469 transitional?

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Picked up my second 469. Mint condition and a very fair price so it was a no brainer. Here is my confusion. Unlike my first 469, it has the later grips, not the Derlin 2 piece ones I am used to. Also, it has a skeletonized trigger. I can find little reference to a 469 like this except for one posting where the OP calls it a transitional gun to the 6904 (which I also have and love). Any input?
Thanks to all,
fuzzy
 
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Other than being transitional, there have been instances where S&W replaced a bad 2nd gen frame with a 3rd gen frame and stamped them with the original serial and model numbers.
 
Thanks guys. Interesting about the later replacement frame. I was not aware some had been stamped with the 2nd gen model. Learn something new everyday. Sorry, I don't recall what style the trigger guard was. Hang in there for pictures, maybe that will help a bit. Currently in gun jail, will bring home in a few weeks.
fuzzy
 
You could contact S&W CS Let them run your serial number to see if its been back for repair or upgrades .
 
OK, gun is finally home, so here is the pic. I have since read in the SCSW (not sure how I missed it) that there may have been about 200 guns that were 469s with 6904 features. I sent for a letter, so we will see.
fuzzy


Picture looks like a 469 slide with a fixed front sight.......................interesting that it's got a round trigger guard...... didn't all the early guns have the square/hooked trigger guard?
 
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I can only guess that was a 469 sent back with some problem and returned with a 6904 frame, that frame is -NO- 2nd Gen! Just look at the pin for the magazine catch and also, the safety indicator/divot on the frame and obviously the trigger guard. Interesting pistol and appears to be in mint condition.

Another mystery from S&W!
 
I can only guess that was a 469 sent back with some problem and returned with a 6904 frame!

I agree with this since the TAE serial number is within the range of the 2nd gen half-cock recall and shipped prior to February 26, 1986, long before possible transitionals.

It's still a nice pistol regardless.
 
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Thanks for the reply gents. Funny, just got the letter in the mail today. Does not appear to be anything special. I must admit I am still a bit confused. Gun was shipped june of 1985, but, according to Roy's letter, 469s were shipped into 1989, that would mean that my gun is nowhere close to 6904 production. I guess I don't know as much about the 469 as I thought I did because I was under the impression that they all came with flat 2 piece grips and a seperate backstrap.
The good news is that it is a great example and was a very fair price, so all's well that ends well.
best to y'all, fuzzy
 
The service that Roy Jinks provides is fantastic but (IMO), not low in cost. We are looking at something that I don't believe is anywhere close to "normal."

If I owned it and I had requested the letter...
I would take many pictures and contact Mr. Jinks about the possibility of an error. The differences between a 469 frame and the pictured frame are not small.

Something is going on with this particular pistol.
 
I've never seen that style frame when I was there. I left early 1989. The mag catch spring hole is not in the normal position. Round checkered trigger guard too. Seems odd.
 
The mag catch spring is in precisely the correct position -- for a 3rd Gen frame.
 
Yep, just backing up what you relayed. The magazine catch is clearly different between 2nd and 3rd Gen frames. On the left side, the spring retainer is 90 degrees different in placememt. On the right side the visual difference is far more obvious.

Everything about that frame screams "3rd Gen" but having a 469 model stamp is just really off the wall and very interesting.
 
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