now is tempting, but for a little more, I can get a gun I really want. At the top of my list is a Sig 229 Elite Stainless, and a Tristar p-100. I'm old, and I like all metal, preferably all steel, guns.
Departed402
New member
I'm sort of an odd admirer of these semi-autos. Being 27 years old, I wasn't really old enough to experience these guns being in production, or even in widespread use by law enforcement. I inherited a 1006, barely fired, and never carried; and have really grown to appreciate it. Unfortunately, I don't know a lot about their development and evolution, other than what Wikipedia has to say. Still, I am determined to find clean specimens of these pistols.
carguychris
New member
They've already increased somewhat now that the pipeline of <$300 LE surplus seems to have dried up.rock185 said:
That said, I agree with the general premise; I think it's more accurate to state that they won't lose value. IOW if you buy one and take good care of it, you should be able to resell it for about what you paid for it, but it won't double in value—at least not inside ~20 years.
I do not think they they will hit the cult status of some of the older revolvers, but I think they are undervalued, and will go up in value. They are a great pistol (I'd argue better than current M&P offerings), that are currently available at good pricing. For example, while not a 5906, I recently acquired a police trade in 5903 for $299. I spent about an hour taking it apart and cleaning it, put on a set of NOS S&W grips, and it looks and shoots great.
One thing I have done, is to start picking up spare parts for my 3rd gens where I can. Just like I do for my older out of production firearms.
-Wheelgun
One thing I have done, is to start picking up spare parts for my 3rd gens where I can. Just like I do for my older out of production firearms.
-Wheelgun
Onward Allusion
New member
It's supply & demand. The market is still flooded with police trades. It doesn't even reflect the true cost of making one today. 5906's are priced like mil-sup guns. Wait 'til the supply dries up. A regular scratched up 5906 will be over $1K.
It's already happening with the 5906TSW's. Average prices for 'em is $800-$900.
It's already happening with the 5906TSW's. Average prices for 'em is $800-$900.
The last 3rd gen I picked up was a 1006 mint or so it looked on gb. I carried a 4506 back in the day which is the same gun but in 45acp so it was sort of a nostalgia thing. I think I paid just south of a thousand for it after shipping and transfer. When it came in would bet my life that gun was only factory fired. I had already ordered a couple of oem mags for it which are pricey but it only came with one mag. Now I can't bring myself to shoot it. Got plenty of 10mm to shoot if I want so I'll just put this one up and take it out and try and Imagine how the hell I carried that hog-leg daily back when
Every time I go to my local Cabela's and I see that LNIB 5946 DAO sitting in their regular gun case, for $799.00 I have to wonder who is going to pay that money for that firearm. Although the trigger isn't as heavy as the NYPD surplus pistol that I had a chance to try a few years back, the trigger takeup and break on this Cabela's example was pretty awful
I've never owned a 5906, but I've owned a 6906 for a very long time, I don't even remember when I bought it (new). I still carry it often in retirement. I've replaced the recoil spring once, and the mag springs. Because of the increasing shortage of mags, I just purchased 3 Mec-Gar 5906 and 3 S&W 5906 mags, even though they are longer than the 6906. I'll make an adjustment on the extra length when carrying. On a whim last year, I completely stripped the frame and Cerakoted it sniper gray, just to be a little different and give myself a 2-tone pistol. I'm not interested in selling it, I'm keeping it the rest of my life. It's a really nice size for a double-stack concealed carry as far as I'm concerned. Everyone has their own opinions and that's OK with me. I've never had a problem with the DA/SA difference with the first and subsequent rounds although some folks don't care for it. The 3rd generation pistols were well made - at least the ones I've seen.
My experience almost exactly, Tom-R2. After my agency transitioned to autos, I carried a Model 6906. After my retirement, it's still the pistol I rely on most for carry duties. And, like you, I've never understood all the handwringing over the DA/SA function: Making a smooth and accurate transition from the first double-action shot to all the subsequent single-action shots only takes a little bit of training and practice; the good Colonel's admonition aside.