Aukula1062, I think it would be fun to compare/contrast the two different .40 cal models you might be shopping for next. I own examples of both so I enjoy commenting on them. (pair of 5906's and have had three, now only a single 915 also.)
My conclusion: get one of each of the 4006 and the 411!
With the conclusion out of the way, let's look at the chase for the pistols. I think the 4006 will be extremely easy to find. They made a gujillion or possibly 1.5 gujillion of them. Me personally, I don't find the TSW guns to be an upgrade. Yes, I understand the selling points they used when marketing them, I've just not been convinced there was any real world benefit in "matched" upper and lower, upgraded frame and frame rails and (speaking for myself only) the tactical accessory rail is an eyesore, as is the loud billboard lettering. My experience is 5906/4006 TSW's my best shooting bro owns and the 4566 TSW that I owned. Had it been a non-TSW, I'd still have that 4566.
To me, the 4006 just looks, feels and acts like a 5906 with a little more horsepower on tap.
Now the 411 is an interesting beast. It's the alloy frame "Value Line" .40cal partner to the Model 915. We've discussed the 915 many, many times but it's always a good one to talk about. Short version is that S&W was taking a beating in sales to new Tupperware guns so they wanted to try and offer a lower cost 3rd Gen option and the 915 and 411 were the first attempt.
I've often argued that S&W failed in this attempt and that is NOT an indictment of the pistols, it's exactly the opposite. S&W made them only for parts of two years, I believe they realized that they did not reduce their cost enough. Net result is that the 915/411 are great guns and in my opinion, they were barely "cheapened."
Here's my point though… the 915 was punched out in incredible volume, many even got shipped off the continent on contracts and just a ton of the Model 915 were made.
The same just isn't true for the 411. And believe me, I wish I had hard data to back this up but I don't. What I do have is a lot of experience in watching the market.
I will pull a guess from a dark region… I suspect the 915 was made in a volume 5x to 6x of the 411. And to be completely honest, I don't know WHY because these were made in the heyday of the .40cal cartridge.
It's possible that the .40 was never much popular outside of the USA and that's why the 915 is so easily found and the 411 is absolutely scarce, it's as good an argument as anything.
I think your search for a 4006 will be incredibly easy compared to your chase for a 411. Me personally, I will almost always choose real steel over anything alloy, but in this case, the scarcity of the 411 is really a draw for me. I love the one that I have!
