I've read with interest the thread about the WVSP buying new 4566TSW's and the discussion, both pro and con, about the merits of the 3rd Gen S&W autos that resulted and asked myself “Why do I keep buying these S&W autos? What is it that holds my interest?“ and I'm not sure I have a good answer. At least not objectively.

My objective, engineering oriented mind says things like “There are more modern, higher capacity handguns out there. A Glock or M&P is lighter, easier to work on myself” but these musings do not satisfy so last night I got my recently purchased 4566TW out of the safe in the hopes that I might find an answer.

My immediate impression was that this thing is a right and proper gun with good heft and classic looks. Ok, I think to myself that I might be onto something. Then I racked the slide and noticed how there are ridges milled into the frame that funnel a cartridge onto the feed ramp should they get slightly off track during feeding and thought that that is a subtle bit of design that is pleasing both to the eye and to one's mechanical sensibilities. I then field stripped it and remarked that the barrel is machined somewhat differently than any other semi-auto I've handled. Both in the way that it cams up and down during the firing and feeding cycle and how the crown at the muzzle end engages the barrel bushing and serves the collateral duty of keeping that area free of debris. Several other features are similar in that they are subtle yet well thought out parts of a well designed whole.

It then occurred to me that the appeal of a m1911 is in its elegant simplicity along with its classic aesthetics. The appeal of this 4566TSW, in addition to its appearance, is in the engineering and the maturity of its detail. That it is a culmination of many small, sometimes minute improvements that result in a handgun that attracts on both the intellectual and visceral level.

I have a feeling that this will not be my last purchase of these old, heavy, outdated 3rd Generation S&W Autos.

Its funny a few years ago one of my customers gave/sold me a Star 25 auto. It scared me because I didnt think it was that well built and I was concerned about the safety and I also had an Uncle that was monkeying with a 25 and shot himself in the hand.
But I was attracted to this little gun like a moth to light

That gun made me aware that all the guns I liked were atleast some what like a 1911. This was a little baby 1911 I liked this stupid thing much more than the Glock 17 that I also owned. I started looking at all my autos and rated them the high rated ones (in my opionion) were similar to 1911s. The 3rd gens have some of the features and thats why I like them so much.
Hank

Mike Dont feel bad Be Happy or crazy like me,since December 3906,3913,3913TSW,3913LS,4013TSW.Dont know whats next.I do enjoy your reasoning if only the wife would understand.

Hey Nuke, if you live anywhere near New Albany (North East 'burb of Columbus) New Albany Shooting Range has a 3913 in great shape for $275.

$275? Are you kidding? What's their phone number?

Absolutely agree. Simple, solid and satisfying to shoot. The fact that they are relatively cheap right now makes them that much more appealing. While I can appreciate the virtues of modern polymers, I find myself drawn to the "burden" of old fashioned metal and alloy.

I like your thoughts Nuke. Very well said and I couldn't have expressed it any better. I own three 3rd gen. pistols and enjoy shooting all of them very much. I've been kicking around the idea of buying an M&P 40 but everytime I start looking and come across any of the 3rd. gen. 40's I find myself wanting one of those instead. You just can't beat the aesthetics of a well crafted metal frame gun!!

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I reckon so

Completely agree. I've held an XD, a Glock (HATED it) and the S&W polymers, but they just don't feel right. I'll stick with my 39-2's, 908, 910, and 457's.

After owning both and M&P and Glock pistols, it's been great to gather a few 3rd gen semi-autos. I was amazed at how good my 3906 felt in my hands. Just "natural" to me. What could be better than an metal framed pistol? One with wood grips....my newly acquired 39-2 not only looks great, it's a joy to shoot. Makes me wonder if there's yet another level of collecting here in just the 39s and 39-2s?? What beautifully finished pieces they are.

I had a feeling I would be preaching to the choir here but for some reason the discussion on the WVSP thread evoked an emotional response in me that I felt needed to be examined. I considered the arguments claiming that an all metal, heavy pistol with limited capacity would have no place in the modern market and, while I initially tended to agree, it didn't take me long to realize that was absurd. I also thought about the fact that a re-issue of a 4566TSW would undoubtedly be expensive but found that that alone is not a bar to success in today's market place. I only had to look at the venerable 1911 to realize that this pistol is enormously popular and has all of these so-called negative attributes.

Now before anyone balks at the idea of comparing the 1911 to a .45 caliber 3rd gen S&W, that isn't really the thrust of my discussion but, rather that these perceived negative qualities aren't in and of themselves a death knell for a particular design.

With having said all of that, what I really wanted to do was to understand why, when I pick up one these large 3rd gen S&W autos do I get this feeling that I have a real, honest-to-goodness hunk of fighting metal in my hand and I think my previous post covered this.

BTW, I'm in Chillicothe. If I were a little closer that 3913 would be mine. I really want one to try out as my CCW.

Wasn't trying to poach in anyone elses territory earlier... Just couldn't believe the price. That's at LEAST a hundred less than any 3913 you'd find around here.

It would be nice to find one around here at any price. I've seen one in the last year, right after I bought my 4003

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M&P .40, M&P 9c & Shield 45

Good post, sir!


The appeal to me of the 3rd Gen S&W's, 1911's, Sigs and similar other pistols and revolvers is the workmanship. I'll confess that on the surface I can't find much I really like about the 3rd gen S&W's. I don't like the DA/SA trigger, the ergonomics are only decent, and the slide mounted decockers can turn your hands into sliced meat.

With that said, thus far in my career in LE the 4566 is the only duty pistol I've known. Its one I also shot well and carried with complete confidence. During my time at the academy we put a combined total of nearly 60,000 rounds through our 4566's. I don't recall a single malfunction...

While I like my Glock, its a lifeless tool to me. Guns like my old 4566 (which I dearly miss) and their workmansip stir my soul in a way that a generic injection molded pistol never can.

My old duty rig...

While S&W did get the 3rd gens right and they are sexy in their own right, the only thing I would have liked to see would be smoother lines flowing and the shaving of some of the sharper edges.

I do like all of my 3rd gens in the 10xx series...

I think what you are experiencing is the delight in owning an old-fashioned all-steel autoloader.

I like the third gens too. Good pistols.

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July 4, 1776 not Jan 30, 1909

Ah, does the moniker mean you're an A-Plant refugee?

I'll wave the next time I drive down route 23 to P-Town!

Nuclearmike you get that feeling because you ARE holding a real honest to goodness hunk of fighting metal!

The only complaint I've ever heard about the 4566 is that it is a little heavy. That complaint is usually from someone who doesn't have a good gunbelt or holster.

Bet your life reliability, tack driving accuracy, life long durability, great trigger and looks good doing all that. Whats not to like?

I bet my life on 3rd generation S&W 45's everyday. Those who want that ugly striker fired plastic junk with the lousy triggers, are welcome to it. Regards 18DAI.

Well, I guess I'll put my oar in on this discussion. I agree with some of the above posters. The 3rd Gens harken back to a time of old world craftsmanship and design.

The 645 was my first S&W duty auto. It was HEAVY!!! But it was accurate, and reliable. I had read somewhere that it would feed empty cases. So I loaded up some, and sure enough it worked. I came to believe it would feed thread spools if they were small enough.

The 3rd Gen guns I think they got a better balance of feel, quality of the sights, etc. I have a 6906 which is a good gun, accurate and fun to shoot. If I were to be armed with a .45 acp again, I certainly would not feel bad about a 4566.

Toward the end of my career I carried Glocks. I will not disparage them. They work and work well. But they have all the personality and beauty of a pry bar. With no manual safety other than the one sticking out of the trigger, you have to be vary careful in the handling of Glocks. You can't just stuff them in your waistband for a quick trip to the store: At least not wth a loaded chamber. The 3rd Gens just have that certain subjective something that is hard to quantify, and probably varies widely from shooter to shooter anyway. They are rugged, safe, and nice to look at.

Take care guys and enjoy them 3rd Gen Smiths.

SR78

Used to be in the nuclear industry. My old company had folks in Piketon but I never made it there. These days I take care of all the radiation "stuff" at the cancer center down in Portsmouth.

Hello everyone.

I also have a soft spot for the 3rd gen S&W autos. I also think it's got to do with the style and quality of machining.

Years ago I had a 5903, 6906, 4516, 4566, and CS-45 which were all great guns.

After I had them a while I got bored and decided to go with all polymer so I bought Glocks, Spfld. XD, Ruger, Kahr, Taurus etc.

Now I've swung back the other way and only want steel or aluminum frame autos so I bought another 6906 and a 457.

Still deciding what kind of large size D/A .45acp to buy, maybe a all steel EAA / CZ clone.

I realize that I am late to the game. Although I am in my 60's I just got back into handguns about 3 years ago after a 30 year hiatus.
I owned 38 special and 32 revolvers the first time around. My first purchase 3 years ago was a CA Undercover and then a 642.
Then I got the semiauto bug. After a series of polymer pocket guns I bought an RIA 1911 and then an FM hipower, a Bersa or 2 and finally a 3913. I just shot the 3913 today for the first time.
I shoot my Kahrs and my LCP once a month because I still carry them, but when I just want to shoot and enjoy I grab my 1911 or my Hipower and now my 3913. The 3913 may just break into the rotation though. It is extremely accurate and pretty too.

Hi Franco.

Better late then never

That 3913 is a great gun !! It's just like my 6906 with a narrower frame. A friend of mine carried one for years.

Thanks Randy, I am already considering putting a 5906 on layaway at the local Gander Mountain. They have several police trade ins for about $400. By the way welcome.

Gary Cole Distributing on Gunbroker has lots of old S&W 59xx and 69xx series police and military trade in's for 325.00 - 350.00 and has good shipping rates too. I've bought quite a few from them over the years and have got nice guns and good service.

If you like the 5906 have you looked at the 5903 ? It's the exact same gun with a aluminum lower instead of stainless so it's a little lighter. I had one several years ago and really liked it.

Here's a link to one of their auctions but they have many going so check them out.

S&W 5903 9mm Stainless : Semi-auto at GunBroker.com

I consider polymer guns to be utilitarian pieces. Like the LCP is small and light; great for CC. But the handguns I want to own/collect are made of metal. Like rifles; synthetic stock vs nice walnut stock. Or shotguns; 870 vs a Kreighoff/Purdy.

The good about 3rd gens, they cross both lines. Nice clean lines and collectable for their history. The only aspect I don't like is most of these double stack guns don't fit my smaller hands. The single stack guns don't come with a hammer (have to install them yourself) for easier trigger pull.

I have been a wheelgun guy from the day 1.When I became a instructor figured it was time to delve into the semi-auto.I first was given a Glock to look at and became alarmed @ having to dry fire the gun to break it down.1 little distraction and the recipe for a negligent discharge.I then looked @ the 3913 and liked the way it fit my hand and the magazine safety feature.I wasn't too happy with the double -single trigger but it was something I could learn and it was all metal.On day I got my hands on a CS9 and all was right.It totally fit my small hand,was all metal,and had the features I wanted.When she got home I worked with Big Dog and the Delrin Grip was made,put Trijicon Night Sights on and had it converted to DAO that I love.Haven't looked back since and being it fits me so well I only bought one other semi auto,a 1977 Walther PPKS because i always wanted a James Bond Gun.

If the drive's not too far, check Vance's in Columbus. They usually have dozens of 3rd Gen police trades in 9mm, 40 cal and 45 acp for $320-$399.

Lets not forget the 908 for those of us who have not yet found a pristine 3913 or cs 9, it makes an excellent EDC. I also have a 4586 and pulling the trigger on her is like drawing your finger through melted butter, a bit too large and heavy to carry but a real joy to shoot....

I contemplated on selling my 459 (2nd gen)a few months back. I must admit I've been looking into the newer guns out there. But when I tried holding and shooting some of the newer pistols I suddenly remembered why I loved the old 459. Try pulling the slide and releasing it and listen to the metal to metal sound...music. It sounded so reassuring that a round has been properly loaded and ready to fire. That to me is a very good reason to buy S&W.

Jun