Granted, I am relatively new to the S&W semi auto game.

I just purchased a 6906 and while I like the size the pistol I just do not like the alloy frame. I don't like the look, especially the older dogs with wear, and I don't like the feel. The frame always looks different and just looks like a point of failure and wear. Although I am sure I would never wear one out.

This is my second alloy frame, I also have a 439 and feel the same about it.

Conversely I have a 5906, 4006, 4506, and 1006 all stainless. I love their look, feel, and shootability. They will be shooting for my grandchildren's children.

Am I missing something? Do these alloy frames grow on you?


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Vietnam Veteran, 68-69

Like a tumor said the 915 owner.

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LIVE FROM THE DAWGHOUSE

They don't grow on me! Acceptable for a utility gun, but nothing I would keep for the grandkids.

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Dr. B

I don't have a problem with alloy frames. I own alloy framed guns (915,4013TSW) as well as stainless (639, 5906,4006) and I enjoy both types equally.

I have carried a CS45 for over 20 years. Qualified with it many times. I feel quite comfortable with it. I bought it new and it still looks and functions that way.

If one doesn't like alloy frames I can imagine what they think of plastic frames. At least alloy is metal.

No , things like this don't grow on you. You like or dislike things based on no reasonable explanation. I like Chevy cars, always have , always will...don't know why.
Alloy frames are lighter , that's about it. They don't look better or wear better as an all steel.
Bottom line ...if you don't like them , stop trying to talk yourself into liking them...that usually doesn't work.
I have an old 1971 made Ruger Blackhawk , the aluminum alloy grip frame and ejector rod housing look like 5 miles of bad road , she is still accurate as all get out , rugged and dependable , so I just accept the fact it's ugly , reload mass quantities of ammo for her and go to the range together.
Sometimes , if you really like the way a gun shoots , you have to overlook a cosmetic flaw or two. This was my first 357 magnum and it's special to me, worn and ugly like I am now.
Gary

Oh, I feel your pain... ... at least in regard to the anodized aluminum frame cosmetic wear issue. Nothing drives me more crazy than finding an aluminum-framed 3rd Gen that I want to add to the collection... only to find that the aluminum frame is worn down to the gosh-darned bone.

Shall I give you a list of how many I've turned down just because of that?

I'm not a Cerakote or otherwise painted gun kind of guy, so that's not a good option for me. Full factory-type refinishing (professional prep work and re-anodizing) is certainly possible, but risky and costly. Some of the slightly more exotic refinishing approaches might work well and look great, but again... cost is a big factor. So is the eventual resale value of a "refinished gun" after my 4 remaining "good years" are up.

So my solution? I only buy aluminum-framed 3rd Gens that have pristine perfect "as-new" frames. The color variations we see over the many years don't really bother me. In the end, the lower weight is usually a plus for me. The all-stainless guns are great in the sense that you can almost always make them look like brand spanking new... ... but too many of the 3rd Gens I collect only came with aluminum frames and I am not about to give up collecting my smaller favorites.

Alloy frames have their place. They drop the weight for carry guns, but I agree usually they are not pretty. You do not need to worry about failure due to the frame being alloy. Alloy frames have proven themselves in the many, many decades they have been in use.

As far as I can recall, there is only 1 all steel compact autoloader from Smith and Wesson and it came out of the Performance Center. I am refering to the 3566 Compact
The 3566 Compact is the same size as your 6906 but heavier. Magazines are interchangeable between the two firearms

When the 3566 Compacts were in production, you could send your firearm in to the Performance Center and they would fit a 9MM barrel to it. This gave you the option of shooting 9MM Parabellum or the much more powerful 356TSW

I rarely ever see the frame on any gun. It's either holstered or I'm looking through the sights.

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Don't like them don't buy them..carried 5904 for yrs no problem... Better than Tupperware..

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Make mine a 1911 or Browning HP.....or wheel gun made with steel....

That PC 3566 is very nice! I'm sure I will play heck trying to find one.

At least I know now that I do not prefer the alloy frame. And now thanks to all of you... short of full size models, and they all have alloy frames...except that nice PC 3566!

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Vietnam Veteran, 68-69

Bill,
Your observations, and feelings reflect mine. I only have two handguns with alloy frames, a S&W Mod. 38 bodyguard, and a Colt lightweight .45 Officers mod. 1911. I consider both to be defensive weapons, not to be shot a lot as recreation type guns. I do consider them to be adequate for their limited, defensive job, and use them accordingly. Most folks don't think of them in this way, but I do, and it sounds as tho you do also.

I don't like them either -- but for me, it's the look. So the black ones are fine, it's the odd shade of silver that doesn't match well with a stainless upper and in many cases seems to take on an almost "yellowed" appearance.

My 39 and 39-2's are prized possessions, even my "beater 39-2" that was an Israeli service re-import. That pistol looks extremely used but I like that look. A 915 or any of the other black/aluminum frame 3rd Gens is good as well.

But I agree, I don't care for the silvery colored aluminum frame pistols.

You hit on it, the "yellowed" appearance. It just looks off colored.



Here is the 6906. From the photo it does not look that bad, but you can tell there is a difference.

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Vietnam Veteran, 68-69

Just send me all of your alloy-framed Smiths and you won't have to worry about it anymore.

I can't do anything about the look and feel, as that's entirely a personal issue and matter of tastes. However for the wear factor, I will offer this: I use a thin coating of grease on the rails and any locking lugs / barrel wear areas rather than oil. It goes a long way to help protect these surfaces, especially on alloy against steel or alloy against stainless steel contact points. Doesn't matter much what kind of grease as long as it's something light and designed with guns in mind. I even use it on my plastic guns that have just a few points of contact.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

Then you probably would faint seeing this one, TTSH too. I just picked it up recently, bruised and battered but still chuggling along.

no safe queen

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Sure you did

Oh Lordy! Come on guys! Please tell me you're not serious here!

If you happen to prefer black/blued pistols, that's fine. Or if you happen to prefer all-stainless for the heft and strength, that's great too. But you are honestly going to tell me that you reject all of the bright anodized aluminum frame 3rd Gens just because the color of the frame doesn't always match the stainless steel slide perfectly??? Holy cow!

And here I take an awful ribbing from some members of Team 3rd Gen on the issue of cosmetic appearance just because I like my 3rd Gens looking clean and "as-new" rather than the proverbial "used and abused" beat-to-heck look!

Different strokes for different folks I guess. Frame cosmetic damage that can't easily be repaired *does* bother me... a whole lot, in fact... but the slight color mismatch bother me? Never!!!

What was it I was just saying? Oh yeah!
I rest my case!

Beautiful. I would be proud to own this gun.

Yeah, your last paragraph. We may all get along BETTER, in fact, when we all realize that generally speaking in the larger picture, we are like fans of the same "team" while we focus directly on particular players we like.

I could make a long list of little bits from all the 1-2-3rd Gens of my very least favorite parts and things and models, but all that tends to do is rile up fans of those bits and parts.

In the end, we all still come here to share the passion for the larger group of these guns.

My 39-2 with alloy frame, feels like an extension of my arm. Few other guns feel as well in the hand. My steel frame 39 (Yes I have one of the 927 made) feels awkward and cumbersome.

all the guns in my carry rotation have some kind of scar or finish wear.

I consider the alloy framed pistols to be 'light duty' meaning that I wouldn't choose one for 10's of thousands of rounds. That's partly because the all steel pistols are more pleasant(and easier)to shoot but also because every damaged frame I've ever seen was an alloy frame(.40 more often than 9mm)and not just S&W. Alloy frames are structurally weaker than steel frames,......that's just the nature of the material.

All pistols are a combination of compromises. Steel is heavy but shoots and wears well. Aluminum(and polymer)are light, but don't hold up as well. Sometimes that matters and sometimes it doesn't.

I tend to shy away from .40 cal alloy frames. I also don't like .40 cal in super small pistols, partly for the wear and tear of both shooter and firearm, but also due to perceived feeding reliability(the tapered case of the 9mm is more forgiving). Alloy frames make sense for concealment weapons but the tradeoff doesn't work out so well for a belt pistol. My two favorite models are the 3953 for carry and the 5946 for everything else. They're basically the same gun designed for two different purposes. The small, lightweight, low-cap carry piece where those features are desirable compromises and the larger heavier, high-cap piece where those attributes don't work against it. I've also got 6946's and 5943's in case they fit some task better, but that's cutting it pretty thin and I really don't expect to ever need them. I really think the plethora of S&W models along with the frame material choice is one of my favorite things about the Smiths. If you look at Glocks or SIGs or just about anything else you can have any size or any caliber,......but you're stuck with a relatively light weight which is a disadvantage as often as not.

Alloy frame........... = ........... carry gun......... carried a lot but not shot a lot

Steel frame............=.....................great range guns....... and bludgeons.




Note to self: can I really see an alloy frame gun carried IWB at 4 O'clock behind my right hip?????

If you are not a Owl....... then the answer is........ NO!!!!!

Well, me CS45 & CS40 are pretty decent examples of the breed,
so not expecting to have to refinish them anytime soon...
but if I did find one that was pretty rough,
beadblasting with walnut shell media & a serious clearcoat after
would be the repair method I'd choose...
maybe anodize instead of clearcoat...but it all depends...

Attached Images

CS40 (5).jpg (93.6 KB, 87 views)

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Marlin & Calico Specialist

Have you considered Scandium Alloy? Might be the perfect solution....

The scandium is the one in the middle.....



Lad

Hmmmm.... let me think about this... ok... I'm in the corner with "load the mag with any round you like, rack the slide and pull the trigger"... goes bang every time! I have some of both... all stainless boat anchors, alloy frame carry... I like em all... they both have their pluses and minuses... but at the end of the day they're still a well made and functioning Smith... what's not to like about that?


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Isaiah 55:8-9
Phil. 4:13

I don't know why, but all S&W alloy 3rd Gens look funky and worse than everyone else's alloy frames. All of the Beretta Inox guns and CZ P-01s I've handled look better after longer use.

As far as the 6906, I hate it because my hand is exactly too large to be comfortable (like the 92 Compact). Are you sure it's not that part?

.

You can add the 4056TSW (pre-rail) to that list. All stainless steel, 3-1/2" bbl., only made in 1997, and ~1100 made.

FWIW, many of the 3-3/4" 45xx's are all stainless steel too.

.

Pre-rail models: 4013TSW and 4056TSW (w/Hogue grips)


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4056TSW (w/factory grips)


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Waiting for the break of day

I have a 5943, aluminum frame, SS slide and I think it's great. Light but not too light. Shoots like a dream.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

While there is no question that the stainless frames will out last an aluminum frame and can be easily refinished by hand to remove holster wear and scratches, I wouldn't be too quick to underestimate the aluminum framed guns.

Way back when I recieved my first aluminum framed 3rd gen gun, a 9mm 910 "value line" pistol, I new little to nothing about the proper maintenance of an aluminum framed semi auto pistol. So I proceeded to unintentionally abuse that gun. I didn't change the recoil spring. I didn't use grease on the rails, just oil. And subsequently I cracked a rail above the slide release.......after just 19,000 rounds.

My EDC 4513TSW 6-round rail free pistol has an unknown round count. A conservative estimate would be 10,000 rounds as I have put 3000 through it and it was an LE pistol trade in. It looks a little rough. The finish is worn to the aluminum around the trigger guard and front of the dust cover. The markings are barely visible on the slide.........which is not a bad thing IMO. So its never gonna win any beauty contests.

But after carrying a 4516-3 for seven years, the real beauty of the 4513 shines through. It doesn't pull your pants down carrying it all day and it is still as accurate and reliable as its all steel siblings. That works for me. YMMV Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

While we are laying our souls bare, here is a predudice that I have had since I was a boy. As a boy of around sixteen, in 1947, I went through the long, complicated process of getting signatures of three area police cheifs, the signature of the Columbus, OH Safety director, Mayor, and many other character qualifications, designed, i'm sure, to discourage people like me from applying for membership to the Columbus Police Pistol range. But, I persisted, and received the high honor of a membership. I then entered a few Bullseye pistol matches. The choice of hand guns to be used, was hotly debated at that time and I decided , as most competitors did, that for .22, Rimfire matches, Colt woodsman auto was the way to go, for .32 & .38 centerfire matches the S&W revolver, for the .45 Centerfire matches, the Colt 1911 auto was the popular choice. To this day, I'v never owned a S&W auto. go ahead an laugh young folks, but that was the opinion of the top shooters of that era, and ideas instilled in a young person last. Now, if I get over the latest batch of "Old Poop" ailments, I think I will celebrate by overlooking this predudice, and trying some S&W autos.
Chubbo

That certainly wasn't the case where I grew up. The Smith & Wesson Model 41 ruled and that was that.

Of course, the city I grew up in might have had a little something to do with that.

Nope same in "The Burgh"......... model 41.....

my Dad's is pictured in the NE Ohio Bunch picture thread........ is a shot of my Smith.22 Accumulation......post #155 3rd picture.......

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Woodsman, 41, who cares? I'd take either one, gladly. Both are nice.
I'd rather have the 41 because of parts availability and the ability to have it repaired.
Plus, it'd go well with my 52-1.

As far as the alloy frames, you should see my early 6906. The frame looks like cheap gray plastic.
I hate the way it looks, but dammit, it works.
At the end of the day, I can't ask more from it than for it to work correctly (and look better than a godawful Glock).
Plus, I own a few of it's big brothers.
I have a few beer can pistols and a few Tupperware pistols.
I'm not attached to them the way I am to my steel framed guns, but guess which ones I carry most?

Even though I hate the way the frame looks like gray plastic, I love that freaking pistol and wouldn't part with it. It was a very good deal and I wasn't going to pass it up.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

You're both right. The problem is dates. In 1947 the Colt Wodsman was the best. In the early 1950s (when I started pistol shooting) it was the Hi Standard Supermatic. When the S&W 41 came along, it outpaced both of them. I traded my Hi Standard for a 41 as soon as I could. I still have it.

Okay, I had my dates wrong. According to the Interwebs (which I should have checked before posting instead of going by my faulty memory), the Model 41 was introduced in 1957, not 1947. So now, everything he said makes perfect sense.

I have to admit that I really like the way the 6906 feels and fits in my hand (I do have relatively small hands). Darn thing shoots like a house a fire!

But per Jaymo, the darn bottom end of the beaver tail looks like gray plastic!

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Vietnam Veteran, 68-69

I've never really given this issue that much thought. If it shoots, it's good . . .

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

I swear to God... I never even knew the issue existed until this very thread.

How come it's only the bright colored aluminum frames that are suddenly so offensive? The black aluminum frames don't exactly match their black/blued steel slides all that well either. In fact, the more they age, the more they mismatch. But that's not a problem?

No one's going to spoil my 3rd Gen fun. Over three quarters of my 3rd Gen collection have aluminum frames and all but two of them are bright. With only 4 good years left, it's too late for me to sell them all and try to start over!

The era that I spoke of was in the 1940s. The S&W Mod. 41 had't been thought of yet. Now 75+ years later, when I'm much too old, i'm starting to think about the Mod. 41, and all those great S&W autos, that have come down the pike since then. I wish now, that I had paid attention to them when I could have enjoyed them. The scope, and enjoyment of my S&W hobby, could have been doubled. This would be a good lesson for all, if heeded. The old adage "Too soon dumb, too late Smart". fits my case perfectly. One of the handiest, sharpest, inexpensive tools to be found is an open mind, but one of the last to be excepted by most of us.
Chubbo

Alloy frame holdsup better than Tupperware.

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Yep, I was off by a whole decade in my thinking. Sorry about that!

LOL 1947!!!!,......heck...... even TTSH was still just a twinkle in his father's eye...... my Dad hadn't even met my Mom yet....

Most "alloy frames" were still inside P-51s and B-29s........ the first alloy frame Smith didn't come along until 1955 and it was in that new-fangled European caliber 9mm!!

Funny how my senile old brain works. I had to go back into my Ancestry Account after flubbing that date thing by a decade and figure out why the heck my thinking was so far off.

I've also got to pull out Dad's Model 41 and check the born date on it. I might be off by even more than a decade!

Anyway, it's nice to know that someone in our little sub-forum is even older than me. I may or may not remember the 50's too well... but I sure as heck don't remember the 40's at all!

I've never heard ANYBODY say anything negative about a 1911 Colt except that they were 'big and heavy', which is a matter of taste, not capability. Oh, and maybe that they "hold only 8 rounds", but then most revolvers hold 6. Some customizing makes for a top notch target pistol, they can stop a person quick. I've never needed one though and I do well with S&W or any of several semis. .45s are fun to shoot, but even reloading the ammo costs more. You get an S&W and I'll get a Colt 1911.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

All I can say to that is ME TOO!!!!!

I do carry a 6906 more often these days, when I am not carrying a Model 10, but I LOVE my CS-45 and I'm pretty fond of my 6906 as well.

First, they are SUPPOSED to be utilitarian. They are everyday work guns that get the job done right every time. They are not supposed to be heirlooms. By the same token, however, I'd be totally pleased to train my grandkids on my 3rd Gen alloy frames and then give them to them when the time comes.

Of course, they're going to want my revolvers first, that's a given, but still.....