I just picked up a good condition 5946 on an impulse buy as it was only $250 plus shipping and taxes. Figured under $300 OTD for any 3rd gen S&W was a deal. Afterwards, checking GB, there doesn't seem to be many for sale but several sold around $300, with a just few pushing $400.

I know the DAO's sell at a discount usually, but the 5946, being all steel as well, seems to be an overlooked model?

Sorry, about the pic quality, I haven't picked it up yet.

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I had one and one in 45 as well. Not too many people like the DAO

I have a 5946 and love it,a 15+1 revolver.

Yes, you got a good deal, have been watching them although I'm after a 5906 w/adjustables for target shooting. The DA on the 5946 is pretty smooth from what I've been told. Great carry gun with a hicap mag. The hicap mag comes in handy for any pistol but especially a DA.

I picked up a M6946 when it sat in the case getting no love. Paid $350 with 3 mags. Likewise, it was too good to pass up. I have mixed feelings on DAO. I need to shoot it more.

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And the only complaint is the the trigger pull is lo-o-o-o-o-ong one.

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I picked up a 4583TSW for the same reason... just sitting there lonely in the case for a long time, and the price was right. The trigger feels nice enough, but boy if I just can't get the same groups I get with my DA/SA guns. It's probably good for practice though... if I can get good with that long, heavyish trigger pull, should be even better with the short SA pulls.

Dropped a 5943 on layaway at a local shop yesterday.
I owned this 4043 for a while and loved it as a shooter.

In the end I am just not a big fan of the .40 and traded it off for a nice Mesa Boogie head.
Still own one .40 my MK II Shorty with factory LPA adjustable sights but it was and is not my preferred carry caliber.
Saying that I have missed that DAO 3rd gen .40 for what it did for my shooting working with that smooth DAO trigger on the range. That + the look of that smooth slide + consistent pull made it one of my most carried pistols. Really looking forward to getting that 5943 home and beginning to carry her!
Congrats on the 5946 hope you like it as well as I like these DAO 3rd gen pistols.

I don't own a Model 5946, but I do own three of its brothers... two Model 5943's (one very nice shooter, one "as-new" safe queen) and one Model 4046 (my boat anchor!).

I have nothing against the Model 5946 at all. If I found one in good enough condition with a fair price on a day when I happened to have some cash in my pocket, it would probably come home with me.

A friend recently offered me a 5946 for $300 cash. I took a look at it and it wasn't bad. It had Hogue grips and dead Trijicons - probably a former LE gun. I thought to myself put on a factory grip, have the sights re-lamped and that would be a good car gun. I know it's a good deal but the problem is I've never had any interest in the DAO models. I still haven't taken him up on it but I won't lose sleep if he sells it to someone else.

It's a great gun and you got the best deal I've seen. The 5946 is probably my favorite S&W 3rd gen, but it's true that they are slightly overlooked. I say 'slightly' because they do tend to bring about $50-75 more than the identical 4046 because of caliber(or perhaps just because the 4046 is the more common police trade today). Most people prefer the TDA and most people prefer a lighter gun, but in certain situations I don't believe there's a better pistol than the 5946(CCW would not be one of those situations, but in a permanent installation,.....like HD or a vehicle firearm it can't be beat).

I've been sucking up every 3rd gen DAO I can find for the last three years(finances permitting). I check the GB auctions several times a day for updates, and the 5946 specifically has been selling for $400 and up when shipping and transfer($20 each in my case)is included. A hammer price of $350 is uncommonly low,.......they've been relatively hard to find at anything closing below $400. I just picked up another this week minutes after it was listed. Had an opening bid at $275 with a BuyNow at $300 and I jumped on it. Very nice looking gun,.........without the BN I'm sure it would have topped $400 easily.

These are the prices I have tracked online for the last several years totaling several hundred sales(I think I've bought 8 or 9). I hear about people finding better deals locally like yours and others posted above, but the market for an all stainless DAO is pretty small when it's restricted to the LGS and the people who walk in the door. If the gun fits your need, it's a good one.