Witness holes on 5906 mags

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DocNugent

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This pair was recently sold (to me) through gunbroker.com:
pix714899808.jpg


They have the 'standard' number of holes on the right side (6), but fewer holes on the left side (5 on one mag, 1 on the other mag). I'm told they both hold 15 rounds, like the one that came with my 5906 (it has 6 holes on each side and an orange follower).

What's the history of my two new mags?
 
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They appear to be early factory 3rd gen magazines with black followers which would indicate a 14 round capacity.
 
Strange that the one on the right has a mag catch slot cut on the left side.

Did S&W make an ambi mag release 9mm ?
 
THAT IS A 659 MAG. YOU CAN CHANGE FOLLOWERS AND BASE PLATE TO A 5906 MAG. THE ORANGE FOLLOWER WILL GIVE YOU 15 RD , THE BLACK FOLLOWER IS A 14 RD CAPACITY. YES MINE HAVE THE FACTORY DUAL CUTS. S&W WERE GOING TO DO AN AMBI. BUT IT NEVER APPEARED. JP
 
Quote [ I'm told they both hold 15 rounds, like the one that came with my 5906 (it has 6 holes on each side and an orange follower).] Did you put 15 rds in the mag? Do they fit your gun? Are they marked restricted? Were they advertised as "used Factory 5906 mags" ?? Be Safe,
 
vipermd said:
. . . Did you put 15 rds in the mag? Do they fit your gun? Are they marked restricted? Were they advertised as "used Factory 5906 mags" ?? Be Safe,
Click to expand...
I haven't tried filling them, but the seller says he did after I emailed a question (during the auction) about his description: "Up for auction is a lot of two (2) 14 round 9mm magazine for a Smith & Wesson Model 5906 9mm caliber pistol. Used but in great shape they show little to no wear fully functional. . . ."

I'd never heard of 14 rd mags, so I asked if he was sure; he said he put 15 in each as a result of my question (he didn't say that he then put the mags in a 5906). Neither is marked 'restricted' as my orange follower one is. Some asked about words ". . . inside the groove on the bottom plates. . . ." - I'm not good at reading black on black, but there appears to be small words in all three of my mags if by groove you mean the hotdog shaped dent. They seem to fit just fine (empty, haven't taken them to the range yet). Both have an 'S' stamped down by the base plate on the right side, BTW.

Is there a consensus about whether they were originally for a 659 or early 5906?
 
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My early 5906 came with 14 round magazines, which had black followers. I seem to remember reading that some 15 round magazines also had black followers, but the ones I've bought have orange followers.

I don't know if they are 659 magazines or 5906 magazines, but if they have Smith & Wesson stamped in that hot dog shaped groove, they are OEM, not aftermarket.

DocNugent said:
I haven't tried filling them, but the seller says he did after I emailed a question (during the auction) about his description: "Up for auction is a lot of two (2) 14 round 9mm magazine for a Smith & Wesson Model 5906 9mm caliber pistol. Used but in great shape they show little to no wear fully functional. . . ."

I'd never heard of 14 rd mags, so I asked if he was sure; he said he put 15 in each as a result of my question (he didn't say that he then put the mags in a 5906). Neither is marked 'restricted' as my orange follower one is. Some asked about words ". . . inside the groove on the bottom plates. . . ." - I'm not good at reading black on black, but there appears to be small words in all three of my mags if by groove you mean the hotdog shaped dent. They seem to fit just fine (empty, haven't taken them to the range yet). Both have an 'S' stamped down by the base plate on the right side, BTW.

Is there a consensus about whether they were originally for a 659 or early 5906?
Click to expand...
 
I've got a couple of each...
the early ones were 14 round mags (black followers).
Judging by the base plates they look like genuine S&W mags.

Just to confuse things I got followers for a 6906...
They are black but the same as the orange ones for the 5906...
I just don't like orange followers!!!

The legs on the 14 round followers (rear ones I think) are a little longer than the orange/6906 15 round followers.
 
here is the difference in followers.
It's the front legs that are different and the 14 round follower is a little thicker (top to bottom minus legs).

The other thing I've noticed is all my original S&W mags have an "S" on the side you don't show (lower corner).
 

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as far as I know.

the only difference is...
The Black follower is for 14 rounds.
The orange follower is for 15 rounds.

The black 69xx follower is just my idea!
 
HCH said:
Can someone explain why the changes were made, and if I should have the latest revision?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Changes in what: follower,mag body, base plate? Are the mags you have currently working all the time? Are they clean? If the answer is yes than you should be fine. Be Safe,
 
Left to right
5900 series 15 round
5900 series 14 round
59 series 14 round
59 series 14 round still sporting a metal base plate.

All 14 round mags have been converted to 15 rounds using orange followers.
I have used these in my 5906, 6906 and 910 with out issue.
f5b1748611ac48a54caaa902287e1631.jpg

0e6ed4a4a7aabf374d22e45044208ee3.jpg
 
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