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01-16-2010, 04:32 PM
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6944 DAO Blue Compact 9mm (1 of 512 produced)
I bought this pistol in late November from the original owner. Was in my gun safe thru the Holidays. Thought I would show it off today.
The following is the quote from the original owner. He was great to deal with and made my first online purchase a pleasure.
"I bought the gun new in 1992, I traded in my Glock 19 for it. I saw the 6944 in an article in Combat Handguns magazine, and had to have one, it was S&W's first attempt to answer the Glock craze. I liked that it was DAO with no external safety. I had to special order it as the local gun stores did not stock this gun. The gun came with stock sights, but I had ordered the Novak low Profile Bar-Dot sights for it directly from S&W, as they were an original factory option as S&W had a special working relationship with Novak and were pretty exclusive as you couldn't get Novaks on other makes than S&W at the time. Novak sights were also on the gun in the article that made me want to buy it. The sights are designed to not snag when drawing from concealment and very expensive I think over $150 at the time 1992 and I had them professionally installed shortly after I bought the gun. When I first got it and took it to the range the trigger pull was incredibly heavy, my hand would literally be shaking after shooting just one or two magazines through it. I did some hand exercises to get used to it and was able to get myself to shoot it very well but I still wasn't satisfied so I had my gunsmith do a trigger job at the same time the night sights were installed. I hope you find the trigger satisfactory and to your liking, I always did."
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6944, 6592 RSR, 1006
Last edited by 6946 fan; 02-19-2010 at 05:15 PM.
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01-16-2010, 06:10 PM
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That is an exceedingly scarce variation, congrats on acquiring it.
I've been keeping my sights set on one if 1) I could find one, and 2) if it had the round trigger guard.... unfortunately I've been skunked on both counts, and I fear if one ever show'd up it would have the square guard like yours.
As to the original owners ascertion that this was an answer to Glock, I'd not necessarily agree since the "Mini Gun" concept had been around with S&W for years, the original guns were the M469/669 guns, followed by the Third Gen versions, and then during the "gun of the month" timeframe all the assorted variations surfaced.... TDA/DAO/Decocker versions. Of the DAO guns, the scarcest ones are the blue variations, the M6944 is the one I've been looking for to finish out my fledgling DAO collection, but I've focused on the later round trigger guard versions.
Oh well.....
Neat gun!
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.............SmithNut
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01-16-2010, 09:21 PM
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Thanks for posting that gun! I've read about them but never seen even a picture of one. Beautiful condition too.
Regards,
Jerry
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01-16-2010, 09:30 PM
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Very nice acquisition, thank you for sharing it with us.
What does the warning read? "Caution - Model numbers on parts must agree" or similar? Strange warning, seems like that should be for an assembler, not the end-user.
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01-16-2010, 11:02 PM
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SWCA Member Absent Comrade
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scotter260
What does the warning read? "Caution - Model numbers on parts must agree" or similar? Strange warning, seems like that should be for an assembler, not the end-user.
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Also, notice that the model number is noted on the slide in additon to the frame. Interesting gun for sure. I'm a big fan of that frame size ever since the introduction of the 469, but I've never seen one of those before.
Brian~
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01-16-2010, 11:15 PM
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When I saw the listing for this gun I knew it was rare. I was low on funds so I had to sell my 6906. Figured it was good gamble. I was able to pick up a 4576 back in August. Been very lucky lately on my gun purchases.
I am sending my paperwork in to Mr Jinks very soon. I need to know how many of these were made.
Thanks for the comments.
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6944, 6592 RSR, 1006
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01-17-2010, 01:21 AM
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Nice score, congratulations. Too bad about having to lose the 6906 but that was probably the best move. It can be more easily replaced.
An additional congratulations on finding something Smithnut doesn't have. Not easy to do from what I've seen!
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01-17-2010, 01:40 AM
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man, that is sweet!
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01-17-2010, 11:43 PM
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Has anyone ever seen a 6924? I have read only 5 were ever made. That would be a major score.
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6944, 6592 RSR, 1006
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01-18-2010, 03:41 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 6946 fan
...I had to sell my 6906.
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You can find another 6906. This was a great score!
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01-19-2010, 07:36 PM
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I appreciate the feed back. Thanks folks.
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6944, 6592 RSR, 1006
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02-19-2010, 05:25 PM
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I received my letter from Mr Jinks today. The reply was very fast, less than a month. Thank you Mr Jinks.
The letter states the following along with a ship date of 1-25-92.
"This model was manufactured from parts that were in stock from the Model 669 and the Model 6904 as a special order for RSR Distributor Group. It was a combination to use up the parts that were in stock when the factory changed to the Third Generation auto-loading pistols. This is completely unique model. The factory produced 512 units of the 6944 between serial number TFB0047 - TFB0558."
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6944, 6592 RSR, 1006
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02-19-2010, 06:06 PM
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I'm not sure when it was shipped, but the box shows it was made in July of 1990 (which is more in time with the square trigger guard). And as for parts, about the only ones it has in common with a 669 or a 6904 are a few pins and the magazines. Your gun has a proprietary slide and frame, as do all the early DAO models with the half-cocked hammer. It could not have been made as a transitional parts gun.
Now, there is a very good chance that this lot of 512 were made in 1990 and sat around the factory for 2 years until they were shipped off as part of a deal with RSR.
I remember handling a 5944 dealer sample way back when. Nice.
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02-19-2010, 08:08 PM
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Very nice gun. I have a 5946 with squared trigger guard, guess I should have it lettered.
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04-12-2012, 03:42 PM
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I just acquired a S&W 6944 today. It's in excellent condition, not a scratch on it. I did some research before making a trade (for a Taurus I had $280 invested in) and decided that with so few of these produced, I just had to add it to the collection. It was a no-brainer I think.
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S&W 6906, 6944
Last edited by All2kool; 04-12-2012 at 03:44 PM.
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04-12-2012, 05:46 PM
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And now for the pictures:
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S&W 6906, 6944
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04-13-2012, 11:39 PM
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So, I have a 3914 and a 3953. I'm trying to wrap my head around the differences. Yours is double column mag, blued, DAO, squared trigger guard. My 3953 is single column mag, stainless, DAO, round trigger guard.
I always feel smarter when I can break the Smith code. Nice pistol for sure.
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02-16-2015, 01:43 AM
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Being new this is my first posting-I have recently found a model 6944 with a serial # higher than 0558. This pistol has a stainless steel slide and the serial begins with TVD. On the opposite side is a stamping for DSC Prescott Az- This I believe is Davidson's. How can this DA-6944 be possible with a serial # higher than the rare 518 supposed to be manufactured? Just checking because the gun is for sale.
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02-16-2015, 04:02 AM
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halbstarke - the 6944 that is listed for sale cant be a 6944 if it has a stainless slide, that would be a 6943 if the frame is alloy, or a 6946 if the frame is stainless, hence the reason the serial number is not in the range mentioned.
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02-16-2015, 07:42 PM
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S&W fumbled the model numbers with the 69xx series. As mentioned, the 6944 is a blue slide on an alloy frame. A stainless slide on an alloy frame which should be a 6943 is actually a 6946. There is no 6943 and there is no 69xx with a stainless frame.
Of course there's nothing to prevent someone from slapping a stainless slide(6946 or even 3953)on a 6944 frame.
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05-14-2020, 02:47 AM
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What ???
Quote:
Originally Posted by 6946 fan
I received my letter from Mr Jinks today. The reply was very fast, less than a month. Thank you Mr Jinks.
The letter states the following along with a ship date of 1-25-92.
"This model was manufactured from parts that were in stock from the Model 669 and the Model 6904 as a special order for RSR Distributor Group. It was a combination to use up the parts that were in stock when the factory changed to the Third Generation auto-loading pistols. This is completely unique model. The factory produced 512 units of the 6944 between serial number TFB0047 - TFB0558."
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But my 6944 has a s/n of TVD 0634 ????
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09-14-2020, 05:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by grcoffman104
But my 6944 has a s/n of TVD 0634 ????
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At least 3 S/N groups exist of 6944 with curved trigger guards P/N 108138 produced after the initial group of 512 with square trigger guards P/N 103124.
First by alphabetical order is the TVD group of which there are at least 2 examples including yours and a TVD057x.
Second is the TZB group of which there are at least 5 examples (TZB6740, TZB6776, TZB6778, TZB6813, and TZB6817) which according to SW were produced in late 1992 and shipped in early 1993.
Third is the TZZ group of which only 1 example has surfaced (TZZ3317)
I can only say anything definitive about the second (TZB) group - of which I posses one - It has what appears to be a blackened stainless slide with 6944 marked inside the top on the muzzle end (See photo). It does not have the Model 6944 marked on left of slide, nor does it have the parts caution on the right side of slide. It does not appear to have anything obvious in common with the second generation 669 - certainly not the frame or the slide. It has 3 levers at the rear of the frame unlike my earlier 6946 (1990) which has only 2 levers, but the same as my late 6946 (1998). I have also seen 1991/92 vintage 3953's with the 2 lever setup (See photo).
Last edited by ACEd; 09-14-2020 at 05:14 PM.
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09-15-2020, 09:31 PM
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Thank you!
For digging into this!!!
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09-17-2020, 08:58 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ACEd
At least 3 S/N groups exist of 6944 with curved trigger guards P/N 108138 produced after the initial group of 512 with square trigger guards P/N 103124.
First by alphabetical order is the TVD group of which there are at least 2 examples including yours and a TVD057x.
Second is the TZB group of which there are at least 5 examples (TZB6740, TZB6776, TZB6778, TZB6813, and TZB6817) which according to SW were produced in late 1992 and shipped in early 1993.
Third is the TZZ group of which only 1 example has surfaced (TZZ3317)
I can only say anything definitive about the second (TZB) group - of which I posses one - It has what appears to be a blackened stainless slide with 6944 marked inside the top on the muzzle end (See photo). It does not have the Model 6944 marked on left of slide, nor does it have the parts caution on the right side of slide. It does not appear to have anything obvious in common with the second generation 669 - certainly not the frame or the slide. It has 3 levers at the rear of the frame unlike my earlier 6946 (1990) which has only 2 levers, but the same as my late 6946 (1998). I have also seen 1991/92 vintage 3953's with the 2 lever setup (See photo).
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Per SW, 6944 Manufacture Dates as follow:
P/N 103124 (Original D Trigger Guard) S/N TFB 043x 7/1990
P/N 108138 (Curved Trigger Guard) S/N TVD 063x 4/1993
P/N 108138 (Curved Trigger Guard) S/N TZB 674x 4/1993
P/N 108138 (Curved Trigger Guard) S/N TZB 681x 1993
P/N 108138 (Curved Trigger Guard) S/N TZZ 331x 7/1993
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09-23-2020, 11:45 PM
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Nice find!!! I have one as well!!
Cheers!
David
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09-24-2020, 04:58 AM
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S/N ?
Seems like there was a run after the first 512....
Where’s yours at in the scream of things?
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09-24-2020, 08:11 PM
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It appears that in addition to the 512 in the TFB block with early squared trigger guard circa 1990, there was 1 or more special orders placed for 6944s with the curved trigger guard for delivery in 1992/1993. I seem to have hit a brick wall in finding information on subsequent order(s). Assuming serial numbers were assigned in a block like was apparently done for the first 512 - and there is no guarantee such was done - there would be at least 60-70 in the TVD 057x-063x group, another 70-80 in the TZD 674x-681x group and an unbounded quantity in the TZZ33xx group (single known example) Mine is in the middle group. Of course these could be a single order and there is no guarantee they were made in continuous S/N blocks and at least one, but only one known has reimport marks.
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3914, 3953, 669, 6906, glock, gunsmith, jinks, novak, smith & wesson, smith and wesson, taurus |
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