Fishmonk
Member
OMG that is a great looking firearm!
469 transitional?
- Thread starter fuzzymcnab
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You guys are the best, thanks for all the additional info and the link, which I will go to right after this. I think I will post to Roy's section on the SWCA area, in case he had more info that was not on the letter.
fuzzy
fuzzy
The late production rollmark above the trigger, 3 line instead of two, would cause me to lend credence to the replacement frame.
That 469 looks like an early/original top end on a late production 6904 frame. That would be my bet.
An officer I knew at another agency had an original 669 that he shot the snot out of. Unlimited ammo supply and a job at the police range, combined with poor maintenance (oil instead of grease, old recoil springs with hot duty ammo) caused his frame to crack above the slide stop.
The S&W LE rep took the gun and told him he would see what he could do. He came back a few weeks later with the original top end mounted on a 6906 frame. It looked very much like your 469 does. Hope this guess helps! Regards 18DAI
That 469 looks like an early/original top end on a late production 6904 frame. That would be my bet.
An officer I knew at another agency had an original 669 that he shot the snot out of. Unlimited ammo supply and a job at the police range, combined with poor maintenance (oil instead of grease, old recoil springs with hot duty ammo) caused his frame to crack above the slide stop.
The S&W LE rep took the gun and told him he would see what he could do. He came back a few weeks later with the original top end mounted on a 6906 frame. It looked very much like your 469 does. Hope this guess helps! Regards 18DAI
18DAI, I totally agree with all that you just said -- which is why the mystery deepens -SO- much with the fact that S&W gave this frame a stamped "469" model number. That part of this whole thing is where I am left stumped.
donk52
Member
Just before I left S&W I was sent to work in outside repair. There were times a gun would come in, in such bad shape a new frame would be stamped with the customers serial no. This might be the case.
Yeah Sevens, that 469 stamping is puzzling. BUT - back in the mid late 80s and into the early to mid 90s, S&W was trying to sell as many 3rd gen pistols to LE as they could. AND - back then you could get actual gunsmiths to do modifications to your pistol.
You could even order up something special from the Performance Center if you had the money. They did a bunch of customization work to individuals guns back in the early 90s when they first opened the doors. And they also made small bunches of modified standard production guns. I know of two batches of 4566s they did that numbered less than 21 units in the batch.
And then there were all the "one of one" guns that were done by the PC that made there way out the door and into the safes of gunwriters and a few collectors.
So, did an "important customer" or someone in LE who knew someone send in a damaged 469 - and needed the new frame to say 469 for agency recording purposes request that it be done? I can see a few scenarios where it might be needed. And depending on when, there were certainly folks at S&W willing and able to do it.
But could any of this speculation be confirmed, much less documented? Not likely.
But the upside is the OP has a very nice AND unusual 469.
What did Grandma always say about buy the gun, not the story? 
I'd buy that nice gun. Regards 18DAI
You could even order up something special from the Performance Center if you had the money. They did a bunch of customization work to individuals guns back in the early 90s when they first opened the doors. And they also made small bunches of modified standard production guns. I know of two batches of 4566s they did that numbered less than 21 units in the batch.
And then there were all the "one of one" guns that were done by the PC that made there way out the door and into the safes of gunwriters and a few collectors.
So, did an "important customer" or someone in LE who knew someone send in a damaged 469 - and needed the new frame to say 469 for agency recording purposes request that it be done? I can see a few scenarios where it might be needed. And depending on when, there were certainly folks at S&W willing and able to do it.
But could any of this speculation be confirmed, much less documented? Not likely.
But the upside is the OP has a very nice AND unusual 469.
What did Grandma always say about buy the gun, not the story? I'd buy that nice gun. Regards 18DAIskjos
Member
Picture of a 669 I almost purchased, but determined it was a frame replacement rather than a true transitional model.
I really like the looks of the OP's 469! Don't know the price, but I would buy if for the way if looks too! Hope you get it figured out. Everybody loves a mystery.
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Thanks 18DAI for chiming in, I knew you would have good tidbits to add. SKJOS's 669 pic is also interesting as it has the 669 marking with 3rd gen grips. I think somebody mentioned a frame mod to fit the grips, so I will take them off and look for something changed. BTW, if anyone wants me to post a pic from another angle, let me know and I will.
I paid $475 for the gun with no box and 1 aftermarket mag, and I was happy to get it regardless of it's history. My only other 469 is just shooter quality.
much thanks to all again,
fuzzy
I paid $475 for the gun with no box and 1 aftermarket mag, and I was happy to get it regardless of it's history. My only other 469 is just shooter quality.
much thanks to all again,
fuzzy
OP
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One quick update... S&W says no repair history on the gun.
fuzzy
fuzzy
iskra
Member
My 469
Totally on the outside of this Thread and generally of the auto genre Smiths. (N Frame wheel-guns rule!) But even as 'whiskered thread' noted, to add my 469 pix & toting experience.
Purchased in late 1984 as LE work gun. Functioning reliably, reasonably concealable/firepower compromise. Great companion! Carried it into early nineties at which point, it retired. Moving to Glock 26. By then, investigations necessitating tons of travel. Commercial flights & 'compact' ruling the day. But this "Niner", still 'miner.' Just no longer a 'minor' ) Totally unaware of the evolutionary history discussed here beyond my acquisition. SN A877sxx. Pix below.
This Smith confidence inspiring. Built on many training evolutions & rounds burned over better part of a decade.
My take
Totally on the outside of this Thread and generally of the auto genre Smiths. (N Frame wheel-guns rule!) But even as 'whiskered thread' noted, to add my 469 pix & toting experience.
Purchased in late 1984 as LE work gun. Functioning reliably, reasonably concealable/firepower compromise. Great companion! Carried it into early nineties at which point, it retired. Moving to Glock 26. By then, investigations necessitating tons of travel. Commercial flights & 'compact' ruling the day. But this "Niner", still 'miner.' Just no longer a 'minor'
! (OMG! ) Totally unaware of the evolutionary history discussed here beyond my acquisition. SN A877sxx. Pix below.This Smith confidence inspiring. Built on many training evolutions & rounds burned over better part of a decade.
My take
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