Any love for thumb decocker models? 5926/6926

NewLiberty · May 8, 2023

I have read a bit of a history of the thumb decocker models that S&W made in the early 90s, my understanding is that it was an attempt to go after a FBI contract, that didn't come to fruition for S&W. The Standard Catalog shows that the 6926 only had a 1 year run, so I imagine there are not all that many of them out there, whereas the 5926 was made for a bit longer.

Ergonomically, I prefer the thumb decocker to the slide mounted safety that most 3rd gens have, because there is less change to my firing grip to activate it.

Attached is a copy of a 5926 and 6926 from the safe.

Doug M. · May 8, 2023

This style of decocker was also on the 1076. I MUCH prefer it to the slide mounted abomination.

Sevens · May 8, 2023

If you're looking for the opposition, I'll take that role. This style of decocker only exists because the FBI demanded it for the 1076 contracts. This frail device was never in S&W's own plans, it was a poor attempt to copy the far better designed Sig decocker. S&W also had to recall the earliest of the 1076's because of this frail unit.

Anyone that has ever disassembled this Sig-style decock lever warns against it's complexity and difficulty to reassemble.

It requires a different grip than the hundreds of thousands of other 3rd Gens that exist, so you lose parts commonality with the grip also. This can be an even more troubled situation if you should find that you have a recalled early grip that needs to be replaced.

On top of that, if you are long accustomed to the S&W design (dating back to 1955) then the slide being completely bare and having no lever on either side of the slide makes it much more difficult to grab in a high stress situation.

I understand why they put this thing on the 1076 (gotta chase the contract... for the money and for the notoriety) but it doesn't make great sense that they tried to adapt this poor add-on to other models. On the whole, S&W made MANY strange decisions in the early days of the 3rd Gen pistol, this is but one of them.

smoothshooter · May 8, 2023

No.
None.

Geeorge · May 8, 2023

I can work the slide decocker fine with my thumb

toddcfii · May 8, 2023

I cut my teeth on the P228. I transitioned to the 1076 later. I MUCH prefer the S&W decocker. It has a much more secure feeling in operation. The Sig just feels cheap in comparison. Both great guns but I think S&W wins for overall feel of decocker. I also think it is placed much more ergonomically than the slide mounted decocker. My .02.

Ten2six · May 8, 2023

Well, since you ask.

And then there are weirdo's like me.

NewLiberty · May 8, 2023

Ten2six said:
And then there are weirdo's like me.

That looks like pretty much all of them.

Ten2six · May 8, 2023

Yes sir

That group photo includes the duplicates of the 1026, 4026 and 5926!

walter o · May 8, 2023

Don't forget the 4526 in the discussion

Ten2six · May 8, 2023

walter o said:
Don't forget the 4526 in the discussion

Or the 4576 or the 4536, all in the picture above.

Heymatt · May 9, 2023

Ten2six said:
And then there are weirdo's like me.

Sooo, can we say that’s a yes?

Rock185 · May 9, 2023

Not those particular models, but have had some 1076 and 1026 10MMs. Still have a 1026.

waffles · May 9, 2023

I think S&W's execution of the frame mounted decoder left a lot to be desired, and on the Smith autos I prefer the slide controls. That said, when done right (sig) I vastly prefer a frame decocker to any slide mounted controls.

NCBeagle · May 9, 2023

I sort of like the frame mounted decocker. This 4576 is my only example. If I recall correctly, Smith & Wesson only made 1400 or so. The Gaston County Police Department, a small department west of Charlotte, NC, purchased about 10% of the total production for its force in 1991. Found this agency marked example at a gun shop in Matthews, NC.

kbm6893 · May 9, 2023

It looks like an afterthought. They should have just reengineered the slide mounted one to function as a decock only. Beretta managed to make it happen and even makes a conversion kit now.

SmithNut · May 10, 2023

I much prefer the decocker version on the DAO models....

Oh wait..... there isn't one...

Doug M. · May 10, 2023

kbm6893 said:
It looks like an afterthought. They should have just reengineered the slide mounted one to function as a decock only. Beretta managed to make it happen and even makes a conversion kit now.

*
It might well have been an after thought, given the reason it came about. I had an issued 4566 that was decocker only. Still a poor design to have it up on the slide, and the platform broke a lot. I saw at least one come out of the box completely unusable.

toddcfii · May 10, 2023

Never saw a S&W decocker break. Probably saw about 20,000 rounds fired out of about 30 or 40 decocker S&W pistols (almost all 1076s). And I much prefer the S&W design to the Sig. I do understand that when they do need disassembled completely they are difficult to get back together. Fortunately never saw one need that level of disassembly.

BMCM · May 11, 2023

NewLiberty said:
Any love for thumb decocker models?

Eh, not especially. It's a matter of personal preference really.
Frame vs slide decock each have their pros & cons.

Frame decocker is easier to reach for more shooters and makes the platform slimmer. But the mechanism is clunky and easily damaged. Good luck finding a replacement grip if you bugger yours up. A sharp blow to just the right spot on the right side can dislodge the retaining ring and disable the lever. Also, think twice before taking one apart. I've had several delivered here in "bag 'o' parts" condition. They are indeed a tad fiddly to re-assemble.

Slide decock is wider overall especially for ambi setups and is more difficult to reach. Easily bumped onto 'safe' by banging into stuff or clipping a seatbelt or just carrying stuff. But lots of grip options. Despite it's faults, I would argue the slide mounted decocker is the more robust mechanism and easier to maintain & service.

My personal preference for those I employ as CCWs is spring loaded slide mounted decock body. No 'off switch' same as the SIG style decocker but in a mechanism much less delicate.

Cheers
Bill

Any love for thumb decocker models? 5926/6926

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