S&W 3906 production numbers

1775usmarine · #1 10-14-2014, 05:57 PM

Does anyone know how many 3906's were produced in its 2 yr run? I picked up one today with 2 mags, adj rear sight, shipped 6-17-89, and appears to be in 90%. Paid $390 after talking him down from his price of 599. It had been sitting in his display for a little over 2 yrs. This now adds to my collection with my 4506-1, 5906, 6906, and 3913.

GaryS · #2 10-14-2014, 06:14 PM

Good price on a nice gun. I have a 3904, of which I guarantee fewer were made than your 3906. I don't know how many of either were made, other than "not a lot."

Beautiful guns that were doomed due to being full sized single stacks.

cpeblue · #3 10-14-2014, 07:51 PM

I would have bought that gun in its box for under 400 with out a 2nd thought and I truly do not need another pistol. Mine like GaryS is a 3904 shipped on 9/4/90 . It seems that most of us that have them will not part with them, now we'll see if you are in our club . Here's a picture of mine ( I just can't resist )

1775usmarine · #4 10-14-2014, 08:06 PM

I started at my lgs with the 4506-1 he had there. Saw the 3906 but wasn't wanting to pay 600. So 2 yrs later and after checking in periodically I sold a car a few days ago. I got the courage to ask for a steep price cut. I did sell a S&W 1905 4th change today as well though the bluing was 80% gone but still was a fine shooter. All in all today was a good day and yep this 3906 will never leave along with my 4506-1 and 3913 if money ever gets tight.

1775usmarine · #5 10-16-2014, 05:38 PM

So I called S&W historian Roy and he couldn't give me a number. He said the 3906 started at TAB and something about 40000. Does anyone know how the serial numbers break down as in number made before they moved on to a different letter i have TCY.

GaryS · #6 10-16-2014, 06:13 PM

From reading the information in the SCSW, the only thing that is consistent is the inconsistency in serial numbers. At least for the revolvers a series of numbers can span several years.

My 5906 has a SN prefix that's (TCZ) that I've never seen in the SCSW. My 3904 starts with TCD. It was made a couple of years before my 5906, so it makes some sense, but that seems like an awful lot of guns made between the two.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1775usmarine

So I called S&W historian Roy and he couldn't give me a number. He said the 3906 started at TAB and something about 40000. Does anyone know how the serial numbers break down as in number made before they moved on to a different letter i have TCY.

cpeblue · #7 10-16-2014, 08:13 PM

I see no rhyme or reason with the way S&W did the 3 letter prefixes . My 3904 has TET , the square guard 5904 has TDD, a 4006 that has TDU , or how about 2 639s that are TBV . Does this mean that the 639 and the 3906 where being made at the same time ? I don't think any kind of order was used, at least not strictly adhered to .