I'm not advocating panic buying but if I see it for sale and I have the money...

I haven't bought anything in over a month but remember the visions of lines waiting to get in the door to find empty display cases once inside.
Then you add the spin of a pistol in hand in a state where that is rare.

I'm not crying Chicken Little but who knows what's around the corner?

I think some of you guys are overlooking the difficulty for OP to find a 3rd Gen S&W in his state. Also, overestimating the "damage" done by buffing this gun. I'm certainly no fan of removing the anodizing but it hasn't rendered the gun unsafe.

The REAL cost of this gun for him isn't $600, it a couple hundred. A lot of places that gun would bring $400. So it'll cost him a couple hundred extra to scratch that particular 3rd Gen S&W itch in his situation.

But the fact is that we're still talking about it a few days later and haven't heard the gun was bought by someone else. That suggests to me that it's not a particularly hot commodity in that neck of the woods and maybe there's room for negotiation.

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Actually the seller is flaky. There's a big market for 3rd Gens in clean shape in my area(this one not so much at his asking price). The seller had a buyer who backed out of the deal and I'm next on the list. I'm guessing he low balled to much and since this is the original owner who thinks his gun is made out of gold, it's my turn at bat. I'm waiting for the seller to give me a date to meet up to DROS. The last 2 dates I gave him wouldn't work so the ball is in his court.

This may be asked out of ignorance, but why are we talking about loss of aluminum anodizing on a 6906? Isn’t a 6906 by definition all stainless? Is the 6906 an exception to the “rule of sixes?”

Froggie

6906 = aluminum frame and stainless slide.

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After reading from the OP finally tagging in for future updates.

Good catch, Froggie!

Yes, S&W deliberately defied their own numbering convention on the 6906.

It's actual number according to their system should be 5913.

Think about it...

A full size, stainless frame, single stack 9mm is a 3906 and a compact, aluminum frame, single stack 9mm is a 3913.

By that convention, if a full size, stainless frame, double stack 9mm is a 5906 then a compact, aluminum frame, double stack 9mm should be a 5913.

The 2nd gen guns used a numbering system loosely derived from the revolver side and the tremendously popular stainless/alloy, double stack compact was dubbed 669.

So popular was it that when the 3rd gens were conceived, S&W couldn't bury it in the catalog with an unfamiliar name (5913), so they defied their own convention with the compact, double stack 9mm models and the marketing folks got to keep the "69" identifier as part of the name.

No where else was S&W willing to do this and that is why we have the 4013 single stack and the 4013TSW double stack.

Both are faithful to the 3rd gen numbering system and confusion be damned.

John

Yep, S&W's compact 9mm pistols all had aluminum alloy receivers, but S&W departed from their model numbering system with the compact 9's.

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I thought it was actually a 6913. Maybe S&W wanted to sell it as a companion to the 5906 and was worried about confusing police chiefs with a "weird" model number.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

“Oh what tangled webs we weave...”

Just when I thought I was beginning to understand this branch of S&W History and Nomenclature, this pops up. I probably ought to just slink away in silence now, but I must be a glutton for punishment, so here goes;

Many large cities and some not-so-large towns have industries that include or need anodizing for one or more products. There are departments in some factories and in some cases whole, autonomous shops dedicated to the process. Now for my question. If one could take a stripped and prepped aluminum alloy receiver to such an operation (through the back door with suitable greasing of palms if necessary) and have it anodized there, would it be likely that the process used locally, regardless of main function, would be the same as or sufficiently similar to what is done by S&W to give satisfactory performance? That is, do we have “gun anodizing” and “other stuff anodizing”?

Froggie minds want to know.

If you have an airport near you , look for a hanger doing work and ask for the sheet metal shop or paint shop . One of those two will be set up to anodize . That's the first step in the paint process , after cleaning .

Forgive me if I'm wrong , but aren't the 469 , 669 and the 6900 series on the infamous LIST of guns allowed into that state ? There was a similar thread a while back and I offered the member a 669 so I'm thinking they're legal . If so , find another one , it's not like they aren't out there .

They're not, none of the 3rd Gens are anymore. The last of them got purged off the roster in 2013 when S&W stopped production since the roster has to be updated every year and a fee has to be paid to the CADOJ for each gun on there. Even the 1st gen M&Ps that were previously on it were removed when S&W changed the manufacturing process for them which in the eyes of the CADOJ, made them 'new' guns and they couldn't be readded because they now weren't grandfathered in for the new microstamping requirement. Getting back to the subject though I would recommend OP keep looking, I got my 6906 cheaper and in much better shape, I lucked out but they are still around.

So cherrypointmarine, can I assume that anodizing is anodizing (exclusive of color) and that what I get done in such a place as the airport shop will be just as good as what came on my Smith from Springfield?

I’m guessing I could have clear anodizing done on an aluminum alloy receiver to go with a stainless or satin nickel slide, or even a blued slide to continue my retro two tone theme.
Froggie

I emailed him again and just got a response from the seller (I mean Flake). After stringing me on for 3 weeks, he tells me "sorry but I sold it to my brother."
Thank you to all who contributed. I'm still in the market if anyone knows of one that's available in Southern Comiefornia.

Just keep watching Calguns like a hawk, I guess. There's been more than a couple that went up there that I would've instantly jumped on if I lived in that half of California.

You're right. There's been a few 3rd gens that were posted over the last 6 months or so that I wanted to get. I don't know how the buyers do it, but they usually get snatched up within a few minutes of being posted. Luck or ?

It was for the best in your case. Where I live in IN theres a place thats been trying to sell a CS9 in similar circumstances. Though the finish looks to be from being dragged down the road with the worn frame, and polished slide. The Hogue grips are nasty. They've been firm at $449 with one mag for several months now.

Be very glad you did not buy from him
Seller sounds like he would have been more of a problem then it was worth
The right gun will be worth the wait
Stay safe out there
God Bless,John

Sent from my SM-S727VL using Tapatalk

Antilamr, although it may be irritating right now, I go with the general consensus that this “deal” was best left “unmade.” Settling for a damaged example of what you want, knowing you would have been dissatisfied with its condition sounds like a recipe for disappointment. Keep looking and the right one for you will come along, probably when you least expect.

Good luck,
Froggie

Consider yourself to be fortunate, it sounds like the seller was going to be difficult to work with and there are better examples of S&W compact metal receiver pistols to be had. Be patient.

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Although I'm a little disappointed, as most of you have pointed out, it's probably for the best. I now have came across a CS45 in nice condition. Started correspondence with owner. He's looking to trade and I have some item's he's interested in. As long as we can come to agreement on values, this one might happen! Still on the look out for a 6906 (also a CS9).

Did you buy the 6906? If not, Can I get the contact info of the seller?

See post #64

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walk away Renee