Quote:
Originally Posted by Sevens
There are a few guns that have a "3rd Gen frame" (easily identified by the one-piece Delrin grip) and also show a 3-digit 2nd Gen Model number stamped on the frame. These are the pilot guns. These have four-digit model numbers on the box end-label that don't match the actual numbering system that S&W ended up using.
For example... if the pictured gun in this case were a pilot gun, it would say 459 on the frame and 4590 on the box end label but it would have a 3rd Gen grip.
The transitional guns were the ones sent to RSR Distributors in Florida and those carry RSR-prefixes on their serial numbers. These have the odd four-digit Model name on the pistol, but not the (eventual) proper model numbers that S&W ended up using.
Yes, I agree that you also are a fan of these pistols as I am, perhaps even more than I am. Nothing that I wrote was intended to ridicule or offend, but the terms we use around here do have some definitions attached to them. In fact -- what I just wrote likely isn't wholly accurate (I'm guessing) and one of the members better versed in pilot and transitionals will be along to correct it, for the betterment of all our knowledge.
The pictured pistol is regular production, an early example of the Model 5903.
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Between 1990 and 1998 I was fortunate to be a regular visitor to S&W. I had more access to the Academy and Performance center than I would have allowed a non-employee but I had some pretty influential friends at the time, in fact I would pull my car up to the guard shack and be let in to park and walk into the PC unescorted. I don't say this to brag, but simply to illustrate that I have spent my time among a whole lot a gun builders and other employees at S&W. Everyone I ever spoke to called the 3rd gen guns with 2nd gen features "transitional guns". S&W was using up existing parts before fully going over to the new 3rd gen design.
Now, if the jargon here indicates that those are not "transitional" then I bow to the majority, but I wanted to explain my rationale for the words I used.
I appreciate the explanation.
Cheers,
GHEN