5944 Good price?

[gcarneal]

I seen this 5944 in a local gun shop and was interested right away. I never even heard of a 5944 before but liked it, so I went home and did some searching for info.Only made 1990-91, it has Tru Dot nite sites with the correct box, manual,warranty pamplet,two 15 rd magazines and a customer reply quetionnaire form that gives it a lifetime service policy. Their asking $475 for it. It is in 98% plus condition.(If it was shot, it wasn't much) and I don't believe it was ever carried. Is this a good price or should I just pick-up a MP-9 and forget it?

[Scotter260]

I'd say it's a touch high but it does appear to be in very nice condition with all the extras so I guess it depends if you like it more than an M&P. It certainly has more panache than an M&P.

If they'll work on the price a bit with you I'd say go for it. My local guy will always work better on DAOs because they don't sell.

FWIW, I had a lot more invested in one that was in much worse condition. I sold that one at a fairly hefty loss then bought another for $500 in similar condition to the one above with all the accessories.

[Tarheel97]

My thought is you can always get an M&P later. This won't be there later.

[586nickel]

Originally Posted by Tarheel97

My thought is you can always get an M&P later. This won't be there later.

I'll second that thought.

[Craig19]

that is very interesting. I have to agree, if you like the 3rd GENs, you probably will never see that again, especially in that condition.

[4864]

If you like it buy it! I too think that it is just a tad too high. Offer them $400 and see what happens.

[Grog]

That squared trigger guard might make holsters slightly harder to find.


I think the price is a tad high, but I would rather pay $475 for the 5944 than an M&P.

[Dave Nash]

Originally Posted by gcarneal

I seen this 5944 in a local gun shop and was interested right away. I never even heard of a 5944 before but liked it, so I went home and did some searching for info.Only made 1990-91, it has Tru Dot nite sites with the correct box, manual,warranty pamplet,two 15 rd magazines and a customer reply quetionnaire form that gives it a lifetime service policy. Their asking $475 for it. It is in 98% plus condition.(If it was shot, it wasn't much) and I don't believe it was ever carried. Is this a good price or should I just pick-up a MP-9 and forget it?

The 5944 was a good gun and this sample looks very clean but there are several things you should consider before you make up your mind.

First, I would ask if the gun shop that has it would let you safely dry fire it. The single strike Double Action Only (DAO) system is much different in regard to length of pull than that seen on Smith’s Traditional Double Action (TDA) pistols. It’s “feel” may or may not be to your liking. Additionally, the fact that it is a single strike system (meaning that you cannot just pull the trigger a second time on non-firing round; something that never bothered me) is something that concerns some people and you need to make up your mind about that too.

The picture you provided shows a DAO gun with a straight backstrap grip. Many people believe that with the possibly inherent rocking motion that a double action trigger can induce in the hand (that is a something of a rotational movement of the gun when a longer, pivoting trigger with a heavier spring is employed), a curved backstrap might make more sense to resist it. Look at the original 39, many of the older European double action pocket pistols, the wishes on the parts of some people for aftermarket curved backstrap grips for some of the smaller 3rd Gen guns that weren’t offered with them, as well as the complaints about the original 59 (where it probably employed a straight backstrap to help keep the girth of its double column design to a minimum) and you’ll see what I mean.

So you need to decide if the flat backstrap grip works for you. Again, safely dry-firing the gun might give you some indication of this. If it does, fine. If it doesn’t, then it’s just a simple matter of switching them out, as the other (curved) version is readily available. It’s just that doing so will add a bit more to your total investment.

The other thing that stands out to me in the photo is that TruDot rear sight. Unless this particular gun was part of some special order that I am not aware of (and being relatively familiar with these early DA guns, I don’t think that it was), it is not original to the gun. If they look good to you and they are properly installed then fine. But most people would look at them as a negative in terms of value (telling you if you ever decide to sell the pistol– even with the box and all the papers – that the gun – even in great condition – is not “straight”). What does the original factory label on the end of the box say about this? Anything?

Me, I wouldn’t worry so much about that but I always wonder when you see one change, whether or not other unseen modifications exist elsewhere within the gun. Just a thought.

As a matter of fact, there are some people that might question whether the straight backstrap grip (at least it is an S&W component) is original to the gun, as a lot of folks believe that the curved backstrap version was the stock inclusion. But with Smith’s past proclivity to use whatever parts might have been on hand on any given day, one never really knows about that. The possibly computer generated box label might help you here too.

To me, those are the kinds of things you should be considering in addition to the price. Do you like the “grip”? Does the gun feel good in your hand? Do you like action? Does the trigger release in a way that you are comfortable/compatible with? And do the sights give you a picture you can truly use under the conditions in which you expect to employ the gun?

Also “Grog’s” comment about the square triggerguard and holster availability is a very valid one and something that many people don’t think about. If you’re not going to carry the gun, it won’t matter but if you are, you would be best to safely try the gun in any holster you might consider and not just attempt to buy one through the mail. For while many will work with both a square and round guard and some will work with both the short round and extended square formats, a great number of manufacturers stopped shaping things to accept this type of guard when it fell out of favor in the 1990’s.

The 5944 was a good idea and a good firearm; it’s just one that is different than the traditional double action Smith pistol and one that many people are not very familiar with.

Hope this helps.

[gcarneal]

Thanks for all the answers on the 5944 price. Alot of fuel for thought. I went back to the store this A.M. and took a look at the box. The product code was 103022 and the feature codes are 15SH-FS-DA-A. Back home to look at the S&W Standard Catalog and looked it up. The product codes matched the features but does not show the last A.
15SH/15 shot-FS/ fixed sights-DA/ double action-A/ ?
Anybody know what the A stands for? Thanks again for all the help.

[snw19_357]

Did you also happen to catch the Spec Ord number?

A - alloy frame.

I have seen FA and AA used for alloy frames also.

Features on a 5946: 15SH-FS-DA-S

[gcarneal]

Back to the shop and yes I was able to get the Spec. Ord. # 0250. I offered $450 OTD, he came back with $450 plus tax.

[andyo5]

First, decide how much you want the gun. Personally, I'd prefer this one to an M&P. Anyhow, the price is not bad for a pristine gun with the box and other goodies.
If you want it, shoot them an offer of $400 and wave cash in their face. Bargain hard, to the point of saying thanks and walking towards the door. But if in the end they won't budge, buy the darned thing and be happy. It's a sweet gun.
Then again, if there is a gun that you'd rather have then there is no point buying this one. Wait for the one that you want. Patience usually pays off.

[Scotter260]

That's not bad but I'm surprised he wouldn't work a bit more than that with you. If I had the money and opportunity I'd definitely want the 5944 over the M&P but that's obviously not my decision to make.

Perhaps of interest, two other 5944s Spec. Ord. #s (what's chronological mean?):
TEY4747 - 0150
TES7077 - 0211

If my understanding of Spec. Ord. #s is correct, your pistol was "born" on the 250th day of 1990.

I hope it works out for you either way.

[blujax01]

First, this gun is wholly different from an M&P 9. This will feel like a 15 round revolver.

Still interested? Let me enable you:

I have a 3954 (9MM single stack DAO) and wish it had night sights on it. A set to fit your pistol (see, we're already calling it "your pistol") would run about a Benjamin installed.

This makes the gun $350 plus tax - a bargain in any market.

Buy the gun.

[Forsmithers]

Just checking back. Did you get it yet?? We are all waiting to see some more pictures of it!!!! And a range report too.

[gcarneal]

No I have not been back to the gun shop.I'll let him sit on it awhile at the price they are asking for it. If they still have it next week, I'll re-new my offer for $450 out the door.
Thanks for all the replies and thoughts on the 5944. It is in great condition,I do not think it was ever holstered,and only test fired then put away for twenty years.

[Forsmithers]

Gcarneal, It sounds like you have a good plan. I am a firm believer that "If it is meant to be, it WILL happen." Good luck on your next approach.

[gcarneal]

I quess it was meant to be because on my return to the gun shop they sold it to me for the $450 out the door. That was yesterday, so give me the weekend to get to the range. Nice,nice ,nice gun. Thanks everyone for the thoughts on the 5944. I think I'm going to like it.

[photoman]

I'm new to third gen autos but, from what I've learned so far, you got a great deal. Looks like a very nice pistol.

[Scotter260]

Good to hear you got it, I don't think you'll be disappointed.