New Friends,

I've been offered Model 669 & Model 6906 pistols in several grades ( from NRA Good to "Near Mint") by a total of 5 vendors & at "attractive prices".

As the two model of 9x19mm pistols LOOK about the same & appear to be almost the same physical size, can anyone tell me (other than when they were made by S&W) what the FUNCTIONAL DIFFERENCES between the 2 models are?

yours, tex

The 669 uses two grip panels and feels blocky. The 6906 uses a one piece grip and later models have Novak sights. The back strap area on 2nd gen has a metal filler whereas the grip on 3rd gen is rap around plastic grip.


I like 3rd gen 6904/6906 better than second gen 469/669. Most 3rd gen pistols came with ambidextrous safety decocker. Both generations use the same magazines.

Yes! The 6906 is the evolution of the 669, so it is exactly what replaced the 669. You get the ambi safety (only some 669’s had them) and you get a much better rear sight in the Novak lo-mount. The front sight is also upgraded, a dovetailed modern sight and one that you can upgrade if you so choose.

Those are the obvious upgrades... less easy to spot are the ergonomic improvements. If you hold each pistol in your hands, you can see and feel where S&W made them fit your hands better and knocked off and rounded some sharp edges.

If the price is same or nearly the same, the 6906 is a much better value. As “collectibility” goes, it’s only about nostalgia, both models were made in volume and aren’t really much interest to collectors, although the 669 was made in shorter supply than it’s brother the 469.

Personal experience as I had both..... the 469 was S&W attempt to mass produce a commercial version of custom guns built from cut down 39 in the 70s. Guns like the ASP, Trapper and...........Scorpion. A 12+1 compact 9mm was unheard of........ "Wonder-9s"

It was an ok gun IMO. But the grips felt like you were holding a 2x4. The 6906/6904; with the improvements written about above, are the third generation Smith autos..... along with the single stack 3913/3914 many consider them the best concealed carry 9mms ever built.

Been carry them for over 30 years now....... only thing better are the Performance Center's Shorty-9s .... hand built 69xxs that shoot like target guns.

Greetings K3csa,

Okay, you're now an old friend, especially when you've managed to get some of S&WF's heavyweights to step into the limelight from the shelter of otherwise safe and peaceful cocoons . . . or might that be "outhouses."

Oh, it's all so confusing.

Which is likely the reason I'm a lightweight.

One of my prized and beloved 6906's was seized by the TSA a few years back. It's a story for another day. Unless, of course, I already recounted it herein.

Allow me to add: The 669 (of which I've also a couple or three) began production in 1985. Ceased production when the 6906 cranked up in 1988.

The 6906 began its run as noted, above, and ceased in 1999 (yes, 11 years. Or, might that be 12?)

(Oh, it's all so confusing.)

(Nevermind.)

The NYPD seems to like the two models enough that they convinced S&W to run some close variations of the latter every now and again - although it is reasonable to presume such no longer happens at all. Unfortunately, NYPD doesn't take out full-page NY Times advertisements telling us of its plans or, for that matter, non-plans.

They also long ago lost my telephone number.

And, yes, I carried 469 insurance. It darn sure was helpful given the rats with whom I once - long ago, far away, life was simple, close your eyes; Remember?) would hang.

Later - DC

DCW, et.al.,

THANKS Gents.

Based on all of your comments, I'm going to call a vendor & BUY a PAIR of Model 6906 pistols.
(One for my lady to carry & one for me. - I'm a retired soldier/LEO. Jui Hui is a professional woman & is "pending" receiving her LTC from TX DPS = BOTH of us will EDC these pistols.)

Fwiw, ALL of the 669 & 6906 that the vendors have are equipped with ambi-safeties & each Model 669 is 10 bucks more than the Model 6906, in the same "surplus condition category".

Addenda: I sorely tempted to buy a third pistol in "shooter grade" for the "onboard kit" for our saltwater fishing boat.
(The "shooter grade" pistols simply have more holster wear & are each 40 bucks less $$$$$.)

THANKS AGAIN, tex

I chose the 469 for my secondary carry — I chose it over the 6906 only due to the amazingly low price I was able to get. If the price of the 469/669 and 6904/6906 are anywhere near similar, the 3rd Gen beats it in every direction for sure.

My 469 fills a role and works for me. I have about $275 in it. I would prefer a 6906 but this 469 works perfectly well.

And big laughs at DCW and that nutty post. I want to hear the story!

Let us know how you like your 6906. I received the same tempting emails from vendors and have ordered the 6906 to replace my Shield 9mm.

FWIW ......2 years ago in a LGS I got a 6906 anib for $325 and a like new 6904 for $260..... average price $292........ with 2 and 3 mags.

The cheapest I have seen them, and the only time I have seen them in the wild, was at a gun show out near Philly last week, and they were asking $450 with one mag. It was one of the later round trigger guard models.

Sevens,

As long as I have a place on the coast (where the AIR has SALT in it), I will NEVER buy another BLUED handgun/rifle/shotgun.

When I was a young LEO, I was working in a coastal county where we were required to carry "department issue" Model 28 S&W revolvers. ====> The saying among the deputies was, "You can try to keep your revolver rust-free but you will fail working here."
The veteran deputies were 100% CORRECT.

yours, tex

I think I paid about $375 for my 6906, with 2 mags, some of the best gun money ever spent I think. For about a year I carried it with the 12 rounders in it and as a backup. But I now have the adapter that lets me run the 15 round 5906 mags, and it feels the same in my hand, carries just as well.

You will be very happy with the 6906 (s), however many you end up with. Absolutely a fantastic carry weapon. My 4516 is another favorite, because I like the 45 so well. I recently found a DAO 4046 that also carries as well as the other two. I've found that one Sticky holster will work for all of them. (and a P229, a RIA CS, Beretta PX4 and others)

You will both love those little guys.

CDKJudoka,

WILCO.

Fwiw, I bought one of the first Shield pistols & disliked it so much after firing ONE magazine that I resold it, for exactly what I paid for it. - The only thing that I liked about the little gun was that it went "BANG" each time that I squeezed the trigger.

By the time that I sold it, the price had gone UP, so both of us were pleased.

yours, tex

Best hurry - looks like they have sold out...

I really like 3rd Gens and I really like carrying my 6906. I thought I had a picture of it for y'all but, surprisingly, I do not. Anyway, I have not carried it lately but that could change tomorrow. Wonderful pistol.

NEVER MIND!!!! I knew I had a picture!!!!

__________________
Come and take it!!

Mine is from about 1995. Only change I made is the slightly smaller grips talked about here on the forum . Fits me better than originals.

And you all think that you’re all experts. HA.

Everyone knows that the 669 was made till 1998 AND came with the one piece Delrin grips that year. Plus it came with the “desirable” two recessed dot/on safe inticators, one on the frame and the other on the slide. Novak’s were NOT an option that year, (of course,) nor was the “allegedly” improved front sight in a dovetail.

(I really hope you all get the joke. )

Jim

Attached Images

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Got mine a few years ago, sent it to S&W Custom shop that did a complete overhaul and installed Trijicon Night Sights

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My EDC is a 669 with a 6906 slide and barrel. That way I got the Novak style sights and an extra barrel cheaper than having the sights installed.

The 469/669 are reliable and surprisingly accurate compact 9mm pistols. The 6904/6906 are much more refined and the late production models with MIM hammer and trigger usually have the smoothest trigger pulls. Given a choice between a 669 and a 6906, I'd take the 6906.

__________________
VCDL, GOA, NRA

Well this was very informative for me in that I realize I have a 669 "upper" and 6606 "lower" - sort of a "Frankengun" from S&W!

The Story - I think I posted some years ago about my 669 frame cracking and a few pieces falling off while shooting. I was/am the original owner. Sent it off to S&W and got it back with with a "different frame" and the model (669) and original SN crudely stamped. I was not thrilled as I liked my retro/"as God intended" 669 frame features. When I inquired, S&W explained the OEM frame was no longer available but did not ID the frame used. Now I realize from the photos in this posting that mine is on a 6609 frame.

Learn something new here frequently - thanks!

To All,

The SA pistol that I would REALLY like to find at a decent price is the Model 639, like the one that I was once issued by my former agency.
(As my "usual uniform" in those days was jeans, golf shirt, ball-cap & running shoes, so that we could "blend in seamlessly" with the "locals", the 639 "just disappeared W/O a trace" under the shirt. - It was thin, compact & shot ACCURATELY.)

yours, tex

The 639 is an easier pistol to find than it's evolution the 3906. And a lot of the compare/contrast that we've done with the 669/6906 transfers to the 639/3906. By the time the 3906 hit the market, the buying public didn't have much desire for a full-size 9mm that wasn't a fat doublestack packed with 15+ rounds so the 3906 with it's 9+1 capacity didn't stay in production for a long time.

The 639 shouldn't be all too hard for you to find and buy. The earlier 639's had a rounded trigger guard that has the same shape as the venerable 39-2. The later 639's had the screaming-1980's hooked trigger guard.

639's all shipped with wood stocks much like the 39/39-2/52's. Original 639 magazines are all 8-round capacity but the later 3906/952 magazine that holds 9-rounds is perfectly functional though looks a bit different with the larger plastic floorplate.

Go get you one!

Sevens,

"My 639" was one of the EARLY ones & I wish that I could have kept it, when I rotated OCONUS, where we carried "personally-owned" handguns, unless you wanted to carry a Colt's Commando or a S&W Victory Model.
(I routinely carried a PAIR of BHP "way down yonder". that were taken from a drug dealer.)

yours, tex

All this reminiscing makes me think of the times where I carried several S&W 9 MM semi autos. My first was a blued 39-2, then 469 for a brief period. I changed Agencies and was issued a new 439 then a 6904. I traded in the 6904 for a 5904 and purchased a 3913 NL I carried in plain clothes and off duty. Living on a LEO budget with a family I had to swap off pistols to upgrade.

I sold my issue 439 to a friend when we had a chance to buy them back. I still have my original 39-2 and bought used 439 and 5904. I wish I still had the 3913 NL with Meprolight night sights and maybe one of these days I’ll get another.

Even though the finish is rough on this old 439 I still really enjoy shooting it.

Here's my latest of five . . .



Later.

DC