4006-shorty 40?

[RSBH44]

I'm looking at very nice condition model 4006. The shop owner said that these guns were dubbed the "shorty 40"
I'm curious as to why. Touting a 4" barrel it seems closer to the size of a 1911 clone like the 4506?
Am I wrong? I'm still seriously considering on buying it.

 

[40cal]

IIRC the shorty 40s were put together by the performance center. They had a short slide on a regular frame, hand built pistols with all the good parts and a 3 1/2" barrel.
You would want to find out if it is a real shorty 40mk3 or just a regular 4006 4" bbl. Either way it should be a great gun, prices will vary greatly.

 

[Scotter260]

Someone was just asking about this and I believe one of the resident PC experts stated that the Shorty 9s and 40s had 5900 and 4000 series model numbers indicated on their end-labels.

If you actually saw the pistol though and it's a full-size there really can't be much confusion except in your dealer's mind. The Shorty 9s, 40s, and 45s had compact "uppers" on their caliber's respective compact frames IIRC.

Be certain which one it is though as one's going to be worth significantly more than the other.

I believe your best resources here would be handgunner356, Grinder, or Shorty4T (if I've left someone out I apologize).

 

[handgunner356]

The first runs of the PC Shortys did have labels that said "5906 Shorty" or "4006 Shorty", usually on the inside lid of the pepplegrain PC blue plastic box. They were both on the 6900 size alloy frame with 3.5" barrels and had no model numbers stamped on them. The full size PC 40s' were 5" guns with and without comps, but production 4006s' were the only ones I've seen with the 4" barrel and should be marked 4006 on the frame.

 

[Palmetto Sharpshooter]

I'm looking at very nice condition model 4006. The shop owner said that these guns were dubbed the "shorty 40"
I'm curious as to why. Touting a 4" barrel it seems closer to the size of a 1911 clone like the 4506?
Am I wrong? I'm still seriously considering on buying it.

There's a nice 4006 California State Parks pistol on GB that is being advertised as a "Shorty Forty." If that's what you're speaking of, the individual that is selling it has made a mistake. It is not a Shorty Forty.

 

[RSBH44]

Palmetto Sharpshooter.
Your right. I did some additional questioning of the seller and he was mistaken. It is a nice gun and some additional markings on this gun is PRO315. Is this the special edition model? Just looking for extra info. now cause I bought it!

 

[Palmetto Sharpshooter]

Palmetto Sharpshooter.
Your right. I did some additional questioning of the seller and he was mistaken. It is a nice gun and some additional markings on this gun is PRO315. Is this the special edition model? Just looking for extra info. now cause I bought it!

I believe the "PRO315" is an inventory control number for that department, like the CHP 4006. Just guessing, but I would think it would have the same features as the CHP pistol also. One nice point is I also bet the Parks popos don't shoot as much as the CHPs, so the pistol would have less rounds through it.

Let us know how it shoots.

 

[RSBH44]

Again, I did some research after asking the question and the "PRO 315" is infact the Park Ranger inventory number. (Thanks Palmetto) Acording to the seller, most of the guns were fired only to qualify with and to scare off the occasional bear. So the round count should be fairly low!
Thanks for all the info. guys.

 

[Bartman3562]

Shortys

And if I remember correctly, the shorty fortys all had alloy frame??? If it is 4" with stainless frame, it is a 4006

 

[Shorty4T]

Handgunner is correct about the model numbers, there were several generations of the Shorty 40 pistols. The appearance differs greatly through the generations. The 1st and 2nd generation look very much like an enhanced 6906...

Shorty 40 1st Gen

Shorty 40 2nd Gen

The 3rd generation, or MkIII, looked somewhat different. The slide is milled much like the M&P slides but the overall size is the same. This series came in both stainless and blued with adjustable sites.

The Shorty 40 2000 returns to the original slide machining, the finish has a nicely proportioned 2 tone look.

These all bore the 4006 model number.

Cheers,
Sam

 

[RSBH44]

Well did I mess up big time! I placed a bid on the 4006 that I posted about here and then got so busy with work and other crap that I forgot all about it. Needless to say. I didn't get that one. Damn!
I did however luck into a mod.410 NIB w/3mags
I know, I know, it's no where near as nice as the 4000 series guns but most reviews that I was able to find were very favorable. I should have it in my grubby little hands next week.
NY makes you jump through hoops before you can pick up your gun.

BTW Shorty4T,
Those shorty 40's are sweet!

 

[macgruff]

shorty 40 first generation

I can add that the first generation shorty 40 was produced for and distributed by Lew Horton. A production schedule of 500 was set. I am not sure if all 500 were made or not. I also have the model 4013 which was the production model which was based off of the performance center's shorty 40. All of the internal mechanisms are different however. The magazines for the two are also not interchangeable and the shorty 40 has the performance center's logo stamped into the frame and the barrel has the word "performance" stamped into it. The first prototype of the shorty 40 was made by Paul Liebenberg (there is an article on him titled The Liebenberg Legacy in American Handgunner July/Aug 2002). Basically at the time (1993) people said a gun like that could not be produced. He proved the nay sayers wrong.

I have the first generation model and I was contemplating selling it. I bought mine from a collector back in 2004 and it was new in box condition. I put two magazines of ammo through it to make sure it functioned properly and it has been in a safe ever since so it is still in the same condition I bought it in.

I love it but the NY economy is forcing me to most likely sell both guns.

 

[Shorty4T]

I can add that the first generation shorty 40 was produced for and distributed by Lew Horton. A production schedule of 500 was set. I am not sure if all 500 were made or not. I also have the model 4013 which was the production model which was based off of the performance center's shorty 40. All of the internal mechanisms are different however. The magazines for the two are also not interchangeable and the shorty 40 has the performance center's logo stamped into the frame and the barrel has the word "performance" stamped into it. The first prototype of the shorty 40 was made by Paul Liebenberg (there is an article on him titled The Liebenberg Legacy in American Handgunner July/Aug 2002). Basically at the time (1993) people said a gun like that could not be produced. He proved the nay sayers wrong.

Macgruff, welcome to the forum!! The 1st generation Shorty 40 initially had a run of 500, however that was extended. There were a total of just over 1500 in the 1st generation pistol, the second generation is the scarce one...the highest serial number I've heard of is just over 200. There were revisions within the 1st generation line but they were minor.

The 3rd generation from what I can tell had the highest production numbers, I'm not sure about the production numbers on the Shorty 40 2000. But I'm betting numbers are under 500.

They are great pistols, the 4013 isn't the same size as the Shorty 40, the frame/slide on the 4013 is based on the 4516 rather than the 6906.

Cheers,
Sam

 

[macgruff]

Ah now that I have looked closer at your photo of the second generation shorty forty I see that the front grip strap is precision checkered where the first gen has grooves. I would be interested to know the other differences as I have never seen a second gen. Does it still have the brass hand fitted barrel bushing or is it titanium like the newer variants?
Thanks for the warm welcome!

 

[macgruff]

This is very interesting as I also have a 4516-1 and never saw the frame as being the same as the 4013. I am looking at all three of them now side by side and the size of the 4013 and shorty forty are pretty close. The shape of the trigger guard of the 4516-1 is slightly different. I never realized how close in size the 45 was to the others. To my eye the 4013 looks more like the shorty though but I am no expert at all.

I do think the regular production third gen smiths are highly underrated. The 4013 is just about as accurate as the shorty 40 and the shorty has a match grade barrel and special hand fitted barrel bushing and a buttery smooth trigger. I was unhappy with the trigger pull action of the 4013 when I first got it. I sent it back to S&W and they deburred the action and mirror polished the barrel throat and ramp (which I didn't even ask them to do). I got it back and it was silky smooth as well. Job well done S&W! I am also familiar with the 4013TSW which my father owns. Also a great gun but I do not like the large lettering on the slide but that is a matter of personal preference. I have a Glock which is a good gun but I much prefer the looks of the S&W and the external safety as well.

 

[Shorty4T]

Thanks macgruff, it may depend on which 4013 you have. The single stack 4013 is prettty much the same as the 4516. I've never been able to have anyone that has both a double stack 4013 and a Shorty 40 to do the size comparison.

I'd like to see some pictures, the later 3rd gen 40s that I've owned have all been on the 45 frame, CS40, 4013 single stack, etc. I know there are 40 pistols that are built on the 3900/6900 frame slide. The one exception that I haven't aquired is the 4040, it's on my hit list though.

The only other difference between the 1st and 2nd generation pistol is that the beavertail is just a little longer on the 2nd generation. This and the checkering on the front strap are the only noticable ones.

Cheers,
Sam

 

[handgunner356]

The 4013 is based on the 4500 compact frame and as such has a slightly bigger slide than the TSW series which is based on the 6900 gun. The 4013TSW is based on the same 6900 frame size as the shorty-forty series guns. Mags, grips most internal parts are the same with the main difference being the Briley bushing barrel setup. Shorty-fortys started around '93 with the TSW series of 4013s' starting in '98.

 

[JWS3]

Thanks macgruff, it may depend on which 4013 you have. The single stack 4013 is prettty much the same as the 4516. I've never been able to have anyone that has both a double stack 4013 and a Shorty 40 to do the size comparison.

I'd like to see some pictures, the later 3rd gen 40s that I've owned have all been on the 45 frame, CS40, 4013 single stack, etc. I know there are 40 pistols that are built on the 3900/6900 frame slide. The one exception that I haven't aquired is the 4040, it's on my hit list though.

The only other difference between the 1st and 2nd generation pistol is that the beavertail is just a little longer on the 2nd generation. This and the checkering on the front strap are the only noticable ones.

Cheers,
Sam

Hey Sam - another difference that I noticed between the first and second generation Lew Horton Shorty Forty is that (on mine) the trigger and magazine release button are blued. They haven't been swapped out, either. My brother kept it just as it came from the factory when he purchased it in November 1994. He kept all of the documentation, too.

Best regards,
-Jim