I was at Cabelas in Richfield WI and they had a brand new 5946. S&W must be cleaning out the vaults. Lol. They wanted $799 for it.
I did a double take as a guy next to me had them pull it out to look at it.
It was all laser engraved instead of stamped. Wish I would've taken a closer look at it but it looked like the later DAO model but didn't have the big Tactical marking.

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M&P .40, M&P 9c & Shield 45

Did it have integral rail in the frame, or was it riveted on?

The 5946 (DAO) is one of NYPD's approved weapons. I've seen a number of postings on this forum that say S&W continues to produce runs of selected 3d Generation pistols for LE customers in various parts of the country. I recently saw an advertisement for a few "like new" 3953TSWs for sale, which I took to be NYPD trade-ins or perhaps overstocks (I believe the 3953 is an authorized personal-purchase back-up weapon for NYPD).

The 5946 at Cabelas is an intriguing sighting... because there are folks out here who would probably buy a new 3d Gen pistol if one could be ordered from the factory. The "distributorship" system makes it almost impossible for average individuals to order pistols from the factory (which people used to do in the old days!) and in any case 3d Gens aren't cataloged on the web catalog, but it is a shame that there aren't one or two distributors, and a couple of FFL dealers, who could handle 3d Gen sales...

I read somewhere in the past year that S&W moved production of the all-metal guns to Houlton, ME a couple of years ago -- that's the factory that makes S&W handcuffs -- but saw something recently that said the all-metal gun production has been moved back to Springfield. That includes the 1911's, but how many of those all-metal guns are 3d Gens, and how often do they do a production run?

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S&W Rover

Just a point of order. Or two, maybe. I believe that the NYPD removed the 3rd Gen guns from their approved list a few years back. The DAO single stack that was approved was not the 3953, but was a DAO version of the 3914. That gun had second strike capability, unlike the 3953/54.

About three years ago, one of the official firearms vendors for NYPD was selling brand new 3914 DAO guns on Gun Broker. Which I took to mean that they were now surplus and couldn't be sold to NYPD officers.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

My mistake; I was thinking the 3953 is a DAO 3913. The 5946 -- described by SCSW-3 as a DAO 5906 -- was (and may still be) authorized by NYPD, too (see below). The use of these two 3d Gen models by NYPD as well as other 3d Gen pistols still issued by other LE customers indicates S&W continued production of them long after production for general commercial sales stopped. What a pity! Given today's CNC machining capabilities, 3d Gen pistols should be cheaper to make than they were when the decision was made to phase them out in favor of much less expensive polymer M&Ps.

The following was published by NYPD in October 2015:

"There are three semi-automatic 9mm pistol models that are authorized as on-duty service weapons for NYPD officers: the Glock 19, the Sig Sauer P226, and the Smith & Wesson 5946. These weapons are equipped with 15 round magazines, and, with one round in the chamber, each firearm is capable of holding 16 total rounds. Additionally, there are several weapons authorized for off-duty carry, such as the Glock 26, the Smith & Wesson 3914, and the Beretta 8000D Mini Cougar. Some officers carry .38 caliber revolvers. These officers are senior members whose weapons have been grandfathered in; revolvers have not been issued as service weapons since 1992. Current NYPD service pistols are all “double action only,” meaning they have a two-stage trigger pull for each round fired (unlike single-action weapons, which can be “cocked,” resulting in a one-stage trigger pull). Additionally, all NYPD weapons are modified to have a heavier-than-stock 12 pound trigger pull; this diminishes the likelihood of unintentional discharges. The NYPD uses a 124-grain, hollow-point bullet that is designed to prevent over-penetration and ricochets." Source: Page 58, New York City Police Department Annual Firearms Discharge Report 2014, dated October 2015. http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloa...ort_2014V3.pdf

NYPD reportedly also recently approved the Springfield XD-S 9mm for off-duty carry. NYPD approval of XD-S 9mm: big change, small gun

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S&W Rover

Neither, no rail.

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M&P .40, M&P 9c & Shield 45

But $800??? I can easily find a gently used 3rd gen for half that, depending on type.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

The 908S was also allowed at one point. So was the Kahr K9. And I don't see the point in these new 23 ounce guns. There are lighter guns out there. They should have went with the older Ruger LC9. It already had the 12 pound trigger pull and would have required no modifications. Double strike capability too. Don't know why the job went away from Ruger. They used to be a big supplier of NYPD guns.

I can confirm that the NYPD still issues 5946TSWs, since my cousin's husband is NYPD and carries one. I'm not sure what he has as a backup, though.

Its interesting that Cabelas has a brand news 5946, and not a TSW. I wonder if it's NIB and unfired rather that new. I don't think regular 5946s have been made since 2000 or so.

The 5946 for has not been authorized for new officers since 2014. They are not and have never been 5946TSWs. Standard markings, no rail. The 3914DAO and 3953TSW were formerly authorized off duty guns. They are now replaced by the M&P Shield. The 908 was never in the mix. All of our guns are personally owned. For many years now the union has been purchasing recruits their service pistols. None are issued or owned by the department. The department has nothing to do any guns that end up on the market. If it never made it to an officer's hands it's not leaving the department.

I just saw one of these at my local Cabelas. DAO just isn't my thing so I didn't even give it but a glance. Now if they were TDA pistols I'd have no problem at that price for new Smiths.

No 908S? I guess I am mistaken. I remember when the job rolled out the off duty semi autos. I was teaching in the academy then and shot them all. I just remember a black S&W and a stainless with "tactical" on the side. The Kahr K9 had the smoothest trigger, followed closely by the Beretta Mini Cougar. The Glock /6 was "meh", what you expect from a Glock.

But I never got an off duty 9MM. Kept my Ruger SPNY till retirement. Sold it and wish I hadn't. But I do know who I sold it to so maybe one day I'll get it back. But he's not a gun guy and just wants something for the nightstand. He bought it for $200 and if I gave him that now plus shipping for the gun he'd have to find another gun for 200 bucks and he's not gonna do that. I ALMOST feel like offering $400, just to have that old gun back. But I'd send it to Ruger and let them convert it back to DA/SA. Never liked spurless guns. Just look wrong to me.

Are previously issued guns still authorized for carry or did the officers have to purchase new weapons when the authorization was withdrawn?

I thought at one time there was a shop, or maybe two, that was allowed to sell firearms to NYPD officers. Or are they all purchased from the NYPD?

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Can open, worms everywhere.

I have the Ruger NYPD Ruger Speed Six 4 in D/A also has the little star stamped inside the crane

Saw one of these yesterday at the Cabela's in Gonzales, LA. Did a double take as well, thinking a used gun had somehow found its way into the new gun case. For $799 it does come with night sights, so I guess you'd be looking at about $650-700 with standard contrast sights. I have zero interest in hammer-fired DAO pistols, and if I did I could probably find a comparable 10-15 year old one in good condition for $400-450, although the trick might be to find one in 9mm as the ones I tend to see are .40 cal.

If S&W can continue to make these 3d Gen pistols for LE, I think they could make and sell a small but profitable number to a select crowd of S&W fans -- especially in TSW format -- for almost as much as, for example, the all-metal, hammer-fired classic Sigs (e.g., P226, P229). I think I'd pay $600 for a new one...

Why not? They are, after all, great pistols. And some people want to buy new. Now, I gotta go, because I am busy looking for a vintage 908... or a 3914... or even a 5906... it amazes me how many older pistols were never seriously shot or used by their owners... gotta keep looking...

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S&W Rover

The NYPD no longer offers the 5946 to new recruits. They stopped offering it approximately 2 years ago. The 3953tsw & 3914dao are still authorized off duty pistols as long as you can find one. If you were authorized to carry the 5946 before they discontinued offering it you are allowed to carry it until you retire.

This being said there is a noticeable difference in the MA and ME built 5946. If you are going to get it I would be careful to find out what location it was manufactured at.

The Maine built demo/contract overrun guns a few people here have look gorgeous. Is that the case for all of them?

Mechanically more problems with the Maine production line in my experience.

Searching dug up this thread. I found BRAND NEW 5946's in both of the Cabela's here in Utah. I had to double take seeing new 3rd gens. They are very sexy. I'd be all over one if they weren't DAO!!! I figured they were former NYPD guns because they love the work out triggers.

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Matt H.

Still a few seasoned police here in Seattle with 5906s as well.

I saw one at a PA Cabelas. I already have a 5946 so I didn't feel a need to check it out.

Don't shy away from them, the DAO 5946 has a very sweet , short trigger stroke and I shoot very well with mine. I also liked it so much I found a "KPD" marked 4046. I'm the opposite of most here, I hate DA/SA autochuckers. It must be my early love of wheelguns that made me a natural fan of DAO hammer fired pistols. I just love them. No safeties, no decockers, consistent trigger pull, no "long pull first shot, then SA shooting".

The 5946 has to be one of the most well balanced, sweetest shooting and best looking 9mm pistols ever made. My Dad has a 5906 and it's just as good, I just prefer my 5946 if I had to choose.

I bought Hogues for it, but didn't want to take away that classic S&W 3rd Gen look. Plus the Delrin grips work just fine for me.

Attached Images

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It looks like Cabela's has a stock of brand new ones online for $599.

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Reach out and touch someone.

something is fishy here with these 5946 surfacing everynow and then.... lol

Well, since "they don't make em like they used to and all new Smith products are junk" ..................