I must be dumber than a stump because I can't figure out the model numbering system S&W is using for their pistols. Does anyone know what all these model numbers mean? There must be some reasonable function that tells me that is is a short barrel, lite weight, metal framed, CC version VS a LE, Tactical plastic version???? Please someone...help me understand.....

I could be a little off on some of this, but here goes.

M&P are the new plastic frame with steel slides. Sigma series are the older style plastic frame and steel slides.

TSW in the designation refers to the Tactical Smith & Wesson.

Third generations pistols (the classics, I must say) use the first numbers to designate caliber.
39xx = single stack 9mm
59xx = double stack 9mm
40xx = 40 cal
45xx = 45 cal.

The third number typically designates the action and frame size as manual safety, double action only.

xx5x = compact frame DAO
xx1x = compact frame manual safety
xx0x = large frame manual safety.

Fourth number designates frame material with 3 being aluminum and 6 being steel.

My model 3953 is a 9mm, double action only, compact aluminum frame.

My 5943 is a 9mm, double action only, large aluminum frame.

The 4006 is a 40 caliber, manual safety, large steel frame.

Thank you so much. I knew that there was some common sense reason for all these numbers...no 357sig models??? And I would assume that 1rst and 2nd generation had different numbering system altogether?

...And 10xx = the mighty 10mm

Thanks for all the input on this. I found a great web site for anyone who is interested in additional information on this subject.

http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg01-e.htm

Thanks Guys! I've been wanting to know those #'s too.

quote:

Originally posted by Pete99004:
I must be dumber than a stump because I can't figure out the model numbering system S&W is using for their pistols. Does anyone know what all these model numbers mean? There must be some reasonable function that tells me that is is a short barrel, lite weight, metal framed, CC version VS a LE, Tactical plastic version???? Please someone...help me understand.....

You have to know some history:

39 - first S&W double action 9mm, single stack, 8 round mag.

Improved version is 39-2.

The so-called "Second Generation" of the 39 is three digit, with first digit signifying material, with 4 meaning aluminum alloy frame with carbon steel slide, 5 meaning carbon steel frame and slide and 6 meaning stainless steel frame and slide, thus in the second gen 39, you could have a 439, 539 or 639, depending on type of material used.

When the 39 was improved again, the so-called Third Generation used four numbers, the first two were the original model number, 39, the third number was for features and the last number was for material.

If the last number was a 4, it was aluminum with a carbon slide; if the last number was a 6, it was stainless frame and slide and if the last number was a 3, it was an alloy frame, with stainless slide.

Thus, if you had a 3904, you had a 39 in alloy frame with carbon slide and Traditional Double Action (TDA). A 3906 is a 39 in stainless steel with TDA. A 3913 would be a mini-39, but with the smaller frame and shorter barrel, alloy frame and stainless slide, while the 3914 would be the mini-39, smaller frame and shorter barrel, alloy with carbon slide and barrel.

Similar rules, though not exactly for the 59 (except the mini 59 is called a 69 when it appears) as a second gen pistol, so you could get a 469 or 669 (aluminum frames with either carbon or stainless slides). So the 59 series becomes the second gen 459, 559 or 659. Third gen became 5904, 5944, 5905, 5906, 5943, 5946, etc.

The 45 did not appear until second gen, and it was only in stainless, called the 645. In third gen it became the 4500 series (4506, 4526, 4546, 4566, 4576 and 4586).

It go so complicated that S&W once had a "slide rule type device that they gave out to dealers and others to keep it straight.

quote:

Originally posted by saywhat?:
I could be a little off on some of this, but here goes.

M&P are the new plastic frame with steel slides. Sigma series are the older style plastic frame and steel slides.

TSW in the designation refers to the Tactical Smith & Wesson.

Third generations pistols (the classics, I must say) use the first numbers to designate caliber.
39xx = single stack 9mm
59xx = double stack 9mm
40xx = 40 cal
45xx = 45 cal.

The third number typically designates the action and frame size as manual safety, double action only.

xx5x = compact frame DAO
xx1x = compact frame manual safety
xx0x = large frame manual safety.

Fourth number designates frame material with 3 being aluminum and 6 being steel.

My model 3953 is a 9mm, double action only, compact aluminum frame.

My 5943 is a 9mm, double action only, large aluminum frame.

The 4006 is a 40 caliber, manual safety, large steel frame.

And the 6946 is a DAO, compact, alloy frame, double stack 9mm...so go figure...

quote:

Originally posted by varoadking:

quote:

Originally posted by saywhat?:
I could be a little off on some of this, but here goes.

M&P are the new plastic frame with steel slides. Sigma series are the older style plastic frame and steel slides.

TSW in the designation refers to the Tactical Smith & Wesson.

Third generations pistols (the classics, I must say) use the first numbers to designate caliber.
39xx = single stack 9mm
59xx = double stack 9mm
40xx = 40 cal
45xx = 45 cal.

The third number typically designates the action and frame size as manual safety, double action only.

xx5x = compact frame DAO
xx1x = compact frame manual safety
xx0x = large frame manual safety.

Fourth number designates frame material with 3 being aluminum and 6 being steel.

My model 3953 is a 9mm, double action only, compact aluminum frame.

My 5943 is a 9mm, double action only, large aluminum frame.

The 4006 is a 40 caliber, manual safety, large steel frame.

And the 6946 is a DAO, compact, alloy frame, double stack 9mm...so go figure...

The 69xx Series is definately an exception to the numbering system. Someone dropped the ball. It should be the 6903 and 6943.

.....and then, when it starts to make sense, they have the 457, which is actually a third generation gun. It has been made with an alloy frame and either a carbon steel (457) or stainless steel (457S) slide. Go figure.

quote:

Originally posted by Babalooie:
.....and then, when it starts to make sense, they have the 457, which is actually a third generation gun. It has been made with an alloy frame and either a carbon steel (457) or stainless steel (457S) slide. Go figure.

The 457 is NOT a true 3rd Gen auto. It's one of the original "Value Line" guns, but they renamed it to some BS name, but it's still one of their cheap POS guns.

There are many changes to the Value Line guns vs the 3rd Gens. Beginning with the locking lugs, slide to frame fit, plastic parts, cheap sights, etc. Then, the DAO versions are not even half-cock like a 3rd Gen is, it's a quarter cock so it doesn't require a different frame and slide.

Value Line guns are not 3rd Gens.

So according to that the 6906 should be a large frame manual safety when it's actually a compact frame. There is 39, 49, 59, but what is 69? It's a 9mm but what is the six? It's a double stack 9mm but.....

I think the frame is alloy not steel so it should be a 3, not a 6?

It's very confusing.

quote:

Originally posted by TenMan:
So according to that the 6906 should be a large frame manual safety when it's actually a compact frame. There is 39, 49, 59, but what is 69? It's a 9mm but what is the six? It's a double stack 9mm but.....

I think the frame is alloy not steel so it should be a 3, not a 6?

It's very confusing.

You are half right and half wrong. The 69xx is a double stack, compact 9mm. The 39xx is a single stack, compact 9mm, and the 59xx is a full size, double stack 9mm.

As for the "6", a S&W engineer I know still doesn't know who dropped the ball on that one. It should be a 6903/6943 instead of a 6906/6946.

quote:

Originally posted by Pete99004:
Thank you so much. I knew that there was some common sense reason for all these numbers...no 357sig models??? And I would assume that 1rst and 2nd generation had different numbering system altogether?

There are .357 SIG models in M&P and there was a limited run of them in the SIGMA line.

As to numbering, taking the 59 series for example, first gen was the Model 59, second was a 459, 559 or 659 (depending on frame material) and Third was 5904, 5906, etc., and all of the third gen numerical variations, and the Tactical vairation of the third gen was a 5906 TSW (tactical Smith and Wesson), and all of its numerical variations.

Note, TSW originally stood for Team Smith and Wesson as there was a pistol and cartridge of that name, very limited production and now out of production - called 356TSW, I think, or something like that - sort of a souped up 9mm/38 Super supposedly designed to "make major power factor" without the recoil, etc. for certain matches.

The TSW we now know came later and applies to the Third Gen guns with the TSW features, which are most recognizable by the light rail on the frame.