A few years ago I bought a 5906 polsurp gun from a pawn shop. It's got the original mags, and is scratched up. Definitely a used duty gun. It shoots and functions flawlessly but I just don't know a whole lot about the line. The front sight on it is pretty worn and has no "dot" and I'm legitimately considering putting some white out on it. The rear has the raised sights, and it has a square trigger guard with a TCHxxxx serial. I think I got the gun for $180.

If anyone can clue me in on how old this thing is, where to get parts and mags, new (preferably night sights that will fit) sights, etc I'd be extremely grateful. I'll update this post later with photos of the gun since I know everyone enjoys oogling.

Trijicon makes night-sights that fit. Surprised that a police trade-in didn’t have them.

Welcome to the forum from the Ozarks of S/W Missouri via Chicago.
All I can tell you is the 5906 is a great gun and you didn't lose any money on that pistol.

It's no longer supported by S&W, so parts are where you find them.

The 5906 are part of S&W 3rd Gen classic's. They were made between 1988-2010. They were very popular with many LE agencies. Excellent pistols, built like tanks & will digest anything! S&W Gen pistols are some of the finest pistols ever made & those are not my words! Parts for many Gen pistols are becoming harder & harder to find!

Keep your eye out on GB as they offer parts from time to time.

Thanks for the welcome and the replies! Here's some photos of it :









So with the TCH serial, what year is it likely from? Its a TCH 2xxx.

That's an early pistol (88-89) and was subject to a grip recall. That may not be an issue given that it was likely a LE pistol but make sure the grip has a dimple on the bottom. If not, S&W owes you an updated grip.

Sights - SA01 BNTNS - Trijicon, Inc.

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5904BUTTa.jpg (6.0 KB, 118 views)

Thanks much! And I just looked, no dimple. Do I have to contact them for one even though this thing is 30 years old almost and I sincerely doubt they still support it?

They still honor the recall - I had a pre-recall grip for a 3913 replaced by S&W just a few weeks ago.

Not to derail the thread, however I do have a question for Jsbethel. I just checked my 3913 & realized that it to must be pre-recall. Did you just call S&W and let them know or what? It looks like I'm going to have to do this as well!

I've seen where many people have success just calling. However, I have had several replaced and always send the pre-recall grip back to S&W with a note including the text of the recall so there is no confusion.

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One last question please. How long was the turnaround?

Much thanks.

I believe it was less than two weeks. All of this of course depends on if S&W has the particular grip in stock - I usually inquire through email about this. I have extras so my pistol wasn't sitting around disabled.

Sometimes it's easier to buy a new one from Midway or the likes.

I couldn't agree more, that is absolutely true. But, $20 from Midway or free from S&W? I'm all for ease of effort but I'm a tightwad first.

Thanks again Jsbethel. I'm gonna reach out to them tomorrow.

I shot them an email a few hours ago. If they don't have any, I might just save and get those wood grips from KSD. The pistol could probably use a complete refurb though.

I need to call them about my 5906 and 6906.
Both are STG and no dimple on the grip.

To the OP: I can tell you that they are great pistols that will feed anything, including a mag full of empty brass.
I can also tell you that I love the look of the square trigger guard versions. They have a SIG-esque look, with more style.
Throw in the adjustable sights you have, with the big, ugly "ears" on each side of the sight and I'm drooling.
Your version just screams "duty gun".
They are great guns. Hell for stout and reliable.
That's about all I have. No help at all, eh?

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What would Jim Cirillo do?

I forgot to note this & just realized something. A few years back I installed Hogue rubber grips on my 3913. Does this make any difference?

Possibly, but since you say it shoots and functions flawlessly, I would just put out $2 for a new recoil spring and go from there.

It just indicates to me that your 3913 won't be sitting around disabled while the original grip is replaced.

I just assume it could probably use a whole spring kit since it's so old and I have no idea of its maintenance history besides my cleaning it after every shoot.

I wanted to gather more information on it though before I started thinking and whatnot. Eventually after I get new sights and whatnot and get a barrel or two for replacement parts, I want to EDC this gun.

It's your call - I would also replace the magazine springs (and if the current followers are black, replace with orange).

Smith & Wesson Recoil Spring S&W 5903TSW 5906TSW - MPN: 060480000

Smith & Wesson Mag Spring 15-Round S&W 5903TSW - MPN: 062650000

Smith & Wesson Mag Follower S&W 5903TSW 5906TSW - MPN: 239440000

I take it that with the Hogue rubber grips, it should be OK?

Forgive me Skoll for the hijack!😢

I think I'm going to grab a Wolff gunsprings service pak and buy the followers separate. https://www.gunsprings.com/SMITH%20&...D58/dID261#905

Thanks for all your advice!

It's ok, man. I don't mind at all.

I've got that same gun, and I really like it. Unfortunately it's away at S&W right now, while they deal with a failure to extract issue. One of the first problems that I had was finding factory mags. Even used ones weren't easily found. Midway occasionally stocks these. You have to sign up for a notification email. When it comes in, you have to act quickly, since they won't last long. The mec-gar mags work okay while you're waiting for the factory mags.

It's a nice gun, but I don't think I'd want to carry that much weight all day. IMHO there's many choices that would be better for all day carry. Mine sees a lot of use around the property for dispatching critters.

Don't use White Out on the front sight. Go to Hobby Lobby or something similar and buy a bottle of Testor's Gloss White paint. Get a couple toothpicks (non flavored) and some acetone and you're all set. Put a couple drops of acetone in the paint dimple to degrease it, wipe it out. Do it again and let it dry. Put the slide in a vise so the rear face of the front sight is horizontal and use a tooth pick to fill the dimple with gloss white. Let dry.

It is a early 5906 with the square trigger guard. IIRC, S&W used up all the 659 frames when transitioning to the 5906 after which it went to the round trigger guard.

There are so many, square 5906s out there, there really is no additional value added for these over the round trigger guard.

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ANTIQUESMITHS
LM1300 SWHF425

I would point out that the MecGar magazines work just fine and are readily available at a very reasonable price. I have both OEM and MG magazines and have yet to notice any difference.

Other than the 17 round MG mags being pretty neat.

Though, in fairness, I'm not putting 20K rounds downrange every year, so it's not like I'm super stressing the mags or the guns.

S&W 59 and 5900 Series 910, 915 & 659 9mm 15 RD blued MGSW5915B [MGSW5915B] - $20.95 : Greg Cote, LLC

Yesterday I emailed S&W about the grip recall even though I have the Hogue grips on them, and today I received a response indicating that the part would be forthcoming.

Great customer support!

Thanks for this tip, I'll do that and let it hold until I order those Trijicons.

That's fine, I'm not a collector and the "value" of the gun is in it's function to me. I appreciate that it's virtually a relic now but these things are tools first and foremost and as long as it still works, it still has a home with me.

Likewise, they got back to me as well and sent one out. Also answered my inquiry, my 5906 was manufactured in December, 1988. I'm only 13 months older than it. I wonder when they started full production.

Just received my recall grip today in the mail. Great customer support as that turnaround was less than a week!

I thought they only went to square trigger guards with the 5906. My 659 has a round trigger guard A814XXX.

Ok, ladies and gents.. I have another question about my 5906 I feel only you guys are knowledgeable enough to answer, because for all my googling I was not able to find a direct answer.

As I was asking earlier, I want to get new sights for my 5906, and mine is a first run model so it has the wings. I want to keep the wings if possible and avoid any milling of the gun. Given how these are set up, do I have any options at all or am I stuck with these factory rear sights?









The guns 30th birthday is this December and I plan on getting it professionally cleaned and serviced. I already have new grips, a complete Wolff spring pack, a gun smith I trust to do the work. I just need to know about these sights.

You're pretty much stuck with the sights as they are with the Trijicon upgrade. Millett used to make a sight that fit in that rear dovetail but the trade off was that you had to mill the front sight!

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By Trijicon upgrade, do you mean buy a pair of Trijicon SA01s or something and just get a straight replacement? Are the rears even the same size as the factory stock?

Correct - get the SA01. Concerning the rear sight, the blade portion is the only part replaced.

Alrighty then, thank you! Hopefully come December I'll update this thread again with new pictures of my 5906. I really appreciate your help.

If you really like the 5906 then check the aluminum alloy frame 5903 for carry. Ten ounces lighter

Those look like they could be night sights on the OP's gun to me. Clean off the rears with a q-tip and acetone and look for little glass (sapphire) disks where the dots are. If so call Trijicon and have them relamped for $57.

Hey, sorry for the late reply.

Thank you but I looked, I don't see any lamps in there and while I DO wear glasses, I'm not THAT blind. I'm going to get the SA-01 sights but I'm going to keep all the old stuff because I hate to throw something that old away. One of these years the 5900 series will be legit antiques and historical objects so it makes sense to me to keep all the original parts.

I would like to get 2 more factory mags for mine, and a spare barrel. I guess probably should get new springs (1988 model) I think.

FYI, I just emailed them a pic of my serial number and a pic of the bottom of the grip. New grip in about 10 days.

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Pine_Worker
Ex-LEO, NRA Life

Why would you replace black followers with orange ones?

The orange follower allows the early 14 round magazine to accept one more round.

you can buy new mags from Midway when in stock or find used. Doubt if you can find a barrel unless some one is parting out a pistol. Beware of the barrels sold by midway,they are rejects with 50/50 chance they can be milled to fit. Wolff springs has recoil springs and service packs

Dawson Precision makes front sights for the 5906...

https://dawsonprecision.com/smith-we...-front-sights/

I would seriously consider sending the 5906 to S&W Performance Center and have the entire pistol bead blasted... Performance Center(R) Precision Gunsmithing | Smith & Wesson

Nice guns....the OP's pistol looks like it lived a hard life!
I've been searching for 3rd gen 9mm Smith for a few months.
They are hard to find now. No one is trading them in anymore?

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S&W BG380, S&W 915 9mm