So Who's Selling Off Their 3rd Gens Due to Lack of Parts

[1775usmarine]

I would like to snag a few more before prices on 3rd gens start rising.

 

[Fastbolt]

I'm wayyyyy overdue


I have a very early Gen 2 G17. The man I bought it from, had bought it used to use as an ipsc gun. He put at least 20000 through it over a few seasons. Who knows what it had on it before. It still had the original Uncaptured guide rod that Glock used in the gen 1's and gen. 2's. It still chugged through almost 1000 more rounds with me before I replaced it with a new factory rsa.



It runs great and there is no frame damage at all. I'm tempted to let an armorer go over it, but I don't want to lose my original "black" connector, etc.


2500 round is laughably low.

If it were my G17, and it fell within the affected serial number range, I'd want to do the 6-part upgrade to it.

If nothing else, if the gun's been used to fire 20+K rounds, it's more than due for an armorer level inspection to check for wear & tolerances.

Glock will ask for the serial number (from the armorer) and send him/her the parts to upgrade the gun, being the extractor, spring-loaded bearing, firing pin, firing pin safety & spring and the trigger bar w/trigger. The connector isn't replaced (unless damaged).

I just did another G19 for an original owner of an '89 vintage G19. I went a little further and replaced the firing pin spring, spring cups, slide lock spring (since the newer one is less prone to breakage than the old narrow design spring), slide stop lever assembly and RSA for the owner. He also wanted night sights installed while I was servicing the gun.

 

[AITG]

Fastbolt: thanks for the update. The last time I had the guns inspected by a Glock armorer ("Glock Day" at my Police Supply house) he said as long as the guns passed the function checks, don't worry about it. I've carried spare RSAs in my range box for years. I'll swap them out before my next outing.

 

[Big Shrek]

Springs & guide rods are easy enough to get, just call Wolff

Springs for SMITH & WESSON NUMBERED SERIES Semi-Auto Pistols

 

[djattack]

Parts?! I'm not worried about them. I do believe my 3rd gens would outlast me.

 

[photoman]

I have missed all of mine and last year started buying. Sick of the polymer.

Yep. Sick of the polymer triggers too! I can manage a Glock trigger well but it takes a lot of effort compared to shooting a nice 3rd gen S&W or SIG.

 

[deanodog]

I have sold eight but not for lack of parts. It is due to old age approaching. I am not without any as I still have five 9mms.I guess they will go to a grandson along with others. I have sold some I didn't think I would ever sell.

 

[gtoppcop]

KBM,

I have many of them. My pre-owned 659 developed a failure to extract and would have a feedway stoppage about every other shot.

I surmised that it's an extractor spring issue. I ordered one from Brownells and had it 2-days. At $1.50/ea, I will order several more.

My point is that if one knows HOW the guns work and can do the work yourself, WHY send it off or contemplate selling them?

There are precious few pistols that can match the out-of-box and/or inherent reliability of the 5906 or 4506/66 guns. I don't have any experience with the 10XX guns, but I would hazard a guess that they are the best 10mm guns extant.

Somebody (not sure who) has all of S&W's parts for these guns. My contact at S&W is able to send very small replacement parts to me often (for the asking).

We're by no means "done" with respect to obsolescence with these guns. They will continue to fight on. The nice thing about the 59XX series guns is that there were so many of them made = parts. The 45XX series aren't as prolific, but they are many. The issue becomes the 69XX, 10XX and most of all the 39XX series guns. They aren't rare, but there weren't as many of them as the 59XX and 45XX series platforms.

18DAI, BMCM and others like them will continue to carry us and pass the outside-the-box thinking that will assure viability of these guns into the future. Fear not.

Just my $.02 worth...

 

[shawn mccarver]

My 6906 is my home defense gun and it has everything I want in a semi auto but I gotta admit I'm not liking the lack of parts should I need them. Not selling right now but I am thinking about what would replace it. I like metal TDA with a safety and a mag disconnect

Why would you sell? It isn't hurting you or eating anything. It doesn't take food from your dog. It still provides enjoyment. That is sort of like getting rid of a woman on the theory that some day she might get sick.

There were so many 6906s made that parts will be around a long time, perhaps not from the factory, but they will be there. Buy some springs now for mags and for the recoil guide rod, etc., and maybe a few other parts, and you should be good to go for a long time.

 

[18DAI]

Although I've said my piece in this thread, I wanted to add this final thought.

Saturday I spent the day helping out with the Grand Opening of a new gun store. Favor for a friend. NOT to be repeated. Besides, I'm disqualified from working in a gunshop. My parents were married.

This store had a bunch of guns. Except for two handguns, all of the inventory was brand new. shields, bodyguards, Sigma 2.0's, Glocks, Ruger, Sig.....you name it.

The most popular guns were the small plastic 380's that can be pocket carried. EVERYONE wanted tiny pocket pistols in small caliber. Glock 42, LCP, bodyguard. Evidently those are the guns still in demand.

Although I wouldn't commit suicide with one, I sold all the .380 bodyguards that the shop had in inventory. If they had two more I'd have sold them too. Yea, "Holy Spit 18! YOU selling plastic pocket guns?!!"

Well, the only reason I did sell them is that I had agreed to keep my opinions to myself UNLESS ASKED. Only one person asked me my opinion of those guns. They didn't buy one.

But the point of my post is that the two most desireable guns in the store, to me, a Sig P226 and a S&W 459 were not even looked at by even one customer. Other than me. Metal, hammer fired pistols are not in vogue.

So, that means that the prices will probably be falling as the excess inventory builds up. Sort of like what is happening now with all the tupperware guns the companies have been pushing out. Demand is drying up. Inventories are high. Prices will soon begin to plummet. Probably on evil black rifles too.

I think that there will be plenty of excess 3rd gen pistols/parts/mags/accesssories too. Probably enough for our purposes anyway. My final 0.02 Regards 18DAI

Edited to add: And after spending a day handling and examining all the brand guns from the various manufacturers, I've concluded that they are largely cheaply made plastic junk. I'll be keeping each and everyone of my 3rd gen guns!

 

[TTSH]

But the point of my post is that the two most desirable guns in the store, to me, a Sig P226 and a S&W 459 were not even looked at by even one customer. Other than me. Metal, hammer fired pistols are not in vogue.

So, that means that the prices will probably be falling as the excess inventory builds up. Sort of like what is happening now with all the Tupperware guns the companies have been pushing out. Demand is drying up. Inventories are high. Prices will soon begin to plummet. Probably on evil black rifles too.

I think that there will be plenty of excess 3rd gen pistols/parts/mags/accessories too. Probably enough for our purposes anyway. My final 0.02 Regards 18DAI

God, I hope you are right! Prices on plastic guns do seem to be falling a bit around here (People's Republic of MA) and probably still have a good way to go before leveling off. But I'm not seeing it in 3rd Gens... not yet anyway.

I'll admit that behind enemy lines here in the PRM, nice condition 3rd Gens for sale are about as rare as hen's teeth. Hard to get a good feel for a pricing trend when there are so few guns for sale. So far, the scarcity factor has been working against me. In fact, recent anecdotal evidence seems to suggest that 3rd Gen prices may actually be rising.

 

[BAM-BAM]

18DAI ....Ditto's (LOL) my visits to the LGSs have really dropped off...... "nothing to see here.....just move along!"

Been bingeing on CZ rifles (452s and 527s) the past couple of years..... but haven't seen many "have to have" Smiths 3rd gen guns or pre lock revolvers in awhile.....

 

[vigil617]

To answer the OP's question:

"Not me," said the Third Gen devotee.

 

[dakota1911]

I am a shooty collector and have more than a few pistols, so I will continue to shoot and enjoy mine. If one of them was the only pistol I owned, then it might be different.

 

[Zebra War Wagon]

I also sold all of my 3rd Gen pistols because of the part problem. My thought was they are worth more working than broke and a "parts gun".
It's a shame because they are such fine works of art.

 

[lawman90]

I also sold all of my 3rd Gen pistols because of the part problem. My thought was they are worth more working than broke and a "parts gun".
It's a shame because they are such fine works of art.

I don't really see what would even break on one of these if you properly maintain it and change the springs (if only just the recoil spring). Everything is overbuilt.

 

[DanP7]

I don't really see what would even break on one of these if you properly maintain it and change the springs (if only just the recoil spring). Everything is overbuilt.

Not to mention you don't get much money for them now, yet the prices on them are rising.


Poor market timing.

 

[stantheman86]

If you can really shoot the 80,000+ rounds needed to break something on a 5906 or other gen 3 gun then you can afford to buy another one. There are plenty of them at gun shows.

I think we worry too much about wearing guns out, most of us don't shoot that much.

Get some recoil and mag springs from Wolff, maybe a couple slide stops.....a NOS barrel would be a plus and you should be good.

S&W still makes 5946's for the NYPD and other special orders, why don't they sell parts?

 

[kbm6893]

If you can really shoot the 80,000+ rounds needed to break something on a 5906 or other gen 3 gun then you can afford to buy another one. There are plenty of them at gun shows.

I think we worry too much about wearing guns out, most of us don't shoot that much.

Get some recoil and mag springs from Wolff, maybe a couple slide stops.....a NOS barrel would be a plus and you should be good.

S&W still makes 5946's for the NYPD and other special orders, why don't they sell parts?

I said that in an earlier thread. I'm retired NYPD and there's gotta be 10,000 5946's in service, plus the 3953 and 908 DAO are still authorized off duty guns. Don't know if new recruits could get those 2 anymore but figure another 10,000 of those still being carried. S&W is not gonna screw such a big contract so they either have a huge stockpile of those parts that are being reserved for PD's or they still make them in smaller quantities and only sell them to PD's. And that isn't fair to the millions of civilian owners

 

[DanP7]

If you can really shoot the 80,000+ rounds needed to break something on a 5906 or other gen 3 gun then you can afford to buy another one. There are plenty of them at gun shows.

I think we worry too much about wearing guns out, most of us don't shoot that much.

Get some recoil and mag springs from Wolff, maybe a couple slide stops.....a NOS barrel would be a plus and you should be good.

S&W still makes 5946's for the NYPD and other special orders, why don't they sell parts?

They do sell the parts. Read the other thread. They are still supporting the third gen.


I think some people are all wrapped around the wheel because they feel that in some dystopian future, all future guns and parts will be forbidden or heavily scrutinized for future purchases, or a shtf scenario leaves everyone left with what they have on hand. They want to have all sorts of parts to be self-sufficient for an extend period of time, even inter-generational. (Best solution, buy ANOTHER third gen........, not sell them). It's still a tool and a simple machine. Do not put it on a pedestal I'd you are using it for serious use.

If that is what is driving part of people having mass sell-off's, or even if it is just collectors getting out of the market, it's ill timed and irrational. I just don't get it. The information that caused this disruptive ripple proved to be partially false in the first place. Maybe we need to sticky S&W's official stance on the 3rd gen.