Having looked at the CS pistols in the late 90s and dismissed them as ugly little glorified value pistols, I had since ignored them. However, since it seems everyone on this board who has one thinks they are great pistols, I figured a re-evaluation might be in order. I won one at auction over the weekend - strangely as the only bidder. I don't consider it a steal at $495 but for the apparent condition, I think I'll be pleased.

Attached Images

CS9S1.jpg (82.4 KB, 495 views)

Congrats! That appears to be a very late production example. Great little pistol.

And I am like you, one who looked at and actually bought an early blue variant - then sold it. Because, at the time, it really didn't do anything that my 39XX pistols didn't already do. And I too thought it was just an overpriced value line gun.

BUT - When I retired from Investigations and found myself needing a small easily concealed, flat, light weight pistol in a decent caliber, I reexamined my choices and purchased another. And several months after that, well satisfied with the little CS9, I purchased a 2nd stainless example.

TercGen grips are a must on these little guns, for me. They give me the ability to easily conceal the gun, while still having full control during shooting. And a 3913TSW 7-round mag with rounded baseplate, enable me to pocket carry the CS9.

I am VERY glad I gave these small pistols a second look. And I suspect you will be too. Enjoy that fine little nine! Regards 18DAI

__________________
7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

I'm glad you got it. I was surprised no one else bid on it, but good for you.
It's sometimes funny how our likes/dislikes change as we get a "bit" older.

I know you are going to really like it. As 18 pointed out, my only complaint with my CS's are, (were,) the thick original grips that they originally had. Easy enough to change that now though.

Jim

If you can get them, yes, I heard that they are excellent.

I am not sure who made these turquoise stocks but I like them. Sadly, I need a new magazine spring so this gun has been put away until I get around to that.





I kept the roller blade tape on it.

Then there is this CS-45:



I am not sure what anyone ever disliked about these 3rd Gen pistols but for concealed carry, reliability, accuracy, I can't say enough good things about them and maybe I have terrible taste but I think they are nice looking.

Congrats. The steel low mount Novak rear sight indicates it's from the later production of the model, which also ought to mean it has an ambi safety assembly.

That would make it similar to mine.

Unlike some other folks, I find the Hogue rubber grips to be an exact fit to my hand. They make shooting the little gun very pleasant and make the short, lightweight little 9mm controllable and easy.

Since you can't know how often it's been fired, nor whether the magazines have been left loaded for some years, you might order some new ones. (Since the recoil springs are apparently only occasionally ordered by S&W from their vendor, if you plan to shoot it a lot you might order a couple or more recoil springs to put away.)

My CS9 would be one of the very last of my 3rd gen pistols I'd ever willingly consider letting go away, along with my '98 production 3913 and later end-of-LE-production 3913TSW. They've always struck me as being the logical (and inevitable) result of the original ASP pistol made on the early M39 frame, which was a huge influence on the concealable, slim single stack fighting 9mm pistol.

I'd sooner give up my well-used original CS45 than my CS9.

If you haven't already Searched and browsed among the many forum threads devoted to the CS9, you might enjoy doing so.

__________________
Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

I plan on installing a low profile single-sided safety and slide stop. It comes with one magazine - I'll change the spring and I have a few new TSW magazines set aside for it. I also bought a couple of new recoil springs back when I first considered getting one.

Replacing the manual safety typically requires replacing and fitting a new sear release lever to keep the decocking "timing" within the required range.

It's not common that a sear release lever fitted for one safety assembly will still fall within normal spec after a new safety assembly has been installed. This is both a gun safety and a functioning concern.

Email me if you're curious about how to check the decocking "timing", and what's involved in filing/fitting a new sear release lever.

While the manual safety assembly is considered a drop-in assembly (and presuming you know how to disassemble the slide to replace it), in the usual parts-is-parts manner sometimes an occasional assembly might not fit as well as might be hoped in some particular slide (like being a bit too loose, for example) and it may require trying another one.

__________________
Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

I too caught the CS9 bug. I guess that’s why I’ve bought 4, including a difficult to find “D”. I couldn’t help but add a CS45 and my too-long search for a CS40 should end later this week thanks to another forum member.

Nice grab jsbethel! I paid about the same for my first CS9, so I'd say the price is pretty fair. They have occasionally come around at lower prices (that run of LEO trade-ins last year), but generally I see these go for $400-$550.

Good foresight to grab some recoil springs already, and now that you actually own one, I'd say stock up on a bunch more. Who knows how much longer S&W will be producing them, and there is currently no aftermarket maker of CS9 recoil springs.

While you're at it, probably a good idea to also pick up a spare mag catch button and spring, as the button is a one-time use part and needs to be replaced if removed or damaged.

Count me in too. Mine is an earlier version bought in 99. Missed that 39-2 and decided the CS-9 would be a good replacement. I believe the quality should be just as good. No regrets on this one.

I'm sure you'll be happy with a CS , there's a lot of us that are . Like others , I had to own one of each . I saw BMCMs thread about converting one to a 10mm , which I had him do . On the search for another one , so I truly will have one of each . Do yourself a favor and have BMCM work his magic on yours , you'll be very happy .

Attached Images

DSC_0129.jpg (55.2 KB, 147 views)

I made the same mistake and overlooked these Third Generation pistols for 20 or so years. Trying to make up for lost time now.

You'll like the CS9. Check out a few other single stack 9s and 45s.

EDIT: I'll second 18DAI's recommendation for TercGen grips. They are excellent. It should have been the factory grip.

I am confident that you will like it, once you put enough rounds through them. They are nice, accurate, undemanding guns.

Attached Images

CS9 & CS45.jpg (22.1 KB, 113 views)

A very good friend of mine, a school PD lieutenant (who recently retired and is sorely missed) fell in love with my 3rd gen Smiths with one range outing and he had to have one. Considering that he was a dyed in the wool Glock-o-phile, I was quite impressed with his intelligence.
I could give up my CS9 or my 908S. I figured that the stainless, slightly larger pistol was better for me in the Texas gulf coast climate and sold him the CS9. I think he's probably still wearing it. It's truly an excellent carry piece, as testified to by many members here.
Maybe someday I'll replace it, although it's not a high priority for me.

Drooling over everyone's good fortune.

What’s the best way to get the springs and mag catch? Does S&W customer service still sell them or are we searching Brownell’s/Midway/eBay etc...?

I've picked up some Chiefs Special recoil springs and mag catch parts from Midway now and again. They seem to get them in periodically (meaning whenever S&W orders from their vendors and then ships the received parts to outside retailers).

Sometimes Midway allows backorders, and sometimes not, so might have to check back now and again. For example, right now the plastic mag catch button isn't available, but the spring is ... Smith & Wesson Mag Release Nut S&W CS40C CS40D CS40S CS45C CS45D CS45S

Smith & Wesson Mag Release Spring S&W CS40C CS40D CS40S CS45C CS45D


... and the CS9 mag w/curbed buttplate is available.

The green CS40/45 recoil spring is available at the moment, but the red one (CS9) isn't.

The Midway & S&W part numbers for CS9 recoil spring: Product #: 144207 Smith & Wesson #: 263210000

Smith & Wesson Recoil Spring S&W CS9C CS9S

Whenever I order spare recoil springs I typically order at least 5-6, and sometimes 10 (but then I used to shoot a lot more when working all the time as a firearms instructor & armorer ).

__________________
Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

I had to check again but I did get those also.

I was able to get them from Midway several months ago. Create notifications for those items out of stock.

The two best options IMO are Midway and calling S&W customer service directly (1-800-331-0852 ext. 4125). Midway is more convenient, but I have found that S&W will have parts in stock before Midway will (of course, you have to keep calling them during business hours to find out).

Brownells is OK, prices are higher and their website does not keep track of what's in stock very well. Ebay will be the highest prices for these items.

Whenever one of those online sellers has a free shipping deal, I throw some springs and other small parts (that can cost more to shop than buy) on the order.

I messaged S&W through their website concerning the inception date for the CS9 and was somewhat shocked to receive a response in 6 minutes!
(2/2004)

S&W seems to have improved the CS experience over the past year or so. I think they actually have people who do nothing but CS.

My last couple of calls have been very pleasant. I called for the DOB on my CS9 and not only got an answer, the nice young lady arranged for a new recoil spring to be sent out.

Similarly, I called about an ANIB 3914 I bought some months back and got a new set of grips under the ancient recall.

I have to call about an even older 5906 which still has the original pre recall grips and see if they have any of those.

On the down side, it might be a sign of how many people are having problems with new guns that wear the S&W label that they had to add dedicated staff.

Cue 18DAI to comment on the company that calls itself S&W...

__________________
Can open, worms everywhere.

FWIW, several years ago I was told that the Customer Service dept often had a staff of 18-30+ people answering phones on any given work day. The people staffing the phones might range from new people to those who had much experience working in other depts. Might be someone brand new who had come over from their factory store (who had perhaps never fired a gun), or a former production/assembler who wanted a desk job answering phones before they retired. Luck of the draw.

__________________
Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

I picked this up today - it looks like it was shot once and put away. It appears to have a metal magazine catch as a magnet will stick to it - interesting. Strangely, I sort of like the Hogues but I'll decide for sure after I shoot it.

The mag catch body ought to be steel, but the mag catch button is plastic.

The center of the mag catch button is the visible end of the steel mag catch body (post), onto which the mag catch button is snapped.

Congrats.

__________________
Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

I was always under the impression that the CS9 magazine catch (part #262590000) which is shared with the 908 and 909 value pistols was polymer/plastic.

Attached Images

	CS925.jpg (63.3 KB, 5 views)
	CS926.jpg (42.2 KB, 4 views)
	CS924.jpg (58.7 KB, 4 views)

For the record, I have NEVER run across one of the illusive unicorns often referenced on this sub-forum, the infamous and legendary plastic magazine catch.

But I sure have seen a boat load of plastic magazine buttons!

John

I must say that while under that impression, I thought it was a pretty stupid design shortcut.

I have a couple of those #26259 mag catches in my spare parts kit. One is from many years ago, when I decided to order a "parts kit" spare directly from the factory for my then-new CS9, and the other one is from within the last year or so, when I had a chance to order another one from a retail company who sells new S&W parts.

Both are steel and can be picked up with a magnet.

The button/nuts, however, are plastic.

Ditto for a couple of CS45 mag catches, spanning the same wide time range and sources.

Now, I can't remember anything in my notes from various armorer classes that lists they ever used a plastic mag catch body for the CS & "value" line guns, but then again, with S&W "never say never". They did make some former metal parts out of plastic in the 3rd gens over time (mainspring plunger, disconnector, sights & some guide rods).

I just haven't ever personally seen a mag catch body made out of plastic. Just the nut/button.

Of course, it's seldom that a mag catch actually requires replacement/repair, meaning either the traditional threaded post bodies or the bodies on which the plastic buttons snap over the end of the post.

The simpler non-threaded, non-adjustable bodies didn't involve the use of the small plunger & spring in the separate hole under the edge of the threaded mag catch button, so they didn't seem to gather oxidation in tight places like might sometimes happen with the traditional mag catch design. Armorers were told not to remove the plastic buttons from the mag catch except for repair/replacement, meaning no disassembly for routine cleaning or inspections. (Because the plastic buttons were a 1-time use/installed part, and if ever removed, it would be replaced with a new one.)

I've known my fair share of guys & gals who bought 908/457 & Chiefs Special models over the years, and none of them ever required replacement of the original mag catch assembly. That's why I never ordered more than 1 or 2 replacement mag assembly parts, and in actuality, those were simply ordered since I owned a CS9 & CS45 myself and was in the habit of adding to my spare parts when I could afford to order them. Just in case.

I eventually decided to have a couple spare plastic buttons for each spare mag catch body I put back. They were available, so why not? I don't plan to ever remove the mag catch in either Chiefs Special unless it's ever required for repair.

I've put a respectable number of rounds downrange through both of them, though, and have replaced the recoil springs several times in each over the years.

__________________
Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

FWIW, I called a guy who might have a mag catch from a very early production 457, which he had to replace because the edge had frayed (like plastic can do). If he's still got the old part he'll try and take a pic and post it.

Also FWIW, I just went out and checked my CS45 and the original invoice for it. The invoice date is June '99 (FFL), but I think the serial number dates from April/'99 (entry date). It was ordered direct from the factory and delivered to my LE/FFL after being produced.

The mag catch body in that early stainless CS45 is steel, even though it originally arrived with a single-side manual safety and plastic sights. I just checked the mag catch body with a small magnet, meaning both the right side "flat" (with the mag catch pressed, so it stuck out the right side of the aluminum frame), and the left end "post" inside the button. Stuck firmly to both ends. Steel.

However, I'm not yet ready to bet against the possibility of S&W engineers having tried a plastic mag catch in the very earliest CS & Value model guns, but then soon changing over to cast steel for the mag catch body. That's the kind of simple ongoing production change that might happen without it being specifically mentioned in the armorer updates. Kind of like how they changed from using plastic to steel for the guide rod plungers in the CS guns. I only found out about it when I noticed it and called to ask about it. They never mentioned it in the classes.

Ditto switching back and forth between steel and plastic for the 3rd gen butt plate catches.

__________________
Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

Damn, I didn't realize I'd kept all my invoices for guns I'd ordered & bought or just bought back then.

The 4513TSW arrived at my FFL from the factory 5 months after the CS45, and my CS9 arrived Sep/'02 (I procrastinated on even ordering a CS9 because of how much I liked my 3913).

My 3913 arrived from the factory more than year earlier than the CS45.

__________________
Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

LOOK! A UNICORN!

Found it Fastbolt! Hard black nylon. Crummy pic, but you can see the frayed edge which is shorter than the metal catches - from use. It also has a ridge/mold line running up the back. My magnet does NOT stick to it.

Came out of my 457 made the first year of production. Roll marks and forged hammer and trigger. The good news is it lasted to just over 4K rounds. Which is probably more than anyone will run through a value line or CS series gun.

Fastbolt I checked my early production, black CS9. The catch on it is steel. Regards 18DAI

Attached Images

457vinylcatch.jpg (22.3 KB, 101 views)

__________________
7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

My oldtimers is acting up, but IIRC Chicago PD had a large order of 457s.......457D DAO guns.......I think.

Anyways, there was some problems with their vinyl mag catches and S&W made steel replacements which were supplied through the S&W LE rep. IIRC, thats where I got my steel replacement catch from. And NO, I don't know how to find another. Sorry! Regards 18DAI

__________________
7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

My memory matches yours. As I recall the 457D was made for CPD. Officers could buy them for off duty use, much like NYPD allowed officers to buy off duty guns.

And of course I had to head downstairs to the gun safe and check my late 457 and CS9s. Both have metal magazine catches.

__________________
Can open, worms everywhere.

Thanks for checking.

If I had to guess, I'd suspect that the engineers tried the hard nylon mag catch body and quickly figured out (via LE agency feedback?) that the part wouldn't withstand heavy usage, and they simply replaced it with a cast steel part.

A close friend of mine bought a black CS9 & CS45 during their first year of production, and he still owns the CS9. Next time he's planning to make the drive to visit, I'll ask him to bring the CS9 so I can inspect the mag catch.

He's been shooting the dickens out of that CS9 since he first bought it, though, and it's never exhibited a problem with seating or dropping the mags.

__________________
Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

WAY COOL, 18!!!!

That IS a unicorn.

I've acquired a few S&W oddities including Novak style rear sights without a provision for the set screw, a 4006 adjustable sight slide that has had the adj. sight dovetail welded up and re-cut for the Novak sight, and an extension welded to the rear and shaped to mimic the hammer shroud on the DAO models (maybe the 1st prototype DAO?), and an early 4506 slide that was cut down to 4516 length and re-welded (The 1st 4516? That one was shot a lot!), plus some other historic and crazy stuff.

But I have never seen a plastic mag catch and I just can't imagine that anyone would think a nylon ledge would hold up against a steel edge on the magazine.

John

My pleasure!

My black CS9 runs fine. Not all that many rounds through it as I shoot my stainless CS9 and carry it more.

I will be replacing the plastic sights on the black CS9. I can move its rear sight with my finger. Not good. I just have to give BMCM some time to recover from wrestling with my 457 sights. Regards 18DAI

__________________
7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

JohnHL I never say never with S&W.

The cost cutting measure with the mag catch just didn't pan out for them.

I will say mine lasted quite well. And I was surprised when I removed it, that it was not metal. Regards 18DAI

__________________
7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

I noted barbara_em's comment about a slightly larger pistol than the CS9 but all stainless. I also live in salty Texas and a all stainless S&W 9mm pistol would be something I would be interested in. I'm a S&W revolver freak and understand the autos are probably here to stay??? What model is barbara_em
referring to?
Thanks

She has a 908S which is a value version of the 3913 (pictured).

Attached Images

	3913-2.jpg (70.7 KB, 60 views)
	3913-1.jpg (73.5 KB, 56 views)

Great!! Thanks!!
Is there a all stainless equivalent?

The full size single-stack 3906 is all stainless as well as the 2nd gen 639.

Attached Images

	3906KSD.JPG (115.4 KB, 44 views)
	6393.jpg (64.5 KB, 43 views)

To the original poster: Good to see it has a SAFETY. i don't look to argue. It's just the way I am.

__________________
"Don't Give Up the Ship"

I was able to get to the range yesterday with the CS9 after installing TercGen grips - they do make an amazing pistol even better.

Attached Images

cs91.jpg (81.3 KB, 127 views)

Very informative thread.
I recently acquired both a Carbon Blue CS9c and Stainless CS9s. I think I can finally retire my SIG 290rs DAO.

I've been gathering spare parts, recoil springs and magazines; good to know about the Mag Catch Button & Spring.

I found a CS9 Mag Catch Nut p/n 239090000 at Midway. Hope it's the right one to fit my early (non-ambi) CS9c & CS9s. I already have the spring.

BTW...they currently have S&W Magazines and Recoil Springs in stock.

Several weeks ago I asked TercGen to make me a CS9 grip from a 3906 grip thinking that the arch may make a positive ergonomic difference in the grip. I was finally able to test the grip at my LEOSA qualification today and I must admit I do like it very much - the added front-to-back girth in the grip was an improvement for me. Thanks TercGen!

Attached Images

	000_0211.jpg (67.9 KB, 128 views)
	000_0213.jpg (75.7 KB, 112 views)

Nice. Very nice.

I guess I’m totally out of because I just assumed they were all made from 3913 grips but now I suppose the are made from 3913 TSW stepped grips? That’s what I started with when I made my first and last attempt for my CS9. I blew through the outside in the final internal “adjustment.”

Are you going to keep the first/flat grip you have? PM me if you want to part with it.

Jim

I just cleaned, greased and changed out the ammo on my stainless CS9. It gets carried a lot in the summer.

Hard to imagine a more accurate, well built, reliable tiny 9mm for daily carry. Hammer fired and metal frame are a bonus.

Like Fastbolt, I would let the CS45 go long before I part with the CS9. Regards 18DAI

__________________
7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

Wow, 18!

That is powerful praise considering you are a 45 4-ever kind of guy.

I like my CS9 also, but my CS40/45 isn't going anywhere soon either.

John