5906 slide set screws?

[lowwill]

Scored 2 sweet pistols today. One is a 4006 with absolutely no wear. Very little range time if any. Complete with original blue box and all paperwork. Second is a 5906 also very little range time. I noticed that it has 4 set screws on the top of the slide? The middle 2 goes flush to the slide while the 2 end screws are slightly raised. Was this a late model or special addition?
$1050 for both here in CT.

 

[18DAI]

While I have been around 3rd Gen pistols long enough to know to "never say never", I have only seen something similar on a 5906 once.

Decades ago. And it wasn't factory. It was an early 5906, hooked trigger guard, half moon rear sight, flash chromed hammer and trigger. It was at my gunsmiths shop. The 5906 belonged to a local bullseye shooter. He had my gunsmith drill and tap the slide to mount a scope on it.

Even then, I had no interest in optics on a handgun, so I could not tell you what type of scope. I do recall it was huge, as big as the 5906 and silver in color. I would guess that the prior owner did something similar to that 5906 in your picture. Hope this helps! Regards 18DAI

 

[mscampbell2734]

Either a scope mount like 18DAI said or some sort of Bomar type rib sight.
bomar rib sight - Google Search

 

[lowwill]

Ok make sense now. Could've been used in competition shoots or so. Thanks

 

[stansdds]

Yep, the slide was drilled and tapped for a rib sight, an optical sight, or possibly a Picatinny rail for a sight.

 

[Old_Cop]

The work on the 5906 appears to be professionally done and may include some trigger work. I'd say that you made a good deal.

 

[lowwill]

The 2 screws that don't lay flush is bothering me lol. I can feel them. Little sharp nothing too crazy. I don't want to take out and leave open holes. Think I can possibly buy a plug for this? I even bought a slide off of ebay but the color was off. It was a light silver while my pistol has a grayish tint to it. Thanks

 

[Sevens]

I hope this doesn't come off as rude or harsh. A 5906 is an ultra-high production workhorse of a pistol. As collectibles go, this model is down at the bottom end of that scale. While almost any gun can be collectible, and a 5906 rates higher than a Sigma or M&P when it comes to collectibility, it is still not a highly desired collectible — mostly because they made a gujillion.

However, for a 5906 to be much more collectible, a couple things help greatly. If it had some very rare and absolutely original features, that helps. And if it were in tip-top unfired condition, that helps.

Yours is in altered condition— and the alterations are permanent and can't be undone.

That makes this a shooter grade gun and you should enjoy it with reckless abandon and with no concern to it's collectible value.

As for the screws, would it be possible to remove them, carefully set them in a vise and use a dremel to take the heads down so that they sit flush or less than flush?

 

[lowwill]

Not rude at all bro. That's my next course of action. Thanks

 

[barbsaurus]

Buggered Screw Fix

As for the screws, would it be possible to remove them, carefully set them in a vise and use a dremel to take the heads down so that they sit flush or less than flush?

Alternative to a dremel...use a drill with a chuck. Clamp the screw into the chuck on the threads so that the head of the screw sticks out of the chuck. Next put a piece of sandpaper on a flat surface and spin the screw head against the sandpaper. For best results, alternate between forward and reverse. 2000 grit sandpaper will make the screw head look like it has been polished. I do this regularly with buggered side plate screws when I acquire a new to me revolver. Of course you'll need a little cold blue to turn them black/blue again.