6906: Help with sights and Is It an "Evidence" Gun?

[Redcoat3340]

Well, I had my new-to-me 6906 (I date it to around 1994 based on the VAN start of the serial) to the range and it ran well through a box of PPU 124 gr. FMJ (after I did a basic strip and clean up).

Just finished a very deep clean and a bit of light polishing on the draw bar and it runs a bit smoother. I never, ever should have sold that one I did back a few years ago.

But the sights are a bit of a mess. See pics.

Wondering if anyone can point me to a good YouTube on how to change out non-Novak style 3 dots on a 6906? I'll also be looking for new sights to replace the old ones and any suggestions as to what kind folks prefer would be appreciated.

Normally I'd take the gun to my smith for new sights, but am feeling adventurous and would like to master that bit of repair work. (And if I screw it up I can always take it to the smith.)

And then there's the pencil etching on the left side of the frame. Still haven't written to the dealer who sold it to me, but will after I finish this.

If anyone recognizes what's on the picture, I'd appreciate it.

 

[hammy5150]

Well, I had my new-to-me 6906 (I date it to around 1994 based on the VAN start of the serial) to the range and it ran well through a box of PPU 124 gr. FMJ (after I did a basic strip and clean up).

Just finished a very deep clean and a bit of light polishing on the draw bar and it runs a bit smoother. I never, ever should have sold that one I did back a few years ago.

But the sights are a bit of a mess. See pics.

Wondering if anyone can point me to a good YouTube on how to change out non-Novak style 3 dots on a 6906? I'll also be looking for new sights to replace the old ones and any suggestions as to what kind folks prefer would be appreciated.

Normally I'd take the gun to my smith for new sights, but am feeling adventurous and would like to master that bit of repair work. (And if I screw it up I can always take it to the smith.)

And then there's the pencil etching on the left side of the frame. Still haven't written to the dealer who sold it to me, but will after I finish this.

If anyone recognizes what's on the picture, I'd appreciate it.

That scrawl on the side of your gun looks very similar to what's scratched into the dustcover and barrel on my 5906TSW. I'd initially thought it was an LE-trade in and the person I bought it from thought it was too but it actually being an evidence room gun honestly makes more sense with how chewed up externally it was when I got it.

 

[sigp220.45]

Thats exactly the format on the Beretta I just got from Sportsmans Warehouse. They got it from Century Arms International.

I assume it is a case number or evidence number. There are no import marks.

Mine has the same number on the barrel, too.

 

[Steve912]

I don't know if it applies to early version sights, but the
Novaks (front and rear) drift out to the right, and are
reinstalled from the right and driven left. If you look very
closely at corners of the sight on both left and right sides,
you should be able to make out a very slight taper, on the
side that "starts" into slide, for installation (the tapers may
be full of grunge and hard to distinguish, initially).

The "03" might designate a case in 2003. Can't make out anything else.

How's the frame hole for the slide stop axis look? Slide looks to be
sitting further forward on frame, than usual.

 

[Buford57]

I make the AF-03 part as a 2003 case number, the 3 alpha characters as the agency initials (last 2 appear to be P.D.) and Ex1 to refer to Exhibit 1 from that case.

I'm amazed any LE professional in this day and age still practices that form of vandalism on a piece of property that already has a unique identifier applied by the manufacturer.

 

[Jeppo]

I'm amazed any LE professional in this day and age still practices that form of vandalism on a piece of property that already has a unique identifier applied by the manufacturer.

Unless they descended from Lt. Tragg.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

They got it from Century Arms International.

CAI is a huge re-importer so your gun could be just that. My 6906 is a re-import with CAI markings.

Maybe the markings can be seen; hard to tell...........

 

[Racer X]

looks like some banger wanted to bling it up, and polished the anodizing off the frame.

 

[18DAI]

Yup, evidence gun. And one of the property room clerks etched it with the designators. It would make you weep to see how property room personell treat firearms.

As an aside, do you know why its called "Bling"? Because thats the sound it makes when struck by a 230 grain 45. Regards 18DAI

 

[stansdds]

Looks like an evidence ID to me. In order to put Novak sights on that slide, the rear of the slide will have to be milled to accept the Novak rear sight.

 

[max]

I found a later model slide and barrel on EBAY for less than it would have cost to have the sights changed out. I got the sights I wanted and an additional slide and barrel.

 

[damienph]

I bought a lot of about 50 assorted magazines a few years ago from a County Sheriff’s Office. All were marked similarly to the markings on the OP’s gun.

 

[Borderboss]

I'm amazed any LE professional in this day and age still practices that form of vandalism on a piece of property that already has a unique identifier applied by the manufacturer.

The vast majority of LE people are not "into" guns. I think most of them figure that the gun will eventually be destroyed, so they don't care what they do to it.

 

[Doug M.]

In addition, there are priorities: proper documentation of evidence for a serious case is a BFD, and will be more important than the value of the item in most cases. Given that the serial # is adequate ID, it should be a non-issue, but ...

 

[3wire]

I purchased a 4516-2 that had similar markings on it, but the numbers were place in inconspicuous areas.

Mine was engraved on the frame at the mag well flare, top of the the barrel(hidden by the slide), the underside of the edge of the slide rail and the magazine. None of the numbers are visible when the gun is assembled.

My 4516-2 was a Puerto Rican police trade-in, being a police trade-in, I'm told these are not evidence ID numbers, but they look similar to the OP's 6906.

 

[Borderboss]

I purchased a 4516-2 that had similar markings on it, but the numbers were place in inconspicuous areas.

Mine was engraved on the frame at the mag well flare, top of the the barrel(hidden by the slide), the underside of the edge of the slide rail and the magazine. None of the numbers are visible when the gun is assembled.

My 4516-2 was a Puerto Rican police trade-in, being a police trade-in, I'm told these are not evidence ID numbers, but they look similar to the OP's 6906.

Couldn't these just as easily be evidence numbers? A law enforcement agency could sell old evidence guns through the same channel that they sell their old issue guns.

 

[Trooper224]

Yes, that's an evidence/property number.

For those of you grousing about the supposed vandalism done to this gun: there are very real chain of custody issues present when dealing with evidence. Any property number not permanently afixed to evidence can be changed, or the possibility of it being altered can at least be introduced during a trial. Hence, the need for this kind of marking. Would you rather have a murder walk free so the condition of your future collectable can be preserved or would you rather see a conviction?

Best to stay in your lane and not lecture cops on cop stuff.

That poor gun has been pretty badly mistreated. A property number is the least of its concerns.

 

[ispcapt]

But they know all about police work, evidence, and chain of custody. They watch all the crime shows on TV and see how the TV cops do it. They've watched some really serious murder cases after 9 PM. They know all about it.

Yes, that's an evidence/property number.
For those of you grousing about the supposed vandalism done to this gun: there are very real chain of custody issues present when dealing with evidence. Any property number not permanently afixed to evidence can be changed, or the possibility of it being altered can at least be introduced during a trial. Hence, the need for this kind of marking. Would you rather have a murder walk free so the condition of your future collectable can be preserved or would you rather see a conviction?
Best to stay in your lane and not lecture cops on cop stuff.
That poor gun has been pretty badly mistreated. A property number is the least of its concerns.

 

[4T5GUY]

As an aside, do you know why its called "Bling"? Because thats the sound it makes when struck by a 230 grain 45. Regards 18DAI

I think I’ll still be laughing tomorrow.

Jim

 

[Buford57]

But they know all about police work, evidence, and chain of custody. They watch all the crime shows on TV and see how the TV cops do it. They've watched some really serious murder cases after 9 PM. They know all about it.

Maybe things have changed that significantly since I pulled the pin, but the murder cases I testified in all occurred during normal court hours and my sworn testimony plus contemporaneous notes and a manufacturers SN were always enough. Never mind that far more guns logged into evidence were the fruits of crime than the instrumentality. In other words, the property of honest citizens. I also never found it necessary to cut an evidence number into the side of a vehicle with an acetylene torch to supplement the VIN. What do you guys use to carve your mark into loose gems?