5906 Ambi Safety Lever Missing: Should I worry?

Redcoat3340

Redcoat3340

Silver Supporter
Joined
Feb 17, 2014
Messages
1,448
Reaction score
1,769
Location
Washington State
I've had a 5906 for a bunch of years. It's missing the ambi safety lever on the right side of the gun. Just the post and slot where it goes, no lever.

I never worried about it. The gun works just perfectly, I don't use it, and its looks never bothered me.

I may be trading it and the other fella seems concerned it ain't there. A new one at Numrich is $50. Seems like a needless expense to me but he's voiced concern.

Should I care it's missing? Is all that's needed to "fix" it is a new lever and some sort of screw to attach it? Is there some sort of detent needed to attach it? (I don't see where a detent would go, unless on the inside on the main safety piece.) Can I use a lever from another in the 59 series? Who besides Numrich might have one?

Sorry for all the questions, but I'd like to do a deal and this could hang things up. Maybe.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_2920 (2).jpg
    IMG_2920 (2).jpg
    99.6 KB · Views: 152
Register to hide this ad
I'd buy the kit that jsbethel linked to at Slinks.

As you can see, it uses a detent and spring to hold the lever in place.

The 2nd Gen guns used a screw to hold that lever in place. The 3rd Gen set up not only looks better, but S&W changed to that set up because the screw on the 2nd Gen guns had a habit of back out and then the lever would launch itself to parts unknown.

It's a bit rare for that to happen on a 3rd Gen because of the spring and detent set up, but it does happen from time to time.

The spring and detent (which S&W calls a plunger) drop into the hole in the body of the safety, then you slide the lever in while holding them down with a small screw driver or even the tip of a pen.
 
Only affects things if you want to decock from the right side of the slide. Or, having sharp exposed points of the manual safety body snags and damages your holster, clothing, etc. :)

If it really bothers you, give me a mailing address in a PM (or use my email) and I can send you a (used) ambi lever, plunger and spring.

These are used, older parts from the early 3rd gen production. That means the ambi lever requires the older plunger ("transitional" semi-round head) instead of the newer version (like pictured in the other link's kit pic). The 3rd gen ambi levers were machined to accept the proper vintage-specific plunger styles.

The levers are the "thicker" style (versus the earlier "flat/thinner" style), and I can give you either a black or plain stainless lever.

Pick one, if you wish:


No cost to you.
 
It's a sellers market right now ... if he doesn't want to buy it someone else will ... if the ambi-safety lever bothers him ... he can install one after he's paid for it . I see no reason for you too foot the bill for something he wants .
Gary
 
gwpercle said:
It's a sellers market right now ... if he doesn't want to buy it someone else will ... if the ambi-safety lever bothers him ... he can install one after he's paid for it . I see no reason for you too foot the bill for something he wants .
Gary
Click to expand...

You did see that Fastbolt is offering to send him a replacement for free? Where is this bill he's footing?
 
The lack of the off-side lever is not an issue from the standpoint of pistol reliability, but would be a big issue for someone who is left-handed. When it comes to selling it, the lack of the lever is certainly worth a $50 reduction in value. Replace the lever and the pistol will be worth its full value, which might be quite a bit in today's crazy market.
 
From a purely functional standpoint, you can shoot that pistol without the right side lever in place until the cows come home and unless there is something else missing in or on the gun, you will have no problem with it.

OTOH, as someone already said, if buying or trading for a gun and (a) part(s) is/are missing, a big red flag should go up. Since Fastbolt has kindly offered the ideal solution and at no cost to you, don't hesitate,, fix it. Besides, you might want to shoot it left handed some day! ;)

As for parts from Slink's, I've gotten a couple of mags from him (via Gun Broker) at very reasonable prices, so I am in complete favor of buying needed parts from him when the occasion arises.

Froggie
 
Redcoat3340 said:
I've had a 5906 for a bunch of years. It's missing the ambi safety lever on the right side of the gun. Just the post and slot where it goes, no lever.

I never worried about it. The gun works just perfectly, I don't use it, and its looks never bothered me.

I may be trading it and the other fella seems concerned it ain't there. A new one at Numrich is $50. Seems like a needless expense to me but he's voiced concern.

Should I care it's missing? Is all that's needed to "fix" it is a new lever and some sort of screw to attach it? Is there some sort of detent needed to attach it? (I don't see where a detent would go, unless on the inside on the main safety piece.) Can I use a lever from another in the 59 series? Who besides Numrich might have one?

Sorry for all the questions, but I'd like to do a deal and this could hang things up. Maybe.
Click to expand...

I need to see the left side manual safety lever on your gun, so I can see whether it's the early "flatter" lever (3 "steps") or the later lever (4 steps).
 
Well, I'm glad I thought to call and ask to see the L/side of the gun, because the one on your gun is the earlier ambi lever. Not the one in the first pic I posted. It's the top lever in the last pic. :)

I have one of the older flat stainless levers left (the one in the pic), and I'll send it off to you later this week.
fb
 
It is surprising to see a full size 5906 with an early, flattened safety lever when these were usually seen only on the compact models.

Even more unusual is the flattened safety lever with the full width slide stop lever.

Maybe not original?

A 3rd gens widest point is at the ambi safety levers so maybe someone was trying to "slim it down" by swapping to a compact model's flattened lever and then foregoing the right side?

John?
 
JohnHL, as I mentioned, this is how I got the gun. Because it's been working just fine for a couple of years I saw no reason to change it. And, because it was one of the first Smiths I bought (gunbroker?? I really don't remember how I got it) and I knew zip about Smiths, I never though to do anything more than shoot it. I really appreciate Fastbolt's kindness and will post pics after I get through futzing with it.
 
dasnake said:
Model 5906
Serial TDF3047
I looked up the numbers but was told it was unlisted number.
Click to expand...

A 5906 is a 3rd gen model.

A square trigger guard was used on the early production 3rd gen pistols.

Square trigger guards generally date 3rd gen pistols to the late 1980s, but you never know with S&W.

I think you can still call or email them with your serial number and they can tell you when it shipped.

John
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

P
Model 52-2 safety lever broke off
Replies
14
Views
775
Sevens
S
E
Refreshed and improved 5906
Replies
1
Views
277
Tazman11
Tazman11
I
New to me S&W 645
Replies
13
Views
1K
RON K.
R
gdogs
Safety Options for a 469?
Replies
2
Views
826
stansdds
S
D
Shield Plus slide not locking back on empty 10 round magazine.
2
Replies
20
Views
1K
MoGunGuy
MoGunGuy

Latest posts

Back
Top