Smith & Wesson metal framed autos

They're fantastic guns and my LGS seems to get them once in awhile in batches. I finally picked up a 5904 awhile ago that looked like it was carried a lot, shot very little and never cleaned. It took a detail strip and a few hours of scrubbing to clean out the inside, but all of the parts had very little wear or none at all.

The grips that came with it were worn and intact, but they were the older type without the dimple at the bottom indicating the recall updated type. Even though the gun was made in 1989 and I was definitely not the first owner, S&W sent me out a brand new updated pair for free. :)

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I bought this CS9 off someone on a forum and then proceeded to make my own "Big Dog" delrin grips. This is how they should of come from the factory. I also put in a metal rear sight from a 3913 and base plate from a 39 on one of the mags to make it as compact as possible. It's currently my CCW.

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And to add, I disabled the mag disconnect on both of them. I'm sure some will freak, but it's an extra unnecessary doo-dad that I don't want on my firearms.
 
It really is a shame S&W dropped their line of 3rd Gen autos, just one of many bad business decisions S&W has made over the years.

Pretty smart business decision I think. Companies can't stay in business making stuff no one wants to buy. While they were some very good guns there simply isn't enough market demand for them. Plenty of used guns for those who want one.
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Exactly, it's a brilliant business decision. If people will pay $600 for a gun that costs $300 to make (Glock's business model), what sense does it make to try to sell a gun for $700 that cost $500 to make?
I remember talking to a guy who was a higher-up in Para Ordnance's US operation, and he said Glock could sell their guns at a profit, for less than it cost Para to make their metal-framed pistols.
 
Exactly, it's a brilliant business decision. If people will pay $600 for a gun that costs $300 to make (Glock's business model), what sense does it make to try to sell a gun for $700 that cost $500 to make?
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Because there are still people that want DA/SA or all metal guns. They are losing those sales to Sig, Beretta and H&K.
 
Smith & Wesson never had any trouble selling their 3rd generation guns. However they were fast losing the LEO market to Glock, who were selling pistols to agencies for around $250 a pop (I once read it actually costs Glock only around $40 to make each pistol). $250 per pistol was less than it cost S&W to make a 3rd gen, and even the budget-line versions weren't helping. As we all know the early Sigmas stunk, but once the new M&P line were ready for the market S&W knew what they had to do with the 3rd gens. It was a shame to lose one of the best all-metal handgun designs on the market, but like others have said fortunately used ones are still readily available and relatively cheap. If you're even thinking of getting one I say do so now, because the good ones are getting snatched up by S&W collectors and spare magazines are geting harder to find every year.
 
Man, this makes me wish that I'd bought a few more of 'em when I could. Got two 5906s and a 4506, just looking for a nice 1006 and I am set. :cool:
 
There are lots of them out there. It's not like guns disappear when they go out of production.
I think a 39-2 or 439 will find its way into my safe, some day.
 
Last week I saw a nice 39-2 that I planned to go back for. Instead, I got derailed by a Hi Power Mark III with a Browning rollmark that I couldn't pass up.

So of course the S&W was gone when I got back. (That's the way it goes with nice one-of-a-kind used guns!)

Oh well I did jump on a 5906, 5904 and 6906 a few years back so not hurting too bad.

Anyone looking for an all metal S&W better move it NOW to the top of their must-have list, good ones are getting more scarce as others have said. Lately I mostly see the 5946 DAO which isn't on my get-now list.
 
“Take a gander at a Smith & Wesson 745 for a kick.
BEWARE! Only around 5,000 of these made. Only roughly 4,999 left because I'm not ever selling MINE! <evil cackling>”

I got four pieces so that leaves 4,995 remaining. :o
 
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