I recently bought a 5906 and like it very much. I thought the single stack version might be nice to have. But you don't see them for sale and when you do they are at a significantly different price point than the 5906.

I'm guessing those who own them hold on to them and they were produced in lower quantities.

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Just hanging with my dogs

The 3906 was only made for a couple of years. It seems to have fallen victim to the compact guns and the full sized double stacks. There wasn't really a market for a full sized single stack 9mm.

Yes, they're pretty rare. I had a 3904 that was a nice gun, but ended up being a safe queen so I sold it to someone that would use it as it was intended to be.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

It's true that people tend to hold on to them - I'll never sell mine.

3904/3906

Truth be told, I had so deeply gotten into the vein of looking for a 6903 that I continued looking for months, forgetting entirely that I'd actually scored one months before.

When moved about and after dropping the third-generation denominating "zero," the re-sorted numbers take on a decidedly "39" look, as in "339" or "439" and so on.

After all, the 439 visibly came from the 39's loins and the 439 became the 3904 when S&W went with a more intelligent model numbering system comprised of four digits, which can tell a reader much of the gun before physically examining it.

Or, still better, when a potential scam exists such as an oft described "stainless steel" 5904 seen for sale every now and again.

In the end, those models having a predominating 39 (either of which must be outside of that third-digit-of-four position), they are the direct descendants of the main dude what started it all: the Model 39.

Admitting partiality to the 39 (having over 40 of combined models 39 and 39-2, with more of the former numerically as of today) I wonder why S&W overlooked the 39 at its 50th anniversary given that many gun manufacturers celebrate decennials - such as CZ celebrating the Model 75's 40th anniversary in 2015?

Oh, well. It's time to return to quietly crying in a corner, now.

Later.

Sold my 3904 last week..to help fund the other purchases....know I'm gonna regret it...

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Best looking 3rd gen, ever.

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

Just to help you cry yourself to sleep tonight, I found this BNIB last November for $430.

My ex-girlfriend took my 3906 with her when she left..........I really miss that gun. Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

I can be happy for your good fortune. But I'm just too small a person.

Very nice!!!!! I saw the same set up on GB last week for a $750 buy it now. I didn't bother to see if it sold.

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Just hanging with my dogs

Last I saw, someone had a bid in on it at $775 shipped, so it sold for at least that much. That's kinda pricey even for an ANIB model, let alone a holster-worn 3906! Somebody just had to have one and couldn't wait, I guess...

I was lucky enough to score one off the classifieds here last week, $600 shipped for a very nice specimen with Novak rear sight and a good bead-blast re-finish. I'm told the work was done at Novak's, but there's no verification or stamp (though it's nicely done, and has a very smooth trigger).

All said and done, I'm very happy with it, and feel better about the price after seeing that one sell on GB!

*EDIT* - The seller was able to find the work order from Novak's and get it to me, so I'd say it was a heck of a deal on a nice pistol!

Used ones have been closing from $800-950 this last month. Crazy demand.

I guess the hi-capacity bans in some states are coming into play. The single stack pistols are almost always more comfortable to hold, and if you only give up 1-2 rds, it's a no-brainer.

ColbyBruce, an enabler in the past has told me a local pawn may have one. Ummm, thanks. I guess.

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Just hanging with my dogs

OK, did a little digging into old auctions and saw the ones you're talking about. Wow, is all I can say .

I had noticed a few 3906's selling in the $600's, and thought that was a bit much for their condition. I guess we'll see if the demand is enough to keep these selling at extreme prices in the future.

Unfortunately people are finding out about these 3906's. When my grandson first shot mine, he called dibs on it after his first 5 shots at 20 yards were under 2". Yeah, he outshot me that day

I'd have to agree - more and more people have come to appreciate the 3906 lately. In all honesty, I'm one of them.

I can remember passing on more than one at around $400 in the last few years, had the drop on them but just wasn't sure that I needed a 3906. Noticing that demand was up reminded me that I still kind of wanted one, and to snag a less-common Novak-sighted model at a set price was enough incentive for me.

Having a 3906 in hand finally, all I can say is - I think I need another one. Just not in the $700+ range...

And if we can learn anything from the unfortunate loss of 18DAI's gun, maybe it's that people should institute a kind of 'pre-nup' clause with their 3906. Or just be really careful about who you let shoot it.

I've got a plan. I'm trying to interest my grandson in a Beretta 92A-3 for now. This way I can enjoy my 3906 for a bit.

Several years ago I owned a very nice 3906 and sold it, regretted it and bought another one, then in a weak moment sold that one also. Thanks to a very generous forum member I was able to acquire this set-up last year at a very fair price, and this one will not be leaving...

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Bought one when they first came out.....Never did like the look of the "pregnant looking" 5906........Mine has the old round S&W rear sight.

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S&W Accumulator

I was the head of firearms training for a large South Florida PD when the 3rd Gen guns were first released. While the single stack guns were thinner than the double stack, the 3rd Gen changes including the one-piece grip narrowed the difference in feel and trigger reach so much that most shooters and departments chose the higher capacity guns.

If you can't find a 3904/06, try the previous gen guns like the 639. Nice and slim, and they can be retro-fitted with the 3rd gen action components that really improve the trigger feel and pull. Here are a couple of quick pictures of my 639 with work from Novak's.

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I was following one on Gunbroker this past week that sold for $906,which is nuts. These are really nice guns, but that's a lot of money! And to think someone was trying to sell one here last summer or fall for $500 and got no bites. I wished I had the money to spare then and I really wish I did now that the prices have skyrocketed.

I got a 3906 last August for 400.00 OTD after the shop had it for a month or so.

I've only seen one other in town and it was priced at 600, which was about a year before finding this one. That one sold pretty quick.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/138688008-post17.html

I had a 3906 with adj sights back in the early 90's. I sold it for some forgotten reason.

I would buy another, if I ran across one at a decent price. I certainly do keep my eyes open for one.

I did manage to find a cheap 909. It's a great gun as well, though not quite the same. I still look for a 3906 to keep it company.

As has been stated, probably one of Smith's most beautiful guns. I always wanted one back in the 90's. Then they kind of disappeared. Always had my eye out for one, but by the time I saw a nice one a few years ago, I was more concerned about guns I could easily carry. And I already had plenty of nines, so I let it go. Sure did feel good in the hand though.