Y’all are a bad influence! Not really, I’m mostly to blame here.

I bought my 915 as an inexpensive, no frills gun that I could carry daily without worrying about wear. Just a use as-is type deal. Well, I should’ve known that wasn’t going to work.

It’s been just about everywhere with me and done just about everything, too. I’ve learned a lot of things about it along the way, one of those being that I REALLY like this platform (S&W 3rd gen). It just doesn’t get much better in a workhorse semi-auto, for my use.

That’s not to say that the 915 hasn’t shown a few shortcomings, too. Namely in extensive carrying and shooting the finish and the sights fall a bit short of expectations...probably fine for most people, but I’m an avid (and fat) hiker, and despite open carrying OWB with a shirt in between me and it, the slide, slide release, and mag release button all would show signs of surface corrosion after an extended hike. And the sights, while functional, don’t work well for follow up shots.

So...I doubt I’m the first person to do this, but I slapped a stainless 5906 slide with the Novak sights on it, and the difference was awesome! Follow up shots are much faster, and my slide corrosion issues are gone! So here’s a pic of my two tone 915...or 915906?



It’s not done, I’m still waiting on the stainless slide release, mag release button, and a set of wood grips (pictured below). I like the Hogues but the rubber tends to catch my shirt and cause printing while I’m carrying concealed. Plus, when I did the slide swap it kind of looked like the current plastic two-tones and I felt like a good set of wood grips would set it apart. I also don’t know how I feel about the ambidextrous safety of the 5906, and may swap it with the 915’s.



Go ahead, tell me I’m crazy and how this was a waste of time and money! I already know! I’ll post another pic when it’s all put together.


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-Dan-

I am partial to 915's. I am glad that you care for yours. I see too many that are not properly maintained.

I like it! Your plans sound good too.

It LOOKS like a fighting handgun should look to me. Now you have "mortified" it to suit you. [And Me]. Enjoy! Much pride of ownership in having something ....different. At least for me. [And You]

LOL...... the 915 is just about my favorite full size 9mm.......

Picked a used one up several years ago with what I call a severe case of "ring rash" on the trigger guard and front of the grip frame......I cerakoted the frame a matte gray/ titanium...... for a two tone look..... and stippled the checkered sections of a straight back factory grip.

Thanks for your input everyone! I’m just grateful that I still live in a time where parts for these are still readily available, enough to where I can do something like this. I know we’ve all shared similar sentiments, but I wish they still made these.

And don’t worry...I don’t know if there are any 915 ‘purists’ here, but I’m saving all the original parts, carefully stored in machine oil in the unlikely event the 915 ever becomes a collector’s item! Making sure not to do anything irreversible.

The stainless magazine release is here and installed, I’ll hold off on any further pictures until it’s all together since that’s not really much of a change.

Still really liking this combination though, NO corrosion at all, including on the magazine release now. That was probably the most problematic area, what with the checker pattern holding moisture. The 5906 slide adds just a bit of weight, not enough to notice in felt recoil or carry weight, though. But the sights are much better.

Looking forward to finishing this build. More later, thanks again!


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-Dan-

The 915 is a nice platform. I just got mine out, preparatory to taking it to the range tomorrow. The finish on mine is, well, vintage -- not bad, but not pristine. Still, it is a great basic gun, no frills, but everything that you need. I had Novak's in Parkersburg, WVA install a set of their lo-mount sights to replace the awkward, difficult to see original rear sight on mine -- well worth it, if you shoot your 915 a lot (the OP jumped over this issue by installing a 5906 slide with the lo-mount sight already on it).

Bottom line here is that 915's tend to be reasonably priced, when you can find them, and they make great range, carry, and defensive firearms.

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S&W Rover

I definitely love that two-tone look and for sure, if it were mine I'd opt for the single sided 915 safety. I would swap all my ambi thumb safeties for single sided ones.

I ended up doing just that...tried to like the ambi but it didn’t feel right.

It’s all together now, and I really like this S&W 3rd gen mashup. In total, it has parts from a 915, 5906, 4006, and 6906, with a nice one piece custom wood grip to top it off. Seems kind of a shame a big part of this was so I could take it out in the rough, but the stainless bits really do seem to handle corrosion better.

Anyway, here it is...may just be the feeling that comes from making something your own but she sure did turn out dang close to a barbecue gun. I’ll be a little extra proud to have it on me.














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-Dan-