quote:

used by many other agencies other than the FBI

One of those was the State of Montana. I knew a retired livestock inspector that carried a 1076. He gave me about 1500 rounds of 10mm ammo he had left over. He said they would send him cases of 500 rounds whenever he asked.

The ammo is old, but still shoots, and the best part is the brass.

bob

I've read from many sources that the guns went back to S&W and then they (FBI) had an option to buy them from S&W. One agent said he purchased 3 of them and gave 2 to his sons. Any confirmation?

At any rate I don't care if this particular gun was used by the FBI. They did come up with a great spec on it.

Range report: This guns is a shooter! Very accurate and easy to shoot. I got a 10 shot 2.5 inch off hand group at 75 feet on my 1st mag. I put in the 20lb recoil spring and the +5% mag spring and function was 100%

Despite the fact that the FBI 1076 was the most accurate handgun ever issued by the FBI is also suffered from a number of significant issues. After an internal inquiry concerning the reliability of the FBI 1076 was conducted by investigators in May 1991 the FBI elected to discontinue use of the FBI 1076 and return all pistols in its possession to the S&W factory in June 1991. After negotiating revisions/modifications to the 1076 S&W shipped an unknown number of the enhanced replacement 1076s, commonly referred to as Performance Center pistols, [sources indicate around 2,500] back to the FBI beginning in 1993. An undetermined number of those pistols were eventually returned to S&W after the FBI and S&W mutually agreed to cancel the contract “for the convenience of the government.” That slight of hand ensured that S&W did not lose any money when they lost the contract and perhaps justifiably so.
At the request of many on duty Agents S&W established a program in 1993 under which Agents could purchase as many of these returned 1076s as they wanted for $350 each (they were sold to the Bureau for $295 which included four 9-round mags, two 11-round mags and one 15-round mag). The FBI 1076s not purchased by Agents or internally by S&W personnel were ultimately shipped to major distributors like Lew Horton for re-sale as "USED GUNS." They sold cheaply and poorly due to the reputation acquired while at the FBI. But it was not at all unusual for an Agent, having first hand experience with the pistol, to buy three or more pistols. The program was completely independent of the FBI as it was illegal (or at least a violation of regulations and policy) then, as now, for a Federal agency to sell its surplus firearms to its own employees or to trade the weapons in on replacements.
Historically, the FBI has destroyed many thousands of Colts (all Colts in the possession of the FBI were cut up and buried in the mid-80s (with the exception of display Thompson SMGs in each field office) and Smiths (smelted) over the years as a result of laws and regulations that prohibit the Feds from trading, selling, or even giving away their surplus weapons. The S&W deal worked because all the FBI 1076s that were returned to S&W were done so under a rather novel interpretation of a vaguely worded “warranty clause” in the contract. That is, all the 1076s the gun vault could lay its grubby hands on. Many Agents refused to give up their 1076s and kept them until retirement or they were threatened with administrative action (me being one) if they did not give them up so they could be issued Glocks. There are active Agents that still have their issue 1076s [they will be destroyed when they are finally turned in just as mine was].
The FBI 1076s on the market to day are the only FBI owned and issued FBI firearms ever to see the light of day in modern times. Only today are collectors really beginning to appreciate how rare and collectible the FBI 1076s really are. At best there are only 2.500 pistols available and that number is likely entirely too high. Many of the FBI 1076s were deactivated into "red handle" training guns for the New Agents and any pistol turned into the gun vault after the organized warranty return were subsequently destroyed by the Bureau (mine for example in 1998). The actual number of FBI 1076s that eventually reached the civilian market is unknown at this time but it certainly was less than 2,500. It is only a matter of time before more collectors’ recognize that the FBI 1076 is not simply any other 3rd Generation S&W pistol. Or even any other law enforcement trade-in pistol for that matter. The FBI 1076 is a historically significant firearm and the fact that any survived at all is but a fortuitous quirk of fate. I often pose this question to potential collectors of the 1076: How many other documented FBI issue firearms do you know of that are selling for around a $1,000 in many cases? For that matter, how many documented FBI firearms are available for civilian purchase at any price?
It is my hope that this information, researched from actual FBI documents and interviews of actual players involved clears up at least a couple of the misconceptions surrounding the much maligned FBI 1076.

That was an excellent read. Thanks.

DMC,
Thanks,
BM1

You are correct FBI agents are not aloowed ttake their handguns with htem when they retire. However, many Agents did buy their 1076s back dierctly from S&W in 1993 when S&W offered to sell the warranty return pistols back to any Agent that wanted one. Ergo, yes, many Agetns do in fact have a 1076 that they actually carried while on duty. I continue to search for my 1076, Serial #THB 9153, which was sold to an Agent at Valley Guns, Baltimore, MD on 12/28/93.

Here's the second page of a factory letter on one of the early FBI shipped 1076s. Thanks for the excellent run-down on this historically significant S&W pistol dmc8163 Sorry for the "big print edition"
Chuck

Very cool. TEU0246 was also shipped in February 1990. But TEU 0042 was shipped in May 1990. Go figure. It is my conjecture that pistols shipped prior to May 1990 were of the original pre-production 50 (= or -) pistols sent to the FBI Academy for testing by FTU Firearms Instructors. Those shipped in May or June may be the group of 200 that were sent to FTU to be sent to selected field offices (e.g., Miami) for testing. Production 1076s were issued to the first New Agents Class in July 1990.

Sorry guys, I should read more closely. I see this pistol was shipped originally to the FBI in May 1990 and to Lew Horton in 2/94. I double checked my Letters. TEU0246 was shipped to the FBI 2/23/90 and TEU0042 was shipped to the FBI on 5/21/90. Both were received back from the FBI 0n 6/3/92. Both were shipped to Lew Horton on 2/22/94. BTW, there are TEU pistols that are civilian versions.

Mine may be a later "Performance Center" pistol. The trigger is smooth and perfect just like my Shorty 45. I'm going to get a letter from Mr Jinks now.

Thanks for the great history.

Also..I was thinking that S&W should re-issue the 1006 at the very least to counter the 10mm Delta Elite that Colt is planning to produce. Or..better yet create a "910" which would be a 945 chambered in 10mm. The S&W action is better suited to 10mm IMO than a 1911.

With the advancements in metallurgy and S&W's current Quality Control Program a new reliable 1006 could easily be manufactured. There never was anything wrong with the design, it was the execution that was lacking. What a great idea. They brought back the 10 MM revolver, why not the pistol.

I could go for a new 910 for sure, I am not that happy with my G29 and magazine reliability. Out of 4 magazines I have 2 that work and 2 that need to go back to Glock. I never had a problem with a S&W auto, and I want that reliablity back.

dcm8163, thanks for the info. out of my 5 1076's, five of them are from the FBI. Jinks lettered, one of them has the red paint still in the grips! I had read about the red painted grips before.
S&W 10mm's so far:
1006 X 4
1026 X 2
1046 X 3
1066 X 3
1076 X 6
1086 X 2
610 3" NIB
610 4" NIB
610 5"
610 6 1/2"
snowcat