Just impulse ordered one, interested to see what kinda shape it arrives in. Recent purchase of a LNIB 5906 for sure fueled this. Will post pics when it arrives.

Are these imports?

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Made it, Ma! Top of the world!

Site says they are from US law enforcement agencies. Pic however shows import marking.

I have recently been on a metal frame carry gun binge and pretty much decided on one of the older S&W's as my metal 9mm, namely a 669, 3914, 6906, etc...Your posting of AIM Surplus pushed me over the top and I too ordered a 6906. From what I've read on their web site 'reviews', it will arrive well seasoned yet a functional and good shooter. Anxious to get it.

Be careful with the posted reviews. They go back several years,
to different lots, and they seem to be all mixed up, in no apparent
order. Aim also is selective about posting reviews that are other
-than-glowing-positive.

I picked up a 6906 from Aim about a year and a
half ago, and while it was externally OK, every small orifice and
bore was loaded with a syrupy, water-soluble goo. I posted a
review advising the pistol was in good used shape, but that a full
strip to frame/slide was mandatory, due to the volume of goop.

Aim didn't post the review.

I've seen a few other forum posts from people who had
same experience with Aim.

OK, got it but I already have an issue. They tacked on a 10% sales tax. I pay Washington state sales tax to my transfer FFL when he receives the gun and I dish up his transfer fee. I sent AIM a message asking about their added tax, I have a feeling I've been screwed. If I was an Ohio resident, I can understand a sales tax on an internet transaction. I'll post an update when I contact AIM, probably on Monday (9/14) via phone.

BTW, there's several reviews on their site detailing the crud inside the 6906. I don't have any issue with breaking down the gun and cleaning it.

Got a 6906 on an estate sale. Widow tried to give it to me for $ 100.
I refused and tripled it. Via markings it had been to some sandland at some time before coming back. Deceased husband had a safe full oh guns that his kids had picked over leaving only the 9mm.
Got it home little to no wear but, 4 gallons of oil in the firing pin chamber with fine sand glued to everything internally. My take is our Muslim allies oiled their American handguns like their AR-15s.
Long soak in sonic cleaner lead to all the crud sifting out.
Great gun.

A 6906 is my everyday carry. I think it's the best of the S&W 3rd gens, as much as I like my 4566.

Yup, and mine's not one of em (crud reviews).

Sales tax is what it is. Aim charges sales tax on the purchase
price of gun. Your FFL apparently puts sales tax on his
receiving & transferring services to you, not on Aim's sales
price of pistol.

I bought a used 6906 for Gunbroker a few years ago, sent it off to S&W Performance Center for a complete overhaul to include the slide and frame. Gun looks brand new from the factory for about $350 USD

Good luck.

I ordered a Romanian MilSurp Tokarev TTC from them a few months ago which fell far short of their description in terms of condition, so just be aware that what you get may not necessarily fit their general description to a T.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

Aside from the sales tax, I think it is still a pretty good price for a 6906. I bought mine on GB a few months ago, after reading about it here, paid about the same, and consider it a good deal. Mine did not require much cleaning, but it came with an attached clip that was a bear to remove.

I really like the gun, and often shoot it in tandem with a CZ P-01 compact (also alloy frame, but a bit heavier), it holds its own and then some against what is an almost new gun with modern controls and grips, and looks elegant by comparison,

(I have no idea why the third pic is rotated 90 degrees...)

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You meant "MAGAZINE", right?

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How many guns are too many?

I think he's referring to the slide stop/takedown pin.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

Washington State law is that they collect sales tax if purchased from an out of state BUSINESS. HOWEVER, if you already paid sales tax in the seller's state, you get credit for that. So if you paid 5% tax to AIM, them you only owe the balance to your FFL transfer. One reason I try to do out of state private sales. No sales tax due for those transfers.

You should be able to get the difference tax back from the FFL who handled the transfer. Pretty sure it was part of either I-1639 or I-594.

I communicated with AIM about the sales tax. They sent me a link to Washington State Department of Revenue where it is clearly stated that an out of state seller can subscribe to a multi-state tax collection 'service'. So, it appears my WA state sales tax is legit if collected by AIM. My transfer FFL (Pantel Tactical) will only charge me for the transfer ($25). Josh Pantel is super easy to deal with so I am not concerned about the sales tax with him.

I also asked AIM to send me a 'clean' gun for whatever that's worth. I've been lucky buying used guns on-line. I have not (yet) received any gun that was not as described, in fact, I would say they have been equal to or better than described. One that comes to mind is a Browning BDA380 described as average was like-new.

I've had pretty good luck buying online, I've gotten a few used surplus type guns from AIM and they have always been as described or better.


FWIW my buddy went to order one last night after talking with me just to find out they were sold out, so must have been a pretty small batch.

FAQ

Woulda saved ya' a phone call:

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Wisdom comes thru fear . . .

I's looking like I got one of the last available if not the last. I placed my order yesterday morning. So much for getting a clean one, eh? My transfer FFL should get it mid week so I'll get to see it then. I'll report on its condition at that time. With the new 10 day wait (thanks to Mike Bloomberg's funding of a anti-gun WA state initiative), I won't take possession for likely two weeks.

Think positive... maybe they saved the best for last. I checked the AIM website as soon as I read your first post and not a sign of any 6906s for sale there!

Froggie

I gave up on AIM in 2012.

No, I wish, LOL. There was an aftermarket clip glued to the slide with an extremely strong but flexible double-sided glue strip. (the seller DID highlight it in the listing)

I had to ask for advice here on how to remove it without damaging the gun. At first I thought it was somehow tapped and screwed to the slide, and the glue was a spacer, but fortunately not. See below.

All's well that ends well though, and I am enjoying the gun.

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Wish Mec-gar would make a 14rd mag for the 6906/Shorty-9....... their 15rd flush fit mag for the Beretta Compact has been a game changer for me........

6906 vs Beretta 92 was 12+1 vs 13+1........ now at 13 vs 15+1...... with the ultra thin VZ grips...... the Beretta is taking on more carry time..... in this time of civil unrest.


While 3rounds isn't a huge deal..... when you add the spare mags/with grip spacer ........ they are 15 vs 18 for the Beretta....... 6rounds more total.

@BAM-BAM: I use both the original 6906 12-rd magazines and the 5906 magazines with the Grip+2 adapter sold by a member in this forum (@Trader Jim). There may be other solutions, not sure, but I agree about Mec-Gar.

Left to right below, an original 12-rd mag with pinkie rest, a stock 14-rd 5906 mag, and a 5906 magazine with the grip plus 2 adapter.

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Been using the 15rd w/ +2 adaptor for decades...... ...... as my 2nd and or 3rd mag. but not as primary

In the Beretta Compact you can take the 15rd Mec-gar mag with pinky- extension and swap out a standard Beretta 15 rd mag base plate for a short flush fit 15rd mag in the Compact.

I'll make sure to check that out, right after I'm done working on my shot placement while under pressure, and watching a few Jerry Miculek videos, and, etc...

(I posted that pic mostly for other 6906 newbies... like me for example)

Most of my currently "favorite" firearms need a reload just to get to 12 rds (there is that 5906, and maybe one or two CZ's in that bunch, but we won't talk about those in this sub-forum, 'cause I really don't want to be "cancelled" here, ).

I live not far from AIM.....sales tax in Butler county is 6.5%.....I was recently in the remodeled showroom and noticed the 6906 on display but didn't really look closely on condition since I already have a 6906....I've bought my share of of gear and ammo from AIM have never had an issue....good luck

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LOL..something to be said for doing this "stuff" for 42 years......

All the kidding above aside ...... the 6906/04 and better yet the Shorty-9s are while not the newest ...... IMHO.... the best concealed carry self-defense guns one can own.

Depending on hand size take a standard 15rd mag base plate ..... on a compact mag..... grind it back almost to the frame /then stipple the front for the best cc 6906 mag IMHO

As a "spook" the 3913/14/NL ..... aka ASP/Trapper single stack .....may be a bit better......... but when the SHTF I'd want my Shorty-9

Well, guess what...I received an e-mail from AIM saying my order is now "awaiting fulfillment". I canceled the order which they acknowledged so I'm back to square one. I'm still OK with a 6906 but the 'awaiting fulfillment' thing doesn't work for me.
Meanwhile, I dug out my 1990's vintage S&W catalogs to see what else is out there in metal AL alloy frames.

Mine came in couple days ago and I finally got time to go over today, overall pretty happy with it. Showed some holster wear similar to their pic. It does have a import mark but its less obnoxious than what they have in their pic. It is pretty dirty, but not big deal to me as I'm cleaning it either way. Functionally everything seems in order. Gonna give it a good cleaning and put a new recoil spring in.

Would be interesting to find out the history of where it went. Anybody know of any overseas police that used to carry 6906s?

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Israel and Puerto Rico are two that I have seen.

Puerto Rico, being part of the US, wouldn't require import markings.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

Vulcan73,

I’m not convinced I need a high round capacity, so I decided I wanted to go with stainless receiver but single stack mag. The good news is, the 2nd Gen pistols are fairly reasonable, the bad news is, there are no repro mags of good quality available so mags are a challenge. Anyway I’m getting close to finished my Model 639 based Franken-Smith with a 915 upper. A 439 should be doable if you want to go with aluminum.

Froggie

i have a few new factory 10 rd mags available
Larry in Reno

silverstate,

Sent you a PM

Got a like on one of my posts so I stopped back...............

FYI for an ultra-short mag for the 6906 use a metal magazine base plate from an older 59 series mag.... dremel it back to just leave enough to hook your fingernails to tear it out if necessary.

I used a 5906 plastic base plate and cut it to match the contour of the receiver's front strap. It does make the pistol a little more concealable, but I do find that the finger hook on the factor base plate makes gripping and controlling the pistol a bit easier.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Webpage says sold out now.

Israel and Japan were big users of the S&W 3rd Gen 9mm guns. Also plently of places in Latin America and the Caribbean. I recall the Dominican Republic using 5906s when I was there.

Occasionally I see a 2nd or 3rd gen autoloader in a LGS. Usually the condition isn't very good or the price is too high, especially now. But the real kicker is finding magazines for it. S&W mags are not generally available, MecGar mags are great but not made for many models, and friends don't let friends buy ProMags or Triple K. Oh well....