Generations

[Hatz]

Can someone give me a quick rundown on what 1st,2nd, and 3rd generation guns mean?

[40cal]

As far as Smith & Wesson centerfire semi-auto handguns :
First generation model 39 and 59, from 1955-1980
Second Gen. manufactured from 1980 with three digit model numbers.
Third Gen. manufactured from 1990 with four digit model numbers.

[handgunner356]

Each series was just a upgrade of the previous generation, the first didn't have the firing pin safety that later guns have. There are some third generation 3-digit guns such as the 910/915, 410/411 and 457 come to mind. And then there are the TSW series guns from '98 and up which I would almost call 4th generation myself.

[Hatz]

Thanks for summing it up.