I've found a 3906 at an LGS for $400 plus tax. It's been there a couple of weeks now. Except for a couple of years-old threads on this forum, I've found out very little about them. And there are none for sale on two of the biggest online sales sites.

Is $400 a good price? I understand S&W made only about 2K of these pistols, and lots of shooters seem to really like them. Some shooters complain they're too heavy, but I'm partial to all steel pistols. I also see that magazines are sort of hard to find and when they are found, they're kinda high?

So: Advantages? Disadvantages? Feel free to pass along any knowledge and/or first hand experience with this pistol.

Oh, and I have not held or examined the pistol at all. Just noticed it in the display case and took note of the price. Can't even remember what kind of sights are on it. Ditto for grips.

Thanks in advance for any input.

I saw a S&W 3906 in a showcase at a Gwinnett county pawn shop yesterday priced at $425.00. I have no idea what it may of had with it.

Sounds like a decent price to me if it isn't beat up. As a matter of fact, if you don't want it, let me know where that shop is, I may inquire. Plus have a lot of mags that will fit in it as well!

Wish I could find a 3906 to go with my 4006!

Any 3906 below $500 is a deal.........if not a steal. The gun is thin, accurate and reliable. Not that heavy either. But heavy enough to make 9mms feel like shooting 22s.

We had a good thread on the 3906 awhile back. IIRC it is in the notable thread index.

Buy the 3906 fellas. Whens the last time you saw a nice 3906? Good luck! Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

That's the crux of the matter right there, far as I'm concerned. This is the absolute first one I've seen around here, period. They either aren't here, or anyone who has one is hanging on to it. Thanks for your input. It's very tempting.

That's a good price. Midway had the magazines on clearance cor $25.00 a couple of months ago.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

I may go back and look at it tomorrow...just to be looking. I'll take a much closer look. No one really seems to be noticing it...it's just in a case with some other Smith autos...there's a 439 right next to it for $500.

I agree fully very hard to find and under 500 is a great price

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thats wicked pissah

Great price. I finally gave up looking for one and settled for a 2nd generation 639 a couple of weeks back and gave $400 for it(and it was a little beat up AND still underpriced). I've been watching GB religiously for over a year and haven't seen a 3906 for under $600. In any kind of decent condition or with any accessories that would be a steel.

Yes, it's pretty heavy if you're a new shooter and don't have any experience with pistols not made of plastic, but if you're comfortable with a 1911, a HP or any other design that existed circa WWII it will feel comforting in the hand. Puddycat to shoot.

Original OEM mags are easy to find new at around $40 retail. In the world of pistol mags that is kinda high, but they're not a glut on the market like say Glock or Beretta magazines. Midway just recently had them on sale for $25 apiece. I don't know if that's a regular occurrence but it was reported here on the forum and I took the opportunity to lay in a supply. It pains me to pay more than $10 for any magazine but I'm stingier than most when it comes to things like that. They'll work in any single-stack 9mm Smith.

The grips are either the one piece factory delrins or two piece Hogues,.....either rubber or(less likely)wood. That's about all that's available for the 3rd generation Smiths and it's my one complaint about the pistols. Nothing wrong with the factory grips but not many options for dress-up. A pistol so fine screams out for extra grade grips.

Im finishing working an off dutycgig right now and its HOT.Too hot for my old mind to recall exact numbers. But I can recall there were not many of these made. I think it was less than 3000, but can't be sure.

I do know that the 3906 with adjustable sights is the most plentiful of the 3 different 3906's. The Novak sighted 3906 was among the last produced and not in great numbers and the early small rear sight 3906 is the scarcest. Again IF IIRC.

Mine is an early small rear sight version. Well........it use to be mine till my GF confiscated it and made it her carry gun.

If I come across a Novak sighted one its on my "buy on sight" list. Regards 18DAI

Edited to add: One thing I just recalled. The factory OEM grip is the only option for the 3906. Hogue doesn't make a grip that fits it. There are Hogue slip on grips that work well. Thats what I have on mine. If there is a downside to the 3906 that would be it.

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

Unless it is really, really beat to Hell, I'd say that's a decent price.

If it's in good condition, $400 is a decent price. I bought one LNIB with adjustable sights and 4 mags a few months ago for $500 OTD, and considered that a great price.

If it is in good shape, go for it; I love mine, an early version.

There's basically little that substitutes for the single stack 39XX series, whether aluminum or steel framed. As already said, the 3906 is hard to find and the price is nice if in good shape.

MB

Exhuming an old post here whilst searching for infos on the 3906! Goes well with my 4506, 1006, 669 and 4516

Just lucked out on this one with a Peters Stahl 22Lr conversion kit! Might get the conversion cerakoted to match eventually.

All the best way up from Malta in Europe.

Sent from my CMR-W09 using Tapatalk

Very cool but you’d be crazy to cerakote (bleeecccchhh) or alter that Prters-Stahl unit in any way, those suckers are quite valuable.