Yesterday while out browsing, my area gun shops. I saw an excellent condition, 5905. Pistol and one factory magazine only. I sensed that it was somewhat unusual but didn't want to commit to it, as I was not familiar with this variation, and it was priced at $899.00. After arriving home, I learned what I could from the several threads here. I then searched all the other internet gun sites, for current offerings, and history of sales with very little success. A couple were sold in 2018 and 2019 in the $600 dollar range. One was listed in November of 2021 for $825 with no bidders. I was also surprised I could not find history on the nation's largest auction house from the state of IL and now TX. Does anyone here have an idea of current day value?

The 4th edition of the S&W Catalog has it valued a $1000 ANIB $850 Exc and $600 VG.

SCS&W; Blue steel, 3rd Trigger guard, "Special for 1991"

Skjos maintains a killer list of 3rd Gen pistols and where he has found traces of information, he has included total production numbers. I am the #1 fan of this amazing resource he has built and maintained but he might be the first to admit that some of the numbers are simply what’s been reported or found, often in factory letters — and may not be the certain truth.

I do have a point I am rambling towards…

Whatever we have as a reported or “published” number with regards to total production of the 5905 is almost surely mistaken information, published in error.

If you want to talk about a pistol that just never appears, the 5905 (and similarly, the 4505) is that pistol. Unless some entity has a freakishly large stash of these locked away that have never been available, I am saying that these basically never appear.

I cannot really gauge a value or price on a model that is basically never bought or sold, I think an example without the factory box and unaltered end label would be much less “valuable” as a collectible and it also makes sense, at least to me to note that there’s nothing inherently amazing about these except the absolute rarity, so it gets hard for me to (personally) see a tremendous value in a pistol when I am actively searching for and shooting/enjoying Performance Center pistols which blow the doors off any of the production 3rd Gens.

If it was $900 with original box and NIB or near condition, I would probably be interested as a collectible to tuck away. $900 for pistol, one mag and no box might be a solid price for a quality gun that you never, ever see, but I personally wouldn’t see the value in buying it.

I would be even less interested if it had the adjustable rear sight, though you did not mention it either way.

In the end, if you want a damn good gun with a fantastic pedigree AND also happens to be a variation that you will never see again any time, anywhere, then maybe this would be a good one to grab.

Some things are rare and valuable, some are just rare.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

I completely concur with GaryS. This is a rare pistol, and like the model 4505 it is only blued. That is it. Now if you are decorating your gun room with blue finish pistols and this is the last one you need in order to complete the design concept, then it is worth whatever you must pay to get it. I saw a 4505 on GB go for $1600. There is one available for the last six months for $1850 with no takers. If you gotta have blue, the 5904 makes more sense to me.

Some things are rare because nobody wants 'em.

Kind Regards!
BrianD

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696-6906-457-38-3913-CS40-411

Thank you all for your information, opinions, and insights. The gun has the round trigger guard and the adjustable rear sight as pictured in the fourth edition. It turns out this 5905 is on consignment, part of a pretty large collection that is being liquidated. I made an offer of $800 dollars OTD. It was accepted. I am essentially paying $750 plus tax. I will pick it up Tuesday when the shop opens again. Photos to follow. I really like the black gen III's. I already have LNIB's 5904 and 6904. This will be a nice addition to the group. I also hope to find 3914, 4014, and if I'm really lucky someday a 4505.

Some things are rare because nobody wants 'em.

Kind Regards!
BrianD[/QUOTE] That is a very valid point. When I read, the first run in 1991, was only 484 units. My first thought was an all-steel gun that didn't sell well. During the time when light weight polymer guns were taking over. I also agree with the skepticism about the second run of fixed sight guns. The serial number range doesn't add up as well as the adjustable sight guns. I read a possible 500 production number for fixed sight 5905's but the serial number range given spans over 4700 units. In any case that 5905 is very appealing to me and fit my hand very well. I currently have a 5903 and a Sig P239 that I enjoy shooting often. They are both great. It will be interesting to see how the 5905 stacks up.

Do what you want, of course, but shouldn't the 5906 fit your hand exactly the same way at about a third of the cost? Blued steel certainly would be attractive.

I have a fondness for the Ruger P89 over the 5906, myself. I like the look better and for some reason points better for me. Maybe if you bump into one of them, you should see what you think.

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Just Say No - To Social Media

I have a LNIB 5905 in my S&W 3rd gen collection! Very rare pistol!

Cheers!!!
David

There's all sorts of adjectives/categories relating to guns, cool, neat, rare, etc..... One that I like to say is weird and unusual, that category has driven most of my acquisitions over the years, it's kinda fun...

If I had seen that gun it just might have gone home with me...

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.............SmithNut

I had a 4505 for awhile in the 90s.......seeing that, for me, it would never be more than a large heavy Safe Queen...... it got traded away for a PC DPA5906 to use in IDPA. LOL, two boys and soccer TRUMPed Sunday IDPA matches!!!!

This and Brian's comment are bang on, and it applies double in the milsurp world. Like Smithnut, sometimes I cannot resist the siren call of the weird and unusual, especially when it is offered at a rock bottom price.

I'm afraid the 5905 doesn't move my meter much, especially at $900. Another collector might say it's a steal, YMMV.

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Release the Kraken

I hope you still have your PC DPA5906. Those are very handsome firearms. Both the stainless and two-tone variations. Two weeks ago, I picked up a PC Shorty 9. Last week I took it to the range. When I do my part right, it makes me look good. Not so much if I'm jerky or shaky. I feel like the PC guns are so precise that any flaw in technique really stands out. I also own two shorty 40's and have had the same shooting experience with them.

I've also got two Shorty-9s and a PC SD-9.
One of the Shorty-9s has been a primary carry gun for almost 30 years now.

You have established a collection paradigm now. I for one like the idea, I just ain't got the money. IMHO a 4505 would be an important part of your collection. In these matters you will find that you will have become the "motivated buyer" and that means you will pay more, especially for the last piece that completes the collection. It works the same way with art museums for crying out loud. Someone said he waited three years(!) for that last piece to finally appear at a reasonable price. He could have finished his collection earlier had he been willing to payyyyyyy $$$$$!!

Kind Regards!
BrianD

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696-6906-457-38-3913-CS40-411

I wonder if the next generation of Smith enthusiasts will care about the difference between the full size 59XX Models the way that we do.

Acquisition completed today. Based on serial number range, listed in the 4th edition, this would be the 23rd gun produced, in the first run of 484, adjustable site guns. #TFR6718

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Excellent unicorn!

Nice! One would make a great stablemate for my 4505!

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Trey Gorbett, SWCA #3676

Since you have a fondness for blued 3rd gens, you should troll by aimsurplus. They have a few different blued 2nd and 3rd gen LEO trade-ins for $450. Might make a good addition to your stampede of dark horses.

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Just Say No - To Social Media

Kind of looks like the younger, fatter sister of my 3904.

Dino, are your mags all black in color?

That is exactly what I was thinking too.

Oh wait, my 4505 turned out to be a Frankensmith. Unlike many here I didn’t notice the 4505 frame had a 4567 slide when I bid/won it. Figured it out right away when I received it though.

Still can’t beat a carbon steel pistol, polished perfectly and deep blued. Especially if it’s a 3rd Gen S&W. 👍

Beautiful 5905 you got Dino44, nice find.

Jim

Unfortunately, I only received the pistol and one, black factory magazine.