Good evening, all.

I am looking for a 6906. I had one years ago but like a dunce I sold it to buy something else. How important was that something else? No idea because I can't even recall what I replaced the 6906 with. Yep, it's a sad tale. With that being said I am wanting to pick up another 6906.

The 6906 I once owned had the rounded trigger guard. I always preferred the square trigger guard but couldn't find one back then. This time I really want to get the square trigger guard, but I'm wondering what differences other than the shape of the guard are there between the square and rounded? When S&W went to the rounded guard were there other refinements done to the pistol? As much as I like the square guard I don't want to purchase one if the rounded guard was a genuinely better pistol.

I apologize if my question possesses an obvious answer. I truly am not well versed in the changes in models that S&W did and is doing through the years.

Thank you all in advance for any thoughts and advise.

Take care.
Aaron

About the only difference I can think of would be the rear sight. Most all square guard versions will have the straight blade rear sight. The Novak low mounts didn't come in at the same time as the round guard but they were real close to the same time frame.

I do know that you can check gunbroker.com as I have seen some of the square trigger guard styles on there recently. Hope this helps....

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Don't be the victim...

Hi, Aaron!
Your intuition is correct. Smith & Wesson made improvements to their products continually throughout their span of production. Therefore the newest pistols contained the latest refinements. The square trigger guard frames were left over from the 2nd gen production run so the company used them up as they phased in the 3rd gen changes. Changes which included Novak sights (as handgunner356 pointed out), a wider barrel hood and corresponding changes to the slide, MIM (Metal Injected Molded) parts, and changes to the ejector and extractor. These refinements came not just to the 6906 but were used throughout the 3rd gen line up. This is not to suggest there were serious deficiencies in the early pistols but rather came about as the change over to CNC machining and newer manufacturing techniques allowed for closer tolerances to be held.
In summary, if you like the square trigger guards, buy one with confidence. If you want to have all the latest refinements, you'll have to go with round.
Did this help?
John

Transitional 6906's had either Blade or Novak Rear sights....I always held out for Square Trigger Guards and Novak Rears.....My favorite S&W Autos......Zebulon

The changes cited by JohnHL were incremental, in that they didn't come all at once. Thus there are 6906s galore. My particular example has rounded (but deeply grooved) front trigger guard, Novacks, narrow barrel hood, and chromed hammer and trigger. None of these effect the function, of course, except the hammer and trigger. The MIM parts are said by some experienced shooters to have smoother action than the previous production. I don't disagree with that, but I don't agree with it either. The CS9 I own has MIM parts and is appreciable smoother than the 6906. However, I have a 908S that also sports MIM and it's trigger action is less than the '06. Of course, the fact that the 908 was a value line pistol may enter into the situation.
As JohnHL says, get what you want. With any or none of the "improvements" - maybe just call them changes? - the 6906 as you remember is a class pistol.

Thank you, all, for the information.

handgunner356, thank you for the reminder about the Novak sights. Mine had them and I have always been a fan.

War Eagle, I checked Gunbroker as that is where I just picked up a 4516. They had one that I was really interested in but someone hit the "Buy It Now" and all was lost. Sigh.

Zebulon, you have exactly what I would like most. That version is nothing but beautiful.

JohnHL and tom-tom, thank you so much for the list of changes the Smith semi-automatics went through. All I would have ever been able to tell someone is that thee 6906 was stainless, held 12 rounds, and, at least on mine, had Novak sites. You folks put my scant knowledge to shame. :-)

Thank you folks yet again. I know better what to look for.

I did find some LE trade-ins in NJ on Gunsamerica. The gentleman I contacted was kind enough to send a few pictures. They look like they've seen holster wear and been handled, but who knows about how well they function. $395 gets one in excellent (95%) condition with an extra magazine. $295 gets one in around the 70% range. I'm wondering what you folks think. Truly, I am not seeking a safe queen. One with the original box and magazines would be fantastic, but I plan on carrying and using the pistol. With that in mind should I entertain one of the trade-ins or pass and keep looking?

Take care.
Aaron

$295 for a carry grade 6906, I'd be ALL OVER THAT, especially if that price included shipping.

In my carry rotation is the 6906's dark horse brother, the 6904. My 6904 has the squared off trigger guard, narrow ejection port and blade rear sight, no MIM. Bought it in 2001 from SOG for $79.00 + shipping. It was one of their LEO trade-in "Gunsmith Specials".

Only problem with the square guard that I have found is most holster manufacturers dropped the S & W square trigger guard holster as a stock item about ten years ago. Last one I found was a couple of years ago, an "Old Stock" Don Hume JIT built for a 59XX.

Class III

Glad to help, Aaron.
I learned a lot from other generous members of this forum and I'm glad to share. It's a subject we all enjoy.

I agree with Class III. Those are good prices compared to what's been on GunBroker since last November.
Looking closely at the four pistols pictured, it seems there is a range of 6906 production represented. The pistol on the upper right has the older slide and sights with the narrow barrel hood. The pistol below appears to have a later production slide and Novak sights with the wider barrel hood.The 6906 was sold to the public from 1988-1999 but was available to law enforcement agencies into the 2000s.
I would want to know which models were available and for what price. Cosmetics are less important to me on a tool than function. However they are all likely to be in good mechanical condition.
It depends what you want.
You can clean up a $300.00 gun and turn it into a $400.00 shooter.
If you carry and use an $800.00 NIB safe queen you will also turn it into a $400.00 shooter.
Or not use it at all because it's too nice.
It's your choice.
John

Class III, I also thought the price was decent, and downright good compared to Gunbroker listings. I have looked at the 6904 and would love to have one, but the prices for them are a bit high considering the wear they exhibit.

By the way, if you are in the market for an IWB holster that will take a square trigger guard Smith I spoke with a Crossbreed representative who advised me they produce the Supertuck for both square and rounded.

Take care.
Aaron

JohnHL, the gentleman in NJ, Greg, told me he had a few dozen on hand in varying degrees. I'm of the same mind in that I would rather clean up a relatively inexpensive pistol as opposed to beating up a pristine model.

Thank you as always for the thoughts. :-)

Take care.
Aaron

I've been looking at that ad on Gunsamerica, too. I've already got a primo 6906, but have been thinking about one of the cheaper guns. It's so easy to clean up stainless and that $100 savings will buy a lot ammo if it ever becomes available. Good luck whatever you decide.

tom-tom, I am seriously leaning toward the one in the $295 range to use for carry and car gun, but keeping an eye out for a really nice specimen. I wish I knew why I ever sold mine, and why I ever went through a polymer phase. Sigh.

If that's the biggest mistake you ever made, you're all to the good.

I have a spruced up 6906 (round guard) that I would swap you for the 4516?

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