Hi all,

A large online seller has a batch of what they are listing as "new" 5906 STS model handguns. It comes with one 10 round magazine. The pictureshows forward slide serrations and a checkered front strap. Does anyone know anything about this model? I don't remember ever seeing a non performance center handgun with forward serrations and checkering. Any help is greatly appreciated.

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Looks like they have nearly three dozen of ‘em. Interestingly, I don’t find any of those serial number prefixes in the SCSW.

I believe there was a thread about pistols with the serrations about a year ago. If I remember correctly, the photo is a random Internet photo that they used and not a picture of the actual pistols for sale. I will try to search the thread up.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

The 5906 pictured on the website appears to be a PC DPA prefix 5906. I doubt that is what they have for sale given their asking price and the claim that they were made in 2009.

Houlton laser etched the markings on the 3rd gens they produced.

IMO that is a lot of money they are asking for a vanilla 5906. NIB or not. Caveat emptor! Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

thanks, all. I guess it was wishful thinking that they would be like new 5906s with formerly unseen features.

Just to further complicate things, I found another online dealer that appeared to have 17 NIB examples for sale.

That’s a lot of “samples”.

I think it is possible that they have NOS 5906’s that have never been used but -YES- we have seen, discussed and duly noted in the past that it’s a truly S&W ignorant web-fool that has found and used the wrong picture of old PC DPA guns with the forward serrations.

The picture of the pistol with the forward serrations is NOT accurate.

I believe it is a simply honest (but by definition, ignorant) mistake to use that picture.

I got suckered into buying one because of the wrong photo in the ad-I had no prior knowledge that it's been seen and discussed here over the forum-and I agree it is quite over-priced for a garden-variety M5906. My consolation is that it is brand new with ser# VUV 59XX (kinda unique).
Pictures will follow.

Don't feel bad. You didn't pay too much, you just bought too soon.

And besides, look at the asking prices on all the current production junk guns - even before the current stupidity going on. You bought a superior firearm for not much more than many lesser guns.

And then there is the never say never with s&w. There were "standard" production 3rd gen pistols made with forward slide serrations, from the factory. Info on them is extremely hard to come by. Some were small batches of Salesmans samples made to show LE Agencies and used for T&E by some of them.

Others - unverified at this time - appear to have been sent to the Early Performance Center, 1991 or 1992, for customization by their owners. That service was offered by the Performance Center for a short period of time after their founding.

There have been 4516s, 4506s and 4566s shown here on this board with factory forward slide serrations. I own a black 4566 with them. It was one of the sample guns.

Enjoy that nice 5906. I look forward to your range report! Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

Anyone know about the VUV prefixed serial numbers? Is there any significance to the said letters? The local dealer I bought the pistol from had at least four of the said prefix.
Can anyone help IDing the date/s they might have been made? I got too distracted and disappointed when I discovered it was not as pictured that I did not even care to ask about where they may have come from or have been hiding.

If these are supposed to be “new old stock”, are they not shipping in an original S&W box with an end label? Or silly fired case?

S&W typically answers a question of manufacture or ship date via e-mail. Send them an e-mail with the SN and see what they say.

Are these guns marked as being made in Houlton, Maine?

Yeah, I'm about over it now.

So they do exist?!

Yup, that is one nice looking piece you have, thanks for showing!

Will do!

It came in a later made box with label and papers, without fired case. Unless it's been refinished it looks new with hardly any handling or racking marks, the barrel even looks very clean it seems to be not test fired.



Something I found different is the matching double digit numbers stamped on the inside of both the slide and the frame, perhaps a frame to slide pairing? None my older M59XXs have this.


I'll do that, thanks!
Marked as made in Springfield, MA.

We always seem to be looking for julian dates on the older boxes but 011119 looks like a shipping date to me.

Does the # 011119 on the label indicate date of make/assembly? Would that mean Jan 11, 2019?
Never mind!

That pistol looks like it was in a warehouse untouched for 25 years. The older style stampings seem to me to be an indication of it's true age.
I may have to go to their retail store and check one out.

SN Dates from SW


VCZ3070 1995
VZB1247 1996
VZE3081 1996
VUV5928 1997
KNC1182 1998


Asked for info about odd KNC group - no response other than year dates

VUV was a popular serial prefix used on many value line guns - in 1997.

I would guess that like the RJF prefix Melonite 4566s, which were manufactured in 1999 but not sent to distributors till 2009/2010 - these 5906s were possibly made in 1997. And are overuns or a cancelled order for LE and have been sitting in storage since.

Waste not want not. Once "discovered" they were shipped out to distributors. Just an educated guess and pure speculation on my part. Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

Dates of S/N listed as "Available" came back 1995-1998

This isn't quite the deal as the new 5906TSWs of a few years ago but I guess it's the only game in town right now as far as a new 3rd gen pistol.
I think the price bothers me less than the fact that it comes with 2 10rd magazines.

Jsbethel’s post #17 is exactly what I agree with 100%. This gun probably shipped or packaged up in Jan/2019 but this is for sure not recently built. The last of the real production 5906’s had laser lettering on the slides, likely were made in Houlton, Maine and have SN’s cut differently with jet black fill on each letter/number.

That looks like a time capsule, I think you got a pretty good gun there!

A boxed 5906, VBK9296, described as ANIB sold for $725, Lot 505, Milestone Auctions in Ohio, June 27. Plus a 20% buyers premium (crosslisted on invaluable-dot-com)

A pair sold for $950 (+20% premium), described as with edge wear and agency logos, June 13, Lot 2492 Poulin Antiques.

Shipping and FFL fees come on top of that.

Not saying that is typical, because low prices seemed to start around $325. However, as-new or unfired S&W handguns, revolver or semi auto, have been selling for eye popping prices at auction.

In other words, I think @prochi2K did just fine.

I wonder if not too bold of a statement, could this be the last of the 3rd gens ever produced?

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This is the way....

Those 3-letter prefixes stretch over several years. Overruns from several orders that someone found in a warehouse and put into plastic boxes with new labels, lol.

Definitely not, if we are talking about the one pictured.

The very last were made in Houlton, Maine and have a large S&W logo in black lettering on the left side of the slide, lasered on and not stamped.

Does anyone have an idea what the number stamped on the slide and frame means? Is that something like a final machinist mark on CZs, or "S&W Inspector 14" or something like that? My 5906 NJFxxxx does not have that... and now feels very neglected and deprived...

5 S/N I checked with SW came up 1995-1998 so No - not last 3rd Gen Produced -
The VCZ prefix dates to 1995, the VZB & VZE 1996, the VUV 1997, the KNC 1998.


Per SW
"The U on the end of your SKU number relates to it having been used for most likely a shot show or something of that nature, then returned to us for sale as a used gun."

Regarding one of the later produced guns in the S/N groupings (KNC prefix) "This firearm was manufactured in 07/1998."

No explanation of 011119 code - most likely Ship Date 1/11/2019 unrelated to Manufacture Date

Post 11 here:
Need some Info on a S&W 6906 Please

Indicates some 6906's "left the factory" in November of 2006. Looks like they went to CA DOC with SN BDXxxxx.

I have a BDXxxxx serialed example.

So, it looks like they were at least churning out a few under contract that late, anyway.

Nice catch on that 5906, OP. I think 700+ is ALL the money but it seems the market will bear it.

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Just Say No - To Social Media

I agree the price is for sure on the upper end. I ended up winning a substantial gift cert to buds from a raffle which alleviated most of the sting. FWIW mine looks brand new, looks like it was test fired only (although no spent case). If S&W still actually made these third gens, and made them to the same quality I'd imagine the price would easily be over $1K.

Plus I live in a commie state that only allows purchase/transfer of 10 rd mags. I've seen a bunch of 5906's on gunbroker ect... However they all had standard cap mags and those that would ship to me would only do so after they removed the mag (and ofcourse without compensating me for letting them keep the mag). So when this popped up with the 10rd mags it was enough to push me off the edge.

Mine (VZB prefix) that I bought from buds looks identical to yours. Mine has the straight grip though, and instead of 14 mnie has 4 stamped on the slide in same spots. Did yours come with 2 mags? Mine only came with one, tried their online chat function to see if I could rectify it. They told me "we don't open the boxes and S&W probably forgot to throw an extra mag in, contact them". Gee thanks for telling me to buzz off when you advertised the gun coming with 2 mags, havent had a chance to contact S&W yet.

In other words, they receive into inventory, sell and ship out to another Federal Firearms Licensee, a serialized product whose every move is of interest to a dedicated Federal Law Enforcement Agency...and don’t bother to open the box to verify the serialized item corresponds to the box label?

Who knew?

Yup, same as you, just one 10 round magazine.
I like the straight grips better than the curve one, do you wanna trade . Just the grips, lol.

I don't when it started, or when it stopped, but S&W used to change the first digit of the SKU# to a "6" when it was returned & resold.

I found that out when I bought my 4013 (SKU# 608524, below). This procedure is mentioned in the SCSW also.

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Standard new production SKU# is 108524.
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And some had a "U" stamped on the trigger guard
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Waiting for the break of day

I just recently purchased a used M5906 through Cabelas with a serial number very close to yours. I am curious what the history is on this gun? This is my first day in the forum and I think I am going to enjoy it. The gun looks new inside, mag well is spotless, no wear on the rails, no smell, and dry. I was told by S&W the serial number dates the gun to Mar 1999. It came with a 10 rnd mag, no box or papers. The only unusual part is on the base of the grip towards the rear, in the plastic, there is a small 1/8" hole. Does your gun have this hole too? Anyone have any idea the purpose of this hole on the bottom of the grip? This gun also has a "U" stamped just left of the where the model number is stamped.

It's for a lanyard ring. Pics here - 5906 “MODELO MILITAR” Information

Have similar mark "U" on more than one gun - none of which were returned to SW and resold "Used" as far as I know. I think that is unrelated but would be curious if anyone else has same or knows what it means

Maybe. It's the only one for me.

The upside down "T" is the more common mark on the trigger guard, AFAIK. I have several of those.

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Waiting for the break of day

You may be correct - the one I was handling yesterday was a 3913 marked U, but I just remember seeing marks before - never registered what letter or orientation - just that there was a letter marking there - never thought about it but now this has got me curious - will have to recheck the arsenal

I threw one of the houge rubber grips on it and then immediately took it off. Love the material and feel of it but man it is way thicker.

Regarding the one mag after a week of going back and forth with buds and SW I was offered a measly $20 coupon from buds. When I asked them if they could do better the rep told me its my fault for accepting the gun with the missing mag. When I scoffed at that and pointed out the incorrect photo on the listing the rep told me to have a great day and ended the convo.

Recently had the chance to shoot mine. Man what a sweet shooting 9MM. Trigger on mine is awesome. No malfs at all, mine seemed to prefer 115gr ammo fwiw. Shot some 147gr and while it didn't show any probs with function accuracy was better with 115gr.