Model 3906. Good things are produced in small numbers.

The model 3906 is perhaps the most often overlooked 3rd generation pistol extant. If you do a Google search on it there is precious little information on the net. Even a search here returns fairly little, in comparison to the more talked about models.

Perhaps it is because the 3906 was only produced for around two years. Or the fact that the 3906 is a single stack pistol, containing hardly enough ammunition for a run to the stop & rob to buy milk. Or maybe its because of the 3906's chambering in 9mm which the internet experts tell us is practically insufficient to kill paper targets at the range with. Or perhaps it is because the 3906's all steel construction makes it a little heavy. I understand that lots of folks consider "heavy" pistols negatively these days. Maybe they should lift weights more often.

Yet the 3906 does have a following......small though it may be.

I've often read that one reason for the short production life of the 3906 was the rise in popularity of the high capacity wonder nines. If true, add one more thing to the list of problems those wonder nines caused. I've also read that the 3906 production numbers were alleged to be as low as 2600 pistols. That may account for the scarcity of these guns.

I found out about the existance of the 3906 some years ago here on this forum. I was intrigued by the prospect of a flat single stack 9mm, like my beloved 3913, with all steel construction. What a great platform for shooting hot 9mm rounds through. Might be the "perfect" do everything well pistol, for me.

It took me quite some time to track one down. The first one I came across was at a gunshow back around 2005.....or 2006. It had adjustable sights. Those looked out of place, to me, on a flat carry/combat pistol. The price was $475 IIRC with only one mag. I thought that was a bit much and passed. I didn't see another 3906 for almost five years. I jumped on that one!

Mine has the early fixed sights. They are a little small IMO. I'd have preferred a later production examle with the Novak low mounts. I still often toy with the idea of sending my 3906 off to Wayne Novak in Parkersburg WV to work a little magic on. I may yet do that.

Anyways, the 3906 really is a fine pistol. For just about every purpose. any other fans here? Regards 18DAI

I'd say I'm a fan, even though I haven't actually held a 3906...yet. I've had the one pictured sitting at my FFL for the last month or so, just need to come up with the extra $ for the transfer and tax fees

Like you, learning from posts here is what attracted me to the 3906. I was disappointed to learn that they were made in such small numbers, as I find most double stacks uncomfortably wide when compared to their single stack counterparts (even with my large hands).

Mine is destined to be mainly a HD piece, as I didn't like the idea of touching off a .357 - or even a .38 - indoors. 9mm still wouldn't be fun, but likely less damaging than the other two. I'll also pick up a holster for it, perhaps a Kramer Scabbard, so it can be carried too.

I was wondering if someone here had picked up the one that was on GB. If it would have had adjustable sights I would have been in it and gone $100 more. Nice gun just not the one I want.

Robinett 11B - Thats what I'm talking about! Beautiful 3906! Congrats!

You must lift weights too. I'm envisioning mine looking identical to yours after a trip to Novaks. Regards 18DAI

the 3906 is the classiest 9mm I've ever laid hand on - only seen one in person and the guy wanted way too much for it. I can't abide spending hard dollars for a 9mm when I can get a 45x6 for the same price

Robinett -- YEA! you found one! Nice looking gun, let us know how it shoots when you are able to pick it up.

I have a 3904 and am delighted to have it. I realize it isn't a 3906, I can only wish it was a 3906, or even a 5906 but when it came to me and the former U.S. Consul told me he could "arrange" for me to have it registered and to be able to take it shooting, I knew it was one of those situations where you either said "YES!" or did without for the rest of your life and kicked yourself for it.

When it came to me, I found the lower frame had all the anodizing worn off one side of the trigger guard. It was "found" by the Consul in the effects of a U.S. Citizen who died of natural causes, and of course was not registered when found. I had one of the Brownell's bake-on spray finishes applied and have been most happy with it. I did not pay the Colonel for it, exactly, but he had me give a "donation" of 300.00 dollars to the local charity of my choice from a list he provided and I walked with it. (I chose the local volunteer fire-department.)



I found the issue front sight, a .204 was causing me to group quite high at 25 yards using the Lee 125 grain RN bullet at 1,120 fps. So, I purchased a .228 front and that brought things together. These photos were taken with the original .204 front sight installed and the current sight is identical, just a bit higher. Although I have a Glock as well, I greatly prefer the 3904.

I just bought a 3904 off Gunbroker. I already have a 3913 I use for Summer carry under a shirt but I wanted 1 more round, a little longer grip and a little longer sight radius. I figure I can conceal another 1/2 inch of butt. We will see. The slimness of the 3904 reminds me very much of my old 45.

I have owned a 5906 for 20 years and it took getting my carry permit for me to appreciate the single column 9mm Smiths. I cannot believe S&W let the 3913 go out of production. I wish someone would buy the rights from them and put it back into production. Sig does well with their 239 and I think the 3913 is a better, slightly smaller pistol.

My own completely unqualified opinion is that the S&W 3904\6904, 3906\5906 autos were simply ahead of their time. Although they were old "non-plastic" technology, they are slim, light enough to carry and heavy enough not to beat you to death with recoil on snappy rounds, and they are accurate.

They came out in the age of the wondernine, and who would want one when one could have a wondernine? Now, in the age of concealed carry (legal or illegal, depending on which country you live in) people can appreciate the fact that the gun is slimmer and won't print in a proper holster.

In civilized lands, printing might cause a rebuke (or not). In uncivilized lands, it might literally be the death of you. You will notice that mine is photographed with the Galco Original ******* Shoulder System holster that I ordered to go with this pistol. It appeals to the "Miami Vice" fan in me.

A self-taken photo on the back patio with the then-new ******* rig. The 3904 wasn't even two-tone at that time. I was SO excited to have a 3904! I got the holster right away and have not regretted it since.



Another self-taken photo from a couple of years ago when our Club was looking for the new range (which is going through approval as we wait). I was driving around alone in a lot of back-country Mexico at the time in my Batmobile looking for suitable spots. I wore the 3904 because anyone I ran into out there either wouldn't care or would REALLY need to care. I stopped to take a this photo, and friends have suggested it gives the impression I am having more fun than I should be down here at times.



And of course, let's not forget the wedding photo. I wore the 3904 for my "Miami Vice Wedding" in 2008. Y'all would have loved it. Would have been another chance to use that pink suit.

Calmex, you are one brave hombre traveling the back roads of Mexico with a single stack 9....

If ever a real person embodied that "Stay Thirsty, My Friend" thing...

Dude, you're it!

18DAI said:

Or the fact that the 3906 is a single stack pistol, containing hardly enough ammunition for a run to the stop & rob to buy milk.

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Now that is the funniest thing I have read today!

Got one too. Old style sights from the first production run. Bought it back when they first produced. Still have the box & papers. Don't shoot it much anymore. Like much better that the fat grip wondernines. In fact the only "wondernine" I like is the original, my BHP.

I bought a 3904 because I liked the full size single stack and the blue 3904 is scarcest of them all and I got it at a great price... I would buy a 3906 if I could ever find one....just to have it The truth is those of us reading this know there in't a 3rd gen 9mm made that isn't awesome I am also a 10mm and 45 3rd gen nut..
but I don't own a .40 caliber in any brand...maybe I will someday but I keep telling myself I don't need one with my 10mm's and .45's and 9mm in +P..but that is a different discussion.

I finally found an affordable Mod 3904 with adjustable sights. Its a very nice pistol. Now I just need to find a 3906 with adjustable sights, a 3906 with fixed sights, and a 3904 with fixed sights. The end of the 3rd gen collection never stops.

I love mine. It is one sexy gun. This particular example was aquired here on the forums in trade for a 4013 TSW.

Great pistols without a doubt. Trijicon sights literally transform the early pistols with the (less than ideal) pre-Novak fixed sights.

usncorpsman1 said:

I love mine. It is one sexy gun. This particular example was aquired here on the forums in trade for a 4013 TSW.

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I"ve turned green with envy, that's the style 3906 or 04 I'm on the hunt for. Big thumbs up there Corpsman, you know that one would look really good with my 639s

I have been a fan of the 39-series pistols for as long as I can remember. And I was in love with the 3906 from the moment I laid hands on one shortly after they were introduced. Alas, the demands of a young family prevented me from buying one at the time and they were soon discontinued.

As my discretionary income increased, I bought a variety of guns, but was always on the lookout for a 3906. After years of searching, I found a pristine, late-production 3906 that I snatched up in 2006 for the princely sum of $350.

While I had fulfilled my dream, my 3906 story did not end well. I had always preferred pistols with thinner grips, but the 3906's grips turned out to be too thin. I shot the 3906 for a few years, but its grips were so thin that I was never able to become comfortable, or feel natural, when shooting it. I eventually sold the 3906, but I do have the consolation that it went to a good home where it is much appreciated.

I like my 3904, even though I doubt I'll ever carry it for self protection. My guess is that it's production life was so short lived because it really didn't fill a need that other S&W 3rd generation guns didn't fill better. Full size? 59xx. Something for detectives, admin officers, and others, but still has full capacity? 69xx. Something easier to conceal, good for detectives, small statured people? 3913/14/53, etc. Something for people who need to have a firearm but will be unlikely to need to use it? CS9.

Still, it's a well made and good looking firearm and it's worth having just for that reason.