Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Smith & Wesson Semi-Automatic Pistols > Smith & Wesson Semi-Auto Pistols
o

Notices

Smith & Wesson Semi-Auto Pistols Other Smith & Wesson Semi-Automatic Pistols from the 1950's to Present


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 05-23-2012, 10:10 AM
karamojo karamojo is offline
Member
Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"???  
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Central Europe
Posts: 33
Likes: 12
Liked 18 Times in 10 Posts
Default Why "6906" and not "6903"???

Hi, Gentlemen:

Does anybody know why the model 6906 was "misnamed" 6906 instead of 6903, which would be more in line with the configuration of stainless steel slide mated to an alloy frame?

Same holds true for the 6926 (stainless steel slide/aluminium alloy frame/frame mounted decocking lever) and the 6946 (same materials/DAO), which more correctly should be designated 6923 and 6943. I have always wondered why this is the case whereas numbering is correct with the blue 6904, 6924 (very rare as per SCSW #3) and 6944.

Your comments are most welcome.

Best.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 05-23-2012, 10:51 AM
lhump1961's Avatar
lhump1961 lhump1961 is offline
US Veteran
Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"???  
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: The Great Midwest
Posts: 2,541
Likes: 1,716
Liked 2,367 Times in 1,003 Posts
Default

6906...SS double stack. 6904...blue double stack.
3913...SS single stack. 3914...blue single stack.

Same guns...different mags. Go figure! There is probably a reason but that is why Smith came up with the Wiz Wheel. I have never taken the time to chart the model numbers of all of the 3rd gens but the numbers are all over the board! I use my SCSW regularly when referring to Smith autos.

The upside of this numbers battle is that no matter what you wanted in a semi-auto during that time...Smith made it!
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #3  
Old 05-23-2012, 11:37 AM
growr growr is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Montana
Posts: 5,162
Likes: 3,433
Liked 6,245 Times in 2,061 Posts
Default

Maybe they ran out of 3's to stamp with? being a smart aleck here...who knows why Smith does some of the things they do......
Randy
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 05-23-2012, 11:42 AM
pumpedTSI pumpedTSI is offline
Member
Why "6906" and not "6903"???  
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: FLORIDA
Posts: 149
Likes: 20
Liked 59 Times in 33 Posts
Default

Is'nt a 6906 a rebadged 669?
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 05-23-2012, 01:21 PM
James&theGiant1911 James&theGiant1911 is offline
Member
Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"???  
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: on farm nowhere
Posts: 998
Likes: 84
Liked 575 Times in 299 Posts
Default

aren't the threes all single stacked? if so then there is your answer. 6s being double stacked thicker handled pieces. I love my 6906 by the way, great gun. Have the CADC piece and replaced the recoil spring very accurate and small perfect for Concealed Carry.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 05-23-2012, 02:44 PM
kcode's Avatar
kcode kcode is offline
Member
Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"???  
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 697
Likes: 162
Liked 273 Times in 138 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by James&theGiant1911 View Post
aren't the threes all single stacked? if so then there is your answer. 6s being double stacked thicker handled pieces. I love my 6906 by the way, great gun. Have the CADC piece and replaced the recoil spring very accurate and small perfect for Concealed Carry.
Yes and no, what about the 4013, the original was a single stack on a .45 frame, then the Tactical and .40 Tactical 4013 came out on a 9mm frame and double stack.
__________________
Mike in SouthCentral Kentucky
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 05-23-2012, 03:57 PM
Hill_Country's Avatar
Hill_Country Hill_Country is offline
Member
Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"???  
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: I Can See The Alamo
Posts: 556
Likes: 303
Liked 372 Times in 188 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by kcode View Post
Yes and no, what about the 4013, the original was a single stack on a .45 frame, then the Tactical and .40 Tactical 4013 came out on a 9mm frame and double stack.
I don't think it had anything to do with the magazine type, the last digits designated the frame and slide material. But, like the OP pointed out, there were exceptions.

FIRST TWO DIGITS
39: 9mm
59: 9mm
69: 9mm
10: 10mm
40: 40S&W
45: 45 ACP
35: .357 TSW

THIRD DIGIT
0: standard model
1: compact
2: standard with decocker
3: compact with decocker
4: standard with DAO
5: Compact w/ Double Action Only
6: nonstandard barrel length
7: nonstandard barrel length with decocker
8: nonstandard barrel length with DAO

FOURTH DIGIT
3: aluminum frame with SS slide
4: aluminum frame with carbon steel slide
5: carbon steel frame and slide
6: SS frame and slide
7: SS frame and carbon steel slide

*** Source SCSW, 3rd Ed.

Here's another list I made up to sort out what is what (and there are still exceptions). I made this list using the grip PN's in order to determine which grips are interchangeable. In some cases a round or straight backstrap can be substituted on a model it isn't usually found on.

Sub Compact Frame, Single Stack

9mm,
CS9

.40 & .45 cal
CS40, CS45

Compact Frame, Single Stack

9mm
3904, 3906, 3944, 3946, 909, 3953TSW, 3913, 3914, 3914DAO, 3953, 3954, 908

.40 & 45 cal
4513TSW, 4553TSW, 4013, 4014, 4053, 4054, 4513, 4516, 4556, 457

Compact Frame, Double Stack

9mm & .40 cal
4013TSW, 4053TSW, 4056TSW, 6904, 6906, 6944, 6946
6924, 6926 (frame mounted decocker)

Large Frame, Single Stack

.45 cal & 10 mm
4563TSW, 4566TSW, 4583TSW, 4586TSW, 4505, 4567, 1006, 1066, 1086, 4506, 4546, 4566, 4586, 4596
1026, 1076, 4526, 4576 (frame mounted decocker)
4536 (frame mounted decocker)

Large Frame, Double Stack

9mm & .40 cal (LG359)
4006CHP, 4003TSW, 4006TSW, 4043TSW, 4046TSW, 410, 4003, 4004, 4006, 4043, 4044, 4046, 411, 5903, 5903SSV, 5904, 5906, 5943, 5943SSV, 5944, 5946, 5967, 5945RCMP, 5903TSW, 5906TSW, 5943TSW, 5946TSW, 910, 915, Super9
4026, 5923,
5924, 5926 (frame mounted decocker)
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #8  
Old 05-23-2012, 04:15 PM
Silversmok3's Avatar
Silversmok3 Silversmok3 is offline
Member
Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"???  
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Western South Dakota
Posts: 560
Likes: 9
Liked 385 Times in 139 Posts
Default

Id speculate the S&W did that to cut down on mistakes and errors in the ordering process.

Let us hop in Doc Brown's Delorean for a trip to the 1990s. Assume in this alternate timeline S&W named the 6906 and the 6926 "properly" . We'd walk into the 1990s gun store to find an irate guy yelling at the hapless owner. Turns out three days before the owner phoned in an order to S&W for a 5923. Not a problem, except the customer paid for a 6923, which is a very different firearm. Oops.

Even in this universe, things get wonky with S&W model numbers. I can't count how many times ive called dealers looking for S&W 3rd gens and they've said something like "umm yeah we'll keep an eye out for a 5903. Oh, uh, what's a 5903? Thats the .45 , right?"
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 05-23-2012, 09:28 PM
Denver Dick's Avatar
Denver Dick Denver Dick is offline
US Veteran
Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"???  
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Ventura County, CA
Posts: 1,264
Likes: 197
Liked 797 Times in 282 Posts
Default

I think the 6906 was designed by a couple of weekend mountain climbers working at S&W. So, when asked "Why would you do that?", they could answer "Because we can!"
__________________
1st Signal Brigade, RVN '70
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 05-23-2012, 11:54 PM
Bartman3562's Avatar
Bartman3562 Bartman3562 is offline
Fallen Comrade
Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"???  
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Kansas
Posts: 342
Likes: 26
Liked 120 Times in 65 Posts
Default Thoughts

Quote:
Originally Posted by kcode View Post
Yes and no, what about the 4013, the original was a single stack on a .45 frame, then the Tactical and .40 Tactical 4013 came out on a 9mm frame and double stack.
This is only a guess, but I believe the 4013 was originally going to be a 10mm compact. Look how easy it is to convert. Remove the mag spacer, rechamber and new springs and it is done. With 10mm interest going down, they made it a 40. Once it really went down, they scaled it back to 40 size and the double stack and TSW was born.
__________________
God, country, family.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 05-24-2012, 07:18 AM
FirebirdV8's Avatar
FirebirdV8 FirebirdV8 is offline
SWCA Member
Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"???  
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Parkesburg PA
Posts: 1,441
Likes: 77
Liked 241 Times in 98 Posts
Default

The 3rd gen numbering system took some cues from the 2nd gen numbering system. You notice there are 3 different designations for 9mm's (39XX, 59XX, and 69XX) and the rest only have one series. My theory has always been that because there was the the, X39, X59, and X69, with the X representing the frame material, in the 2nd gen pistols, they continued the three different series in the 3rd gen pistols. Where the 10mm, .40, .22, and .45 has to fit all of their guns into one grouping the 9mm had a "grandfathered" in system that they wanted to include in the new system.

The frame material confusion is still one big mystery though, because even on the 2nd gens a 639 and a 659 had a SS frame and a 669 had a SS slide and Alloy frame. This confusion just continued in the 3rd gen naming system.
__________________
J.D. Roy
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 10-03-2012, 05:37 PM
Robinett_11B's Avatar
Robinett_11B Robinett_11B is offline
US Veteran
Absent Comrade
Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"???  
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 751
Likes: 83
Liked 142 Times in 54 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by lhump1961 View Post
The upside of this numbers battle is that no matter what you wanted in a semi-auto during that time...Smith made it!
Except for an all-stainless, compact single stack 9mm I'd pay handsomely for a "3916".
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 08-23-2017, 10:21 PM
HCH HCH is offline
Member
Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"??? Why "6906" and not "6903"???  
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Hancock County Ohio
Posts: 710
Likes: 2,507
Liked 525 Times in 235 Posts
Default

Just to add to the fun, how does the 4040 fit in?
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Thinking of ordering a 686P 4" 7 round .357 .... "Help"!! Need some reviews on them... Is the 6" better or is the 4" equally good? .460V & XVR Magnum Man S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present 37 07-06-2017 06:26 PM
For All You "Squids", "Swabbies", and "Anchor-Clankers" semperfi71 The Lounge 37 02-07-2016 03:06 PM
If you liked "Red Dawn" and "Jericho" - "Falling Skies" starts Sunday GatorFarmer The Lounge 15 08-14-2012 11:58 PM
"SPF" 5906 Square TG, W/ 2 ext. mags "Shipped" "SPF" Rone GUNS - For Sale or Trade 7 12-15-2010 12:40 PM
Use caution when dealing with "roniva123", a.k.a. "PB Firearms", a.k.a. "Snubbies" allglock Feedback 17 08-07-2009 04:31 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:06 AM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)