Well last night I could not sleep. I woke up around 0100 and turned on the TV and picked up the iPad. I saw an ad for S&W 5946’s at Cabela’s. From the reviews they said they were NOS with three 15 round magazines and night sights. So I checked the local (ok well a few hours away) Cabela’s and they were in stock in the store. So after getting coffee at 0500 and making breakfast I headed out about 0830. I got there about 1100 and spied them in the gun case. $599. As I waited my turn I noticed they had two in different cases, one had a Houlton, ME roll mark and one had a Springfield, MA rollmark. When I got my turn I inspected the Houlton ME one and said I’d like one. She said she had just sold one earlier and would head out back and grab another one. She came back and said although the computer said they had two she could only locate one; the one I looked at. I told her there was another in a different case and she said “oh that’s all we have left then”. I asked if I could inspect one real good, she said yes, so I ran over the ME one and told her I’d take it. $643.49 after the Governor's share and I was on my way home.

The trigger is awesome. I really like DAO pistols, and this is better than my Sig DAK’s (and my S&W 3953TSW). The night sights are bright, the rear being dated ’14 and the front’13. I’m kind of surprised it came with the straight backstrap as most 5906’s I have seen (including my own) have the curved. I like the feel of it though. I never realized the front was so much narrower than the 4006. This has a slanted dustcover as opposed to my 4006 with a straight one. It is also narrower. Makes it feel great in the hand. Points very nice. It also does not have the magazine disconnect or the loaded chamber indicator in the barrel hood.

As a fan of third gen smiths I am glad I found this. For the price I think it is well worth it. I am on vacation all week so hopefully I will get out to put a few rounds through it (along with my CHP 4006).
















5946, 4006 CSP, 4006TSW CHP











My two Houlton, ME guns. Both bought NIB within the last year. Most likely produced before that lol

Great post. Thanks for sharing, and great pictures.

I'm imposing a "no new gun" embargo on myself for the foreseeable future (sigh) but I'd kinda like to get my hands on some a' that Houlton goodness. I'll be honest, the elongated rear end of the 5946 isn't really for me, in terms of proportions... but the gun looks amazing otherwise.

And I gotta say... that 3953 looks sharp too. I remember seeing those NIB on GB for, like, the past year or so. Haven't seen any recently.

If Smith still has the tooling for these in Houlton...

Why don't they sell them anymore? Perhaps they underestimate the interest. Honestly, if they did a slight facelift--repositioned the guns and incorporated some minor upgrades (4th gen, if you will)--I think they'd have a popular product. There's renewed interest in DA pistols, and Beretta pretty much owns this "DA/SA renaissance" with the PX4 and the Wilson 92s. Not that those aren't awesome (I own a few Berettas) but I'd definitely buy a new production Smith.

I might even lift my personal arms embargo...

Sorry. Tangent over.

Oh I agree about the overhang. It drove me nuts for years! Never wanted to touch one. But I'm glad I did. The trigger is pure wet sex

The 3953TSW does not have as good of a trigger (it has a "hitch") but it is still my main warm weather carry. Love that thing.

What was the deal on these? Were they a special run for Cabelas, or what? Mine has a fired case dated 11/12/2014 and Is a Springfield gun.

Hi, mbinky!

Did you notice any differences between the Maine 5946 and the Massachusetts 5946 other than the laser engraving on the slide?

John

I did not. The only thing I noticed (and I only gave the Springfield one a quick look ) was that the laser engraving on the slide looked lighter and only on the bottom line. They both had the engraved SN in the "routered out" oval on the right side.

It took me back cause when I was cruising the gun cases I spotted the Houlton gun first. It had a red "sale" tag on it. So I asked to see it and when she went out back I wandered around and saw the other 5946. It had no red sale tag and was listed at $799, but it was the identical gun, 5946, but it had "Springfield MA" on both the slide and the frame. She pulled it out of the case briefly when she noted they had no more in the back but I honestly wanted a ME gun so I asked to be able to inspect it so the Springfield gun was put back.

From my brief trips around the internet last night I thought they were all Houlton guns. But I did find a Springfield marked one on GB today, so there must have been a break in the run when they changed plants.

Just checked, my fired case is 11/17/14

Wet sex, huh? I thought I had to go to a different kind of a site for that

But that sounds awesome. There's a 5946TSW that's been in local gun shop forever. The trigger on it is amazing. Interestingly, it doesn't have the overhang. I guess overhang-y ones have more of half-cock situation going on? Not exactly sure of the functional difference, but seems like great triggers either way.

Don't quote me, but I believe the TSW versions of the DAO pistols used a different style lockwork. More trigger travel. You can tell by the slide overhang. Like my 3953TSW has less, so it has a less smooth trigger. the 5946 has more, it has the different trigger.

Awesome,I like you collection.

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Life is short,live it fully.

I'm very interested in this statement. I've thought about getting one of these but find it hard to believe the trigger is better than the SIG DAK. All of the DAO third gens I've owned were much, much heavier than the DAK.

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Centennial Every Day

That is a beautiful gun. I thought S&W had stopped making all of the third-generation pistols. The 5906 and 4006 are classics but they are heavy compared to the 92 and 226. But 92s and Sigs are still quite popular, and many people are like me and prefer a DA auto for defensive use. I'd like to see them bring back the aluminum framed models. And the 1006/4506. Those massive guns were just looked amazing!

they didn't really "bring them back".. from reports this was new old stock that had been sitting in a warehouse for years due to New York stiffing them on a deal a decade and a half ago.

I'm trying to find an excuse not to get one.

It wouldn't be the first time NYC stiffed a company on a contract and not just in firearms. Mack no longer makes fire trucks because of the city and an ambulance manufacturer named Modulance went under after building a large number of ambulances for NYC EMS in the mid 1980s. The city refused to pay for "defective" ambulances built exactly to the city's unique specifications.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

Maybe a little urban legend mixed in there, the 5946 was still one of the choices for newly issued guns up until the past three years or so. It is no longer offered as a choice for new recruits, so it is possible these are unsold extras from that contract. I have never seen the straight backstrap grip on an NYPD 5946. Two other possible indicators of NYPD guns are no magazine disconnect (slide is not machined with the hole to fit one) and factory installed night sights.

Dang it, blinky. Great pictures. You're going to make me get one of those 5946s.

I have one of these Cabelas 5946's as well. An awesome handgun. I love everything about it except the very heavy trigger. Gunsprings.com has a reduced rate trigger spring. I plan on installing one of these. Looks very easy to install.

On a side note, I'd love to aquire one of those 3953's if I could find a new one.

Wrong. NYPD issue 5946's were available in curved or straight grips. It was officer's choice. Pick one of each up, along with the two
Other service weapons, and pick one in 60 seconds.

I luckily snagged one as well--this is what any objective person would call an 'incredible' find as I know of no-one of whom even remotely imagined finding one of these NIB. Occasionally on gunbroker or the like one might find out-of-production NOS or perhaps even some newly assembled pistols from unused parts laying around. But 'new' as in the 'new' I would expect with a 'new' M&P is still amazing to me (perhaps it harkens me back to my days as a teenager seeing the 59/6900 Series at the range while with Dad or even in tv/movies). Great Fourth of July to be sure as I picked mine up last Sunday.
I cannot possibly post pics of the same quality of those previous as they were absolutely gorgeous but I will post mine nonetheless just to reiterate for the naysayers that think they're used as they most assuredly aren't:

I am surprised no one has made any further mention of the 2013/2014 dates on the sights and the 2014 date on the fired casing.

I find it INCREDIBLY interesting.

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Un-Reconstructed Southerner

I also bought a Houlton 5946 definitely NIB w/ 3 mags also 2014 night sights and 2014 fired case in envelope. Paid $550 for mine.

Soon as I got it home I swapped slides with my 6946 and made a SSV in stainless as well as a "long slide" 6946 ! Just because I could.



digiroc

I would have done the same thing

Honestly, I tried to swap slides/frames with my 4516-2 and my 645. Didn't work. But I think the main--if not the only--reason is that the guide rods are different thicknesses.

Seriously, if these were 5906s with the same shiny, NIB, Houlton awesomeness... I don't think I could not buy one. Thank god they're not.

It's been mentioned, although maybe not in this specific thread. So far, we've seen both 5946 and 3953TSWs with fairly recent production dates. Plus, there has been at least on 3914TSW shown in a thread here that had a 2012 production date.

There might be some other recent production guns out there as well. Who knows what's lurking in the vaults at S&W?

Well, someone no doubt knows, but they aren't spilling the beans.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

Good point. We need an insider.

I remember reading something to the effect that Smith finally said enough, and 3rd gen production has actually, really stopped (might have been on this thread, actually). But who knows for sure.

I just seems weird to let such a prolific, well-regarded family of firearms... cease to exist. Seems like there's still some kind of profit, for someone, somehow in those guns. Maybe they could sell off the machinery to someone else?

You're right--I did see it in a different thread with similar subject matter but not here.

Still pinching myself in that for $599 I picked up a NIB manufactured in 2014 5900 Series pistol!
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NRA Life Member
“A free people ought...to be armed..."
―George Washington

When I was shopping around trying to find a used 6946 in 2014, one local dealer showed me a (then) recent production 3914 DAO and told me at that time that 3rd Gen production at Houlton had just been shut down, some employees laid off and the surplus equipment and parts were being sent back to Springfield, and he did not know when production might restart, said it could be months or years before getting more pistols. I thought at the time it was just a sales pitch to get me to buy the 3914 right on the spot, but still have yet to hear of anyone with a 2015-2017 manufactured gun.

As much as it would be nice to add a brand spanking new-in-box 3rd Gen to the collection, and Massachusetts restrictions & obstacles aside, I'm just not that enthusiastic about the few models that have appeared so far. So far, I can do better with "slightly used" models in near-ANIB condition.

In particular, the Model 5946 is a bit too heavy for me in a full-size 9mm DAO pistol. I had an opportunity to buy a used one at a very good price a couple years back, but I rejected it. I prefer the Model 5943, of which I own two and would even add a third in top condition at the right price.

The railed Model 3953TSW, which should have been made MA-legal by S&W years ago but never was, fails to interest me due to the homely mustache rail and the "Wimpy profile" standardized slide. I would much rather have a used plain Jane Model 3953 or a used pre-rail Model 3953.

So in that regard, I guess my 3rd Gen collection will never really be 100% complete (as if that were ever a real possibility anyway).

New to the forum! Had to have one myself! Ordered one and it arrived - Houlton made with one magazine. It is sitting in Post Falls while they ship one from Kalispell. Called Kalispell and they had one in stock: Springfield made with 3 mags! Can't wait to shoot it! If you're planning on ordering one of these, I suggest calling around to see what's in the box. There are some variances in the stock.

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Reach out and touch someone.

I bought one of these too. It is my understanding that they were left over Canadian RMP. Cabelas bought what they sent back to Smith. I was hoping to get one of the ME guns, when I got to Cabelas all they had was 1 left and it was a MA gun. Still tickled to get a brand new 3rd Gen. WV still uses 4566TSW, waiting to see when they change and the left overs hit the market, but part of me wants them to keep using 3rd Gens.

Just recently started buying some 3rd gens....Reading this post I thought I would check gun broker...Just bought a NEW 5946 no box with 3 mags for $400 shipped...Its addictive...

There is something sexy about stainless and is a must have for me!
I can't wait to pick up my new 5946 from Cabela's...
along with ammo and holster for this new find...
Really nice gun from the looks of it and what I have read..
Maybe I can order custom grips for this in camouflage ...

I got my 2013 Houlton 5946 from Gander Mt for less than $400 and about a month before announcing they were going under. No night sights, but came in excellent condition.

There are some people who consider the Springfield made 3rd Gens better made than the Houlton ones. I have no experience with any Houlton made guns, so can't form an opinion on them.

I think I'd be happy with a 3rd Gen made in either, but I'm easy to please.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

Picked up mine today. Dated 11/17/14 on the spent casing envelope. Springfield slide. I can't wait to go shoot it.

I use the 5946 on duty and the 3953 off. The 5946 is a bit heavy but great gun.

I picked one up from a gun shop in NY . It was a NYPD gun mint with no box , still have it and picked up the NYPD Cobra gun black leather holster for it . This makes me want to get it out .

It just occurred to me, upon re-reading this thread, why I was able to snag a NEW barrel for my 5906 -- with the new style lettering as shown in the OP's pics (e.g., not roll-marked with "9mm Parabellum" like the original but rather "9mm" cut into the hood of the barrel, apparently with a laser). The reason: production of new 9mm barrels for 3d Gen pistols continued at least into 2014!

It's a shame that S&W doesn't continue to make one or two models of 3d Gen pistols -- I would argue for a 3913 and perhaps something in aluminum like a 915 -- for the premium or connoisseur market. Would I buy one for "SIG SAUER prices"? Yes, if I thought it would be fully factory-supported with parts and repairs for the rest of my active shooting life. Ah well.

I believe that the NYPD 3914 DAOs and these RMP 5946's are from the last of the 3d Gen production S&W did. (By the way, I read somewhere 'on the internet' that S&W moved the machinery for all-metal pistols from Houlton, ME back to Springfield, MA).

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S&W Rover

Around here, seems there is not a lot of interest in the 3 gen pistols. I've had a NIB 5967 with total production of 477 pieces at my dealers for weeks, lot of tire kickers, no sale. $750. asking price. I'll wait a few weeks, then it's going to the range with me.

Hate to resurrect an old thread but I just scored a 5946. It was one of the Cabelas guns sold last year to a local who fired 100 rounds through it and decided to swap it to me. It's a Houlton gun with 3 mags, original box, lock and owners manual. Fired casing is 2013, sights are 2013 and 2014.

This is my first 3rd gen DAO so looking forward to trying this out. I have Wolf hammer springs ordered to reduce the trigger pull weight.

My first Sig was a P250 compact which is DAO but less trigger pull weight so I'm hoping the 5946 will feel similar after changing the hammer spring.

Makes me want a 5906 now.....

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Nick
OCGA, ARS WB4SQI

I carried a 5946 in the 90’s. Felt a lot safer carrying it with 46 rounds (16rds + 2 15rd Mags) as opposed to the Model 10 with 24 rounds ( 6 + 2 speed loaders + 6 on loops) gun was accurate and the trigger was similar to the revolver it replaced.

I just bought a Brinks 5946TSW & NYPD 5946. I can tell the trigger will take some getting used to. The two clicks on the trigger release throw me off.

Installed a Wolf 15 pound spring Saturday morning but can't tell. much difference in trigger pull. I agree, the reset is weird having the two clicks for reset. I'll see if I can measure the pull and post it here later this week.

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Nick
OCGA, ARS WB4SQI