Any love for thumb decocker models? 5926/6926

[NewLiberty]

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.]

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

[Sevens]

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]

No.
None.

[Geeorge]

I can work the slide decocker fine with my thumb

[toddcfii]

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]

And then there are weirdo's like me.

[NewLiberty]

Originally Posted by Ten2six

And then there are weirdo's like me.

That looks like pretty much all of them.

[Ten2six]

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

[walter o]

Don't forget the 4526 in the discussion

[Ten2six]

Originally Posted by walter o

Don't forget the 4526 in the discussion

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

[Heymatt]

Originally Posted by Ten2six

And then there are weirdo's like me.

Sooo, can we say that’s a yes?

[Rock185]

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

[waffles]

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]

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]

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]

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



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

[Doug M.]

Originally Posted by kbm6893

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]

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]

Originally Posted by NewLiberty

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

[GaryS]

If S&W had ever made a 3913 with a frame mounted decocker, I'd buy one just for the novelty.

If I wanted a gun designed from the ground up with a frame mounted decocker I'd buy a Sig 239.

Actually, I considered adding of those to my collection, but decided not to.

I'm pretty used to the slide mounted decocker, so what's the point.

Both my pre rail 3913TSW and CS9S came with ambi slide mounted safety/decockers. Both have been replaced with single side safety/decocker because it does thin the slide. Plus, I got tired of the right side lever chewing through my shirts when I wore the shirts untucked during hot weather.

[toddimusnimski]

I picked up this 4026 a while back because I like the uniqueness of the frame mounted decocker models. Yes, parts availability is an issue compared to my 5906 and CHP4006, and disassembly/reassembly other than the basic breakdown doesn't sound like a fun task.
That said, for me it does have better decocker "reachability" and its short production run gives it an interesting history. I don't necessarily prefer it over my others, but I'm glad I bought it. There's always something enjoyable about finding an uncommon model in decent shape that's not overpriced.
I know a lot of these went to the KCPD and most of their early ones are nicely marked on the RH side. It's really not one to be lettered but I'm curious if the VAD prefix was known to have been shipped to them.

Todd

[LostintheOzone]

Probably why Sig sold millions of pistols with a de-cocker that actually worked. They beat S&W to the market by at least 10 years. Hard to catch up. We all know about Glock and the striker market, right?

[Doug M.]

The odds are pretty good that if I were to want a 3rd generation pistol, it would be DAO.

[rosewood]

Love it, best design out there IMHO.

Have had a 1076 for maybe 25 years and love it. I passed up on a 4026 maybe 15 years ago and am kicking myself to this day for doing so, it was an excellent price, can't remember why I didn't buy it. I passed on a 5926, but it was more than I wanted to pay. If I was to come across a 4026 again or a 6926, I might have to come out of the wallet.

Rosewood

[Farmer17]

My very first handgun was a Smith & Wesson model 39 and I bought at the Tulsa gun show back in 1979 when I was 20 years old. It was a beautiful, accurate, and reliable gun, but when I started shooting 1911s in IPSC competition, I said goodbye to it and became a big cocked and locked fan. When I later tried a Sig 226 with decococker I thought that was was the perfect pistol, for a purely defensive handgun. But later heard of several law enforcement people in very intense situations re-holster their gun cocked, because they forgot to decock. The Sig had a light short, trigger pull and that made me pretty nervous . Since Smith & Wesson has improved the trigger on their M&P guns like my 10 mm with manual safety I really feel like that’s the best of all worlds for me. I still like my 1911, Browning hi power, and CZ 75, but my M&P and my Sig 365s are my go-to defensive handguns and my only gun with a DeCocker is my Bersa Thunder 22 pistol.

[toddcfii]

Originally Posted by LostintheOzone

Probably why Sig sold millions of pistols with a de-cocker that actually worked. They beat S&W to the market by at least 10 years. Hard to catch up. We all know about Glock and the striker market, right?

This is an interesting statement. Why do you say the S&W decocker does not work? Personal experience? If so what was it? I related my experience above watching and/or shooting a lot of rounds go through decocker S&Ws without a failure. So my experience is they DO work.

[rosewood]

Originally Posted by GaryS

If S&W had ever made a 3913 with a frame mounted decocker, I'd buy one just for the novelty.

I would buy it and make it my EDC.

Rosewood

[NewLiberty]

Originally Posted by rosewood

I would buy it and make it my EDC.

Rosewood

The 6926 isn't a huge gun, but it is still thicker than most of the modern slim 9mms that are among the most popular concealed carry guns today.

I concur that a 3913 with a decocker would fill that role well.

[BruceB]

Originally Posted by toddimusnimski

...
That said, for me it does have better decocker "reachability" and its short production run gives it an interesting history. ... There's always something enjoyable about finding an uncommon model in decent shape that's not overpriced.
I know a lot of these went to the KCPD and most of their early ones are nicely marked on the RH side. It's really not one to be lettered but I'm curious if the VAD prefix was known to have been shipped to them.

Todd

I bought this clean example in 2011 (March 2000 ship date) knowing it was uncommon (not "rare"). It's enjoyable to shoot. I think the de-cock motion feels a bit long, but I don't have anything to compare it with, having never encountered a Sig. I can't access my safe at the moment, but I think it has double-strike capability ??

[rosewood]

Originally Posted by NewLiberty

The 6926 isn't a huge gun, but it is still thicker than most of the modern slim 9mms that are among the most popular concealed carry guns today.

I concur that a 3913 with a decocker would fill that role well.

I have a 6904, but don't carry because I can't find a grip that makes it fit my hand. Factory are too hard to grip, hogues are too fat.

[LVSteve]

I find it funny that everybody talks about the frame mounted decocker allowing them to maintain their shooting grip. I've never been in LE, but I'm not decocking my gun until it's clear that the perp is coughing up enough blood to mean the ambulance better hurry up. At that stage, a shooting grip won't be needed.

[CH4]

I am not really a fan of Smith 3rd gen pistols, but I like 10mm and as an Sig fanboy, it’s only natural I prefer 3rd gens with the frame decocker, ergo, I own a 1076. After finding a 4536 yesterday, I now have two with frame decockers. Wish they made a 1036.

[DesertFox]

Only have 1026 and 1076 here for decocker models. Love em! I would jump on a 5926 if one popped up.

Also very surprised at the 1086 DAO trigger and would buy other 3rd Gen S&W DAO if presented with the opportunity.

[CH4]

Is there a 39XX with frame mounted decocker?

[veeklog1]

Just got a 5926; nice gun but as some said parts such as grips are impossible to find. Anyone know where to get replacement factory grips please let me know.

Will be sending it to S7 Customs next week after I get my tax refund back.

[demkofour]

Originally Posted by CH4

Is there a 39XX with frame mounted decocker?

It appears the answer is no…
I found this recently and posted it in another thread: http://www.louiscandell.com/pdf/fire...l_decocker.pdf

[GaryS]

Sadly, no. No mention of so much as a prototype. It would likely, following S&Ws naming convention, be a 3933.

Originally Posted by CH4

Is there a 39XX with frame mounted decocker?

[ACEd]

Originally Posted by veeklog1

Just got a 5926; nice gun but as some said parts such as grips are impossible to find. Anyone know where to get replacement factory grips please let me know.

Will be sending it to S7 Customs next week after I get my tax refund back.

I think I have seen some aftermarket - maybe Roberts - check GB or eB.

[DCW]

Took apart my 1076.
Took weeks to put that dadgum decocker "Together Again."
I mean, it wasn't a 24/7 effort. But it wasn't fun either.
Learn something, though: Never again!

Later.

[jdh]

5924
Am I the only non-stainless holder here?

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

Originally Posted by toddcfii

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.

Hope that experience predominates. I like my 1026, and find the decocker to be in the right place for me.

[rosewood]

Originally Posted by DCW

Took apart my 1076.
Took weeks to put that dadgum decocker "Together Again."
I mean, it wasn't a 24/7 effort. But it wasn't fun either.
Learn something, though: Never again!

Later.

Take pictures before you disassemble...

[GaryS]

For those interested, there are some 6926s on Gunbroker.

[snw19_357]

Originally Posted by jdh

5924
Am I the only non-stainless holder here?

Nope.



(man, that's an old pic..)

[ACEd]

Originally Posted by jdh

5924
Am I the only non-stainless holder here?

I have a 5924 too

[BAM-BAM]

The de-cocker always looked cheap to me.

Prefer the Sig P-series de-cocker or the slid mounted de-cocker only on S&W and Beretta guns