469 vs. a 6904 marked as a 469 ** See update on post 21**

Dragonfly

Dragonfly

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**UPDATE ON POST #21**

This is a bit of an odd request. Earlier this month I (surprisingly) found a Model 469 that I sold five years ago for sale online at a very reasonable price. I was nostalgic for the old beast and completed a deal to bring it home—it's on its way to me via Canada Post as we speak. So far, so good.

Then, a couple of days ago, I see a 6904 for sale near me, but what makes it cooler is that it's actually marked as a Model 469...apparently only one of 200 or so so marked. I'm very interested but it's twice as much as the 469 I've already paid for (but it's got two mags not one like the 469 I'm getting)...but it'd mean I'd have to sell the 469 once it shows up.

Should I just stick with the 469 that I knew and liked or should I go out on a limb and pick up the oddball (but kinda cool since it's marked as a 469) 6904 and try and flip the 469 once it arrives back to me?

Here's a pic of the 469 from when I first owned it:
e1MDjmG.jpg
 
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Is that 469/6904 a transition gun? Is that why the issue with the model# marking? Just curious.

I really wish there was a real 6906 FWIW (all stainless)
 
Racer X said:
Is that 469/6904 a transition gun? Is that why the issue with the model# marking? Just curious.
Click to expand...
Yes, from how the seller has described it. I'm not sure if it's worth the headache of selling the 469 just after getting it (and added $$) to upgrade to a slightly better pistol but one with a neat and fairly unique (apparently one of 200 according to the SCSW, p388) rollmark.
 
Assuming you paid somewhere around fair market for the 469, it sounds like the 6904 is over priced. To me, anyway. The mis-marked 6904 doesn't do anything a correctly marked gun wouldn't do just as well.
 
I would stick with the one that's on it's way. I'm not much on "transition" guns because to me it just means incorrect parts...but thats JMHO.

I could swap the slides on my 6904 and 6906 and call them "pintos" or "two tone" but they're really just guns with the wrong slides.
 
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"Twice as much" is too much....... IMO

That said...... the grip on a 69xx gun feels much better in my hand than the "2x4 grip" of a 469.........

I traded my 469 for the first 6906 I could get my hands on in the lat 80s/ early 90s.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Not sure if this thread is monitored any more but I was surprised to see someone else with a 3rd gen 6904 marked as a 469. I bought mine back around 1990 and still carry it. It has a second gen model number but has the 3rd gen features. It is an early 3rd gen because it has the squared off trigger guard, but has the wrap around grip of the 6904. I have been looking for this feature in another gun but just found this posting today. I also read something that the 3rd gen guns with the 3 digit model numbers were "value" pistols and didn't have some of the finishing touches of the full 3rd gen. I haven't been able to figure out what those missing touches are, but mine is in great shape still and like I said I carry it frequently. Thanks for posting this so I know there are more out there like mine!
 
The major difference between the 469 and the 6904 is the front sight is dove-tailed in and replaceable. You should make sure that someone had not changed the slide, as I had on a 39 with a 3904 slide to have the ability to add target sights (or any other type someone preferred) without having the front sight milled off and the new sight "staked" in.
 
X2.... is toooo much; there are lots of "transition" Smiths.... S&W never throws anything away and will use parts in stock as long as possible...while they are uncommon to rare ...... generally only a few "collectors" are willing pay a premium for one.......

I'm guessing what's coming is a 469 frame w/ a 6906 slide...... sights front and Novak rear and right side safety are the big difference IIRC
 
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There is also the square trigger guard frame that went well into the 6904 and 6906. Same thing with the 3rd to 4th gen x39 to 39xx series and from the 559 to the 5906.

I have seen many 6904/6906 still with the square trigger guard but all else correct to the model number, then (when the square trigger guard frames ran out) stated with the newer round trigger guard. Same in the 5906/06 and 3904/06 models. Those seem plentiful.

The transition you refer to is a model marked 469 (669 too ?) with dovetail front and rear sights and ambidextrous safety ?
 
Or.... it may have been sent back to the factory with a cracked frame. S&W marked them as the originals, even though you can see it's a 3rd Gen frame.

I called S&W about the 669 I got cheap, but wasn't really a 669. It had been sent back, "fixed", and returned.

I put on a Novak sighted slide and the hammer.

Jim
 

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Hope "dragonfly" pops back in and let's us know what he ended up doing (it was over a year ago). I had to pull out my 6904 here at my desk and check it against the 469 photo, they look so much alike. What was changed besides the dovetailed front sight? (My SCSW 4 is at home) Here's my 6904 for comparison.

I see the grip difference now. I really enjoy this old pistol. Hope to add a 6906 to the safe this year.
 

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Stick with the 469. I have one 469 and three 6906s. Both iterations are superior designs. At twice the price, I would give the 6906 a pass.
With a 469 in hand, you aren't losing anything.
_______________________
I don't have Alzheimer's- My wife had me tested.
 
3rd gen grips will not fit on a 2nd/1st gen receiver. I think what happens is that a 2nd gen gun suffered a receiver failure, was sent back to S&W and they replaced it with a 3rd gen receiver, but stamped it with a 2nd gen model number.

Also, during transition periods between the 2nd and 3rd gen pistols, there were a number of them that had a 3rd gen receiver, but a 2nd gen top end and were marked with 2nd gen model numbers. I one had a model 645 that had the wrap around 3rd gen grips, it was a transition weapon.

These oddities lead to some confusion when it comes to what parts fit which weapons.
 
FWIW, I wouldn't pay one penny more for a gun simply because it is mis- stamped. Stick with your original purchase.

Of course, I am prejudiced to the 469...
 

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Stan,
I am a true believer that just about anything is possible if a gun is old enough, certainly a frame replacement is possible. In the case of my 469 I called S&W and their records indicate they never worked on my gun.

Still, one thing I have no idea about. If S&W replaces a frame, will they then refinish other parts to make the gun look new? I know they can (I had a 1066 completely refinished by them) but normally do they? If that is the case then it sounds like there would be virtually no way to distinguish a factory rebuild from and like-new used one. Any feelings?
thanks,
fuzzy
 
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