5906, Good Deal? Update w/ pics

[brjr51]

Always been a revolver guy, so I'm a relative newcomer to the beauty of S&W 2nd and 3rd gen autos. Having discovered them, they're like potato chips, can't settle for one. I'm hooked.
To get to the point, I've been keeping my eye out for them. Today after the range, I stopped in a small gun shop on the way home. There in the case was a 5906, looked very clean so I had the shop keep pull it out. Says he just got it in trade from an old gent who bought it new and never used it, maybe put 100 rounds through it since. It definitely looked legit, just a couple of tiny handling marks but other than that it was spotless. Original box, docs and two mags. Had a price of $400 but I offered $380 and after thinking about it he said OK. I think I did alright. I know there's nothing rare about 5906's, but this one is really clean with the original goodies. Looks like an earlier one also, according to the box label it shipped around the middle of 1989.

Was not planning on buying another gun today, but I couldn't leave it. Now to wait out Illinois' marvelous 72 hour jail so I can go back and pick it up. Will post pics then.

Just got out of Illinois jail, looks even better now that I had a chance to give it a good going over.

[RalphK22]

I don't know what others may think, but I say you did very well. I paid $350 OTD last year for a early production police trade in, hooked trigger guard, non Novak sights. I am not a big 9mm fan, but the 5906 is really growing on me. I think it is like the model 10 of the S&W semi world, ever one should have one.

[jsbethel]

Very well indeed - a pistol that early may still have a pre-recall grip so check for the dimple on the bottom. If there isn't one, have S&W replace it.

[SOTVEN]

Originally Posted by brjr51

I know there's nothing rare about 5906's.

Very wrong!!
Try ordering a new 5906 from the factory. Exactly!! What is out there, is all that will ever be. And good speciments? Even more rare!!! You did great friend!!! enjoy your new pistol, and welcome to the 3rd gem addiction!!

[StephenWhoDat]

As a fellow 2nd and 3rd gen addict who probably has way too many of them, I think you did great there. I would have jumped on that deal. So good job, man! I hope, for your sake, that your addiction doesn't get as bad as mine!

[TNZ71]

Good Price on a Great Gun. Congrats!

[oldman10mm]

Echoing the above posts, very good buy !

[kraynky]

Yep, ya done good, real good. Now we're waiting with you, for pictures. I have 1/2 dozen mags for a 5906, so I hope to find a deal like that someday.

[oldman10mm]

They're out there. People,shops,stores that don't look at auction sites or are engaged on a forum think that a gun no longer in production won't be desirable,hence a great price for us.

[GaryS]

Most shops don't value Third Gen guns as we do, but a few know that there are eager collectors out there. Especially the double stack magazine guns in magazine restricted states. A 5906 can go for close to $500.00 in MA.

OP, you did well to find that gun at that price. My suggestion, as always is to to clean and lube it, and put a new recoil spring in it.

Then shoot it until your hand hurts! Which will be a lot of shots because that all stainless beast eats up 9mm recoil like nobody's business.

Originally Posted by oldman10mm

They're out there. People,shops,stores that don't look at auction sites or are engaged on a forum think that a gun no longer in production won't be desirable,hence a great price for us.

[Lightfoot4]

Sounds like a pretty good price. A S&W 5906 is my main carry. Love it!

[Derosa]

Nope. Don't believe it happened. Without pictures, it is just another Hemingway...

[rwsmith]

Because third gens or parts aren't made anymore, they are getting to be a wanted item, even for just a parts gun.

I hope I can land a few before they get to be 'scarce' or even (gasp) RARE!

I can see it now on Gunbroker:

S&W mod 5906...RARE!!! Starting bid $1200.

[rwsmith]

Originally Posted by Derosa

Nope. Don't believe it happened. Without pictures, it is just another Hemingway...

As in.......Tall Tales???

I could not reach the .505 Gibbs that I had on my diving belt, so my only choice was to wrestle the 12 foot hammerhead and hope to get in a position to choke it.

[brjr51]

Originally Posted by jsbethel

Very well indeed - a pistol that early may still have a pre-recall grip so check for the dimple on the bottom. If there isn't one, have S&W replace it.

No dimple on the grip. What was the recall for?

[jsbethel]

Originally Posted by brjr51

No dimple on the grip. What was the recall for?

Here is the text of the recall -

SMITH & WESSON
MODEL 3904, 3906, 3913, 3913LS, 3914, 3914LS,
1006, 1066,
4506, 4516, 4516-1,
5903, 5904, 5906, 5946,
6904, 6906 & 6946, PISTOLS

RECALL: Smith & Wesson has shipped over 300,000 Third generation Pistols. We have had a very small number or reports where a dropped pistol resulted in a broken grip resulting in a failure to fire by releasing mainspring tension. Resultant testing and review have shown that a pistol dropped at a specific angle can cause a fracture of the grip.
As a result of these occurrences and our testing, we have made a change in the grip material to a thermoplastic alloy of increased durability. This new material, which is now being used on all current production models, can be identified by a dimple on the bottom of the grip, next to the large opening. Additionally, the blue product box has a green dot sticker on the label end.
We believe it unlikely that you will experience any problem with your original grips. However, in order to safeguard our customers from the possibility of such a malfunction, we will make available, free of charge, an easily installed replacement grip. Please inspect your pistol and if you have a model listed below that does not have a small dimple next to the large opening, please write us including your model and serial number or call 800-331-0852. If you prefer, you can send your pistol to a Smith & Wesson Warranty Station where we will replace the grip for you.

Smith & Wesson's development process is a continuing one. We are constantly striving both to develop new products and improve existing products. We are committed to building the safest, most reliable, finest performing firearms possible.

[Sevens]

What's most interesting to me about that official recall is the opening statement: at the time of the issued recall, S&W had already shipped beyond 300,000 pistols! And this was only a couple years in to 3rd Gen production which spanned more than 20 years.

It sure would be fantastic to have a numerical breakdown of models production. My guess is that the flagship 5906 was likely produced in the largest supply.

[oysterer]

Very nice, me wanting one. Is that a steel frame or aluminum? And if aluminum, which ones have steel and how to find one in all steel 9mm?

[TNZ71]

Originally Posted by oysterer

Very nice, me wanting one. Is that a steel frame or aluminum? And if aluminum, which ones have steel and how to find one in all steel 9mm?

OP’s 5906 Pistol is steel, the alloy version is the 5903

[Apec]

I prefer the round trigger guard guns, but that is a great deal.

[nll401]

Originally Posted by jsbethel

Here is the text of the recall -

SMITH & WESSON
MODEL 3904, 3906, 3913, 3913LS, 3914, 3914LS,
1006, 1066,
4506, 4516, 4516-1,
5903, 5904, 5906, 5946,
6904, 6906 & 6946, PISTOLS

RECALL: Smith & Wesson has shipped over 300,000 Third generation Pistols. We have had a very small number or reports where a dropped pistol resulted in a broken grip resulting in a failure to fire by releasing mainspring tension. Resultant testing and review have shown that a pistol dropped at a specific angle can cause a fracture of the grip.
As a result of these occurrences and our testing, we have made a change in the grip material to a thermoplastic alloy of increased durability. This new material, which is now being used on all current production models, can be identified by a dimple on the bottom of the grip, next to the large opening. Additionally, the blue product box has a green dot sticker on the label end.
We believe it unlikely that you will experience any problem with your original grips. However, in order to safeguard our customers from the possibility of such a malfunction, we will make available, free of charge, an easily installed replacement grip. Please inspect your pistol and if you have a model listed below that does not have a small dimple next to the large opening, please write us including your model and serial number or call 800-331-0852. If you prefer, you can send your pistol to a Smith & Wesson Warranty Station where we will replace the grip for you.

Smith & Wesson's development process is a continuing one. We are constantly striving both to develop new products and improve existing products. We are committed to building the safest, most reliable, finest performing firearms possible.

When I checked with S&W for replacement grips for my 6906 (about a year ago), they did not have any. Of course, might be different for the 5906.

But I did find grips at Brownell's; so check there if you have the need.

[brjr51]

Originally Posted by nll401

When I checked with S&W for replacement grips for my 6906 (about a year ago), they did not have any. Of course, might be different for the 5906.

But I did find grips at Brownell's; so check there if you have the need.

I called S&W right after this original post and a week later had a new set of grips for this 5906. But they were out of grips for my 3906.