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5900 series ambi safety scarcity

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galilman121

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I have been looking high and low for an ambidextrous safety for a 5906 slide I was rehabbing, but I am finding zero for parts on the secondary markets (Numrich, Midway USA, gunboards, Ebay, etc). I can’t even locate any for a 915 model either.

Did all the extras dry totally up?
 
I just checked my usual sources and yes you are mostly correct. There are still, (I assume ambi and flashed chromed,) ones being offered. But…. a stripped NOS, no springs/plungers/lever is $82.00. Right side NOS levers are available @ $12.00. NOS plungers and springs are inexpensive and readily available cheap . Then there’s shipping from ALL the different sources.

Unfortunately now days you’re looking at over $100.00 to get what you are wanting. At that price it might be cheaper to just get a parts/rebuild kit. The plus is you may get some high condition extra part’s depending on the offering.

If you go the parts/rebuild kit route ONLY go with an established confirmed seller. It was cordial but I didn’t really like or appreciate the ATF personally reclaiming the complete 5906 top end I got.

Jim
 

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Unfortunately, the vast supply of replacement parts for the S&W metal receiver pistols is drying up. Jack First still seems to have a good number of parts, but supply vs. demand means they are not inexpensive.
 
The majority of posts on this topic seem to prefer swapping an ambi safety to a left side only,
If you have the original my bet is you'd easily find someone willing to trade even Steven.

I have a 6906 with ambi safety and it sticks out enough that it's an eyesore.
If I had a buddy willing to swap a left side only unit I'd do it in a second.
On a side note none of the three of my Performance Center compact 9mms have ambi safety and those were spared no expense to make elite level guns with factory tuned triggers, barrel bushings and hand lapped slide frame fittings.
 
IIRC, any single or double stack 3rd Gen 9mm safety should work. At least one of my 3rd Gens, I think my CS9 has a left side only safety from a 908.

When I'm searching for parts like that I look for 3rd Gen and Value Line parts on line. I even have a couple of extra 457 left side safeties in case I ever buy a 45xx gun and want to convert it.
 
See my comment below. You might have to buy an entire slide, but that gives you lots of small parts as well.

PC guns were not made as duty guns to be issues to police officers, some of whom were left handed.

Engine49guy said:
The majority of posts on this topic seem to prefer swapping an ambi safety to a left side only,
If you have the original my bet is you'd easily find someone willing to trade even Steven.

I have a 6906 with ambi safety and it sticks out enough that it's an eyesore.
If I had a buddy willing to swap a left side only unit I'd do it in a second.
On a side note none of the three of my Performance Center compact 9mms have ambi safety and those were spared no expense to make elite level guns with factory tuned triggers, barrel bushings and hand lapped slide frame fittings.
Click to expand...
 
Glad that worked out for you !
The problem with the SW 3rd gen safety is it sticks out beyond the slide way too far.
Many of the SW 3rd gen guns were offered with left side only safeties or ambi.
Back when parts were plentiful probably a fairly cheap upgrade for the occasional southpaw needing it.
I think my point about the PC guns not having it was that if it was a desirable feature that most people preferred the factory would have standardized it.
Again most posts on the subject seem to be people wanting to remove it,
My 6906 has the ambi safety and it's the only thing I don't like about that gun.
On the extreme other side is my 3953 that has none and the hole is plugged, that one looks weird without one.
 
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If anyone is interested in left side only safety levers, without mentioning any specific site names, if you go sit by the dock of the bay and type in S&W 908 parts, there are two complete slides for sale at pretty reasonable prices.
 
4T5GUY said:
I just checked my usual sources and yes you are mostly correct. There are still, (I assume ambi and flashed chromed,) ones being offered. But…. a stripped NOS, no springs/plungers/lever is $82.00. Right side NOS levers are available @ $12.00. NOS plungers and springs are inexpensive and readily available cheap . Then there’s shipping from ALL the different sources.

Unfortunately now days you’re looking at over $100.00 to get what you are wanting. At that price it might be cheaper to just get a parts/rebuild kit. The plus is you may get some high condition extra part’s depending on the offering.

If you go the parts/rebuild kit route ONLY go with an established confirmed seller. It was cordial but I didn’t really like or appreciate the ATF personally reclaiming the complete 5906 top end I got.

Jim
Click to expand...

Not sure if you know the whole story on why. But those parts where all stolen from an ATF destruction facility by a worker there.
 
It seems that most of those parts kits offered for sale on various auction sites come from contractors who are required to show the demilled receivers of firearms they’re contracted to destroy. If they follow this procedure within the letter of the law, all the rest of the parts may be legally sold...as long as sufficient pushback from anti gun city officials doesn’t get the rules changed. They’ve been a good source for me a few times.
Froggie
 
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