We've looked at the Big Boys and the Compacts, now it's time for the mid size service pistols. I'll need a little help here. I have only three middies. So, I need some of you to post photos of a few more to expand this thread. Personally, I'd love to see a really nice 3906. Here we go:


The only 3rd Gen with rubber grips I own, and a pretty good shooter, too. The Model 4006 (1995):



Along with an after-action report:




Here is a 3rd Gen that was filthy when I located it on consignment at a small gun shop. After examining it, I could see it had been shot
very, very little, just never cleaned. After complete disassembly and a through cleaning, here is the Model 5903 with after-action report"




Last, but by no means least, was one of the first 3rd Gen economy versions, a forerunner of the Value Line Series.
Unlike later Value Line pistols, there are no plastic parts on or in this baby. Presenting, from 1994, the Model 915 with after-action report:

My pride and joy, a 5943TSW with hogue cocobolo grips and extended mag release

You really need to get a higher paying job or a second position somewhere so you can start buying guns. Your collection is a little on the light side.

I only have 2, both in the 4006 family:

4006CHP issued to California State Park Rangers. Before a pot load of trade-ins showed up on Gunbroker the last few years, this one was unique and had the claim to fame of being listed on Pg. 304 in the S&WCA 3rd Ed. as the known example:



Next is a rare bird... a Performance Center produced 4006 IDPA for Lew Horton. They (LH) confirmed only 4 were actually distributed by them. This lettered as being shipped to Lew Horton 12/17/2002.

I've been told that 12 total were made... where the other 8 went is anyone's guess.

It's a safe queen... unfired. One of these days I'll work up the moxie to shoot it... with the match barrel, Briley titanium spherical bushing, hand fitted slide and PC competition action job... it's gotta shoot like a bat out of hell.

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Conrad
SWCA #1830 SWHF #222

Gunhacker, tell us about that metal grip extension on the 4006 competition model. I've never seen anything like it on a 3rd Gen!

Is it integral to the frame, or is this attached in some way to accommodate a longer magazine, or what? What's the prefix to the serial number?

You must have MUCH greater willpower than I have, not to have shot that beauty before. Me, I would have been out to the range with it as soon as I got it, and before I could change my mind about shooting it!

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Ukraine -- now more than ever

Those Hogue cocobolos are the bomb!

Just curious: how did the additional width of the wood grips affect the way you shoot the pistol? I've read here that changing grips can really affect accuracy, either more or less, depending. I've been thinking of putting some wood grips on one of my 3rd Gens, and would like to know what your experience was.

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Ukraine -- now more than ever

Vigil, the grips are a perfect fit for me. I believe my accuracy got a little better and they helped recoil somewhat. I know it's a 9mm, but there are some stout loads out there and these help bring the sights back on target a lot faster. For some people they are thick, but I've found that it actually helps ride in my holsters better, I think the little extra weight on that end helps balance it out when I'm carrying. Hope these answered your question. By the way it probably took me half a hour when I first put on the adaptor for the hogues and I can remember doing a lot of filing to make it fit but it was some years ago and I know I looked around these forums a lot to find out how others did it. Some time ago somebody put up a step by step picture tutorial, I don't know if it's still around.

Oh trust me... I've come close many times to stuffing it in my range bag along with my 945-1 to compare the 2 PC guns.

It's a real dilemma in that I've always felt first and foremost that guns are tools that were made for shooting, not looking, and everything I have has been used. But the rarity of it and being ANIB keeps deterring me from sending a round down range.

But since I just turned 60, my thoughts have been turning to "shoot the dang thing while you still can dummy (arthritis in my gun hand) and enjoy it before you die".

The magwell has "legs" that engages "channels" in the bottom of the grip frame, it straddles the grip and is held in place by the same pin that secures the grips to the gun (see pics). Regular 4006's do not have the bottom of the grip frame machined out to create the spaces.

It's purpose is to just facilitate quick mag reloads.

I have seen on the forum 1 or 2 other Performance Center 3rd gen's with the magwell... all 9mm.

The story on the gun was the 4006 IDPA was going to be an addition to the 5906 IDPA, but .40 S&W is not at all a popular caliber for IDPA competitions... too snappy of a recoil and not conducive to speed shooting, so the gun was a flop before it could even get out of the starting gate.

The SN prefix is PCZ, which 18DAI says is symbolic for a Performance Center prototype.

Attached Images

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Conrad
SWCA #1830 SWHF #222

Thanks, Conrad. That's one thing I love about this Forum: I learn new stuff here every time I come on!

It's a cool look -- that magwell -- and too bad the gun was a flop in the .40 S&W.

Having a prototype PC pistol is way cool, and I understand your dilemma in whether to shoot it. Me, I'd either shoot it or sell it to a collector who needs to fit a very specialized PC pistol into the stable. But that's easy to say, on the outside looking in!
Thanks for posting the pics and description.

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Ukraine -- now more than ever

You did a nice job, GoodMornin. Thanks for the follow-up; it gives me even more food for thought about adding wood grips to mine. They are just gorgeous. That shade of wood stain goes great with the stainless finish on the pistol. A barbecue gun for sure!

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Ukraine -- now more than ever