5946
- Thread starter huthike
- Start date
I heard back from S&W customer service this morning.
Date of manufacture is May 2015. Which is a bit of a surprise. It must have been hiding somewhere all those years!
Product number is 108186, so just a plain 5946.
Date of manufacture is May 2015. Which is a bit of a surprise. It must have been hiding somewhere all those years!
Product number is 108186, so just a plain 5946.
There were significant quantities of 108176 5906 and 108186 5946 sold off in the 2019-2022 time frame and possibly as early as 2016.
I have a 5946 VJP356x 108186U bought NOS (surplus) in 2022 with a Box End Date of 011419 but SW says manufacture date was 5/2009. Oddly enough I also have a 6946 VJP358x (16 digits later) dated by SW as 1/1998.
I also saw a similar 5946 VJN97xx 108186U with the same Box End date of 011419 but dated by SW as 7/1998.
One seller had an inventory list of 5906 from which you could select your s/n. These included KLF, KMF, KNC, TDP, VCZ, VUV, VZB, and VZC - all with Box End Dates 011119, 011419, and 011519 and Product Code 108176U.
And I have also seen a number of 5946 in the UCV, UCW, and UCY series with "Caution" slide markings and presumably without Mag Safety - all with Box End dates 040716 and Product Codes 149332. I confirmed manufacture date of one with SW as 4/18/2016.
Best I can figure based on other info is that:
1. SW assigns s/n to frames when frames are produced.
2. The s/n sequences may or may not be of the same pistol configuration.
3. They are assembled as orders come in.
4. If there is no immediate need the parts may sit unassembled until the need arises.
5. In the case of Special Orders, parts may be set aside as spares or in anticipation of further orders.
It appears these pistols sat either assembled but unsold, or in parts kits unassembled after the "end" of 3rd Production pistols.
At some point, potentially at the end of 5946 listing by NYPD as an acceptable pistol, or when clearing out other residual inventories, they were completed and subsequently sold off to various distributors.
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This is a likely, perhaps most likely, scenario.
Also, I remember some 3953TSWs for sale at a shop in South Carolina sometime in the 2018-2019 time frame. All were NOS. Didn't NYPD use those as well? Seem to remember seeing that somewhere.
Also, I remember some 3953TSWs for sale at a shop in South Carolina sometime in the 2018-2019 time frame. All were NOS. Didn't NYPD use those as well? Seem to remember seeing that somewhere.
kbm6893
Member
We did use the 3953TSW. I have an NYPD 3953TSW. For some reason the duty 5946 had the mag disconnect removed and was marked, while the off duty 3rd Gen guns still had the mag disconnect.
I'd guess that there was a reason for that, but have no idea what it might have been.
My 3953TSW was the last gun I bought before we moved out of MA. It's not a NYPD gun as it has the mag disconnect intact. I never go around to finding out the made on date because we were busy packing and getting ready to move.
By rights, I shouldn't have taken time out from that to go buy it, but you know how that goes.
My 3953TSW was the last gun I bought before we moved out of MA. It's not a NYPD gun as it has the mag disconnect intact. I never go around to finding out the made on date because we were busy packing and getting ready to move.
By rights, I shouldn't have taken time out from that to go buy it, but you know how that goes.
kbm6893
Member
I'd guess that there was a reason for that, but have no idea what it might have been.
My 3953TSW was the last gun I bought before we moved out of MA. It's not a NYPD gun as it has the mag disconnect intact. I never go around to finding out the made on date because we were busy packing and getting ready to move.
By rights, I shouldn't have taken time out from that to go buy it, but you know how that goes.
I think the reason was the off duty 3rd gen guns were only one option out of several, and S&W wasn’t gonna make guns and mark them as mag disconnect removed for such a small number. When the 9MM was authorized, you had the option of the Glock 26, the Beretta Mini Cougar, the Kahr K9, the 3953TSW, the 3914DAO, and I believe the 908. Most guys were keeping their off duty .38, as I did, since the off duty guns weren’t free like the duty guns.
And I think the only reason they wanted the mag disconnect removed is for training consistency since the Sig 226 and Glock 19 could be fired with mag out. We always had to show clear by dry firing when qualifying. With all the different off duty with different magazine capacities, that wasnt an issue.
That all makes sense, thanks.
One other question about the duty guns. Were the 5946s, Sigs, and Glocks bought at different times, or did the officers have a choice between the three?
One other question about the duty guns. Were the 5946s, Sigs, and Glocks bought at different times, or did the officers have a choice between the three?
Hmmm
I just picked a full 5946 upper to swap back and forth with 3953 top end. Not sure why…
I just picked a full 5946 upper to swap back and forth with 3953 top end. Not sure why…
kbm6893
Member
From 1993 to probably about 2005, the three choices were the 5946, Glock 19, and Sig 226 and the officer picked his own. About 2005 the 5946 was no longer authorized, although you still see them since those who had them kept them, and the Glock 17 replaced the 5946. The Sig is still a choice, with the Glock 19 and Glock 17 being the other.
Last year I walked into my local shop and see a 5946. Owner knows I’m retired from that department so asked if I was interested. I wasn’t at first since I already have an NYPD 5946. But the one he had for sale looked absolutely brand new, and it came with 4 magazines. It was $400 so I took it. Turned out he still had the factory box and it was marked NYPD and it was made in 1997. Lift up the foam in the box to see if the manual was there and the receipt from the Equipment Section, where NYPD guys buy their guns, is in there. $86 for the night sights since the gun was free. The name and tax ID number were in the receipt. The cop who bought it was born in 1932 and judging by his tax ID number, came on the job in the mid 1950’s. He would have had 40 years or more on the job when he bought it. He must have taken the free gun right before he retired because this gun looked unfired. I doubt it was even holstered. His command was Midtown South Precinct Detective Unit. That is a seriously plum command. Doesn’t list his rank but with that kind of time on, he was either a Detective First Grade or a boss.
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cd228
Member
Interesting, I heard that the City dropped the SIG (again) and is going all Glocks for the Academy Classes.
I had always heard that the S&W was the best of the bunch on the old City semi-autos. Was that good info? I heard the early Sigs rusted (the later Sigs had shiny stainless-steel hammers, triggers and grip screws) and the early Glock had mechanical issues.
kbm6893
Member
As of 2018, the Sig was definitely still being offered. The newer ones have a stainless trigger and hammer. Don’t know if they still are. There was definitely an issue with them rusting early on. Guys had to turn their guns in to have a new coating applied. Some of them looked almost purple. The Smith’s were pretty popular. When we had to pay for them they were about $475, with the Glock 19 being $325 and the SIG’s being over $600, so the Glocks were chosen more often, but once the guns became free they were pretty evenly chosen. I think they are the best looking of all the guns. They surely were the heaviest.
The early Glock 19’s did have an issue that nearly got them dropped from use. They were experiencing Phase 3 malfunctions on the range and in the street. Glock blamed user error first, then they blamed the ammo(115 grain fmj), but it persisted, so when the city contacted Ruger for P89 pistols(they had been part of the pilot program but weren’t chosen) to replace ALL Glock 19’s, Glock took notice and sent an armorer to the range to modify all pistols in service. Something about the angle of the ejection port. Problem went away after that.
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3rdgenfriend
Member
4046 love
Hey Gary S, Congrats on the purchase! it's nice to have accurate, smooth triggered 15+1 for Steel competitions. I also have 2 4046's cuz i bought one for cheap, and the 2nd one was cheaper. They are in beautiful shape, I have yet to wear one on each hip as intended. Pictured is my 4046TSW with an even lighter DOA trigger,
Hey Gary S, Congrats on the purchase! it's nice to have accurate, smooth triggered 15+1 for Steel competitions. I also have 2 4046's cuz i bought one for cheap, and the 2nd one was cheaper. They are in beautiful shape, I have yet to wear one on each hip as intended. Pictured is my 4046TSW with an even lighter DOA trigger,
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cd228
Member
Thanks for the insight. I just went to check the patrol guide to see what was currently authorized and didn't find it. I thought the Rookies were all getting glocks now. Kinda sad, NYPD used to be a great source of used S&Ws and the occasional Ruger revolver.
OP
Finally was able to pick up my 5946 today from my ffl. Somewhat ratty looking but should clean up okay. VJP serial prefix - email off to the mothership for further details.
Thanks to all who have had input here - interesting thread.
Thanks to all who have had input here - interesting thread.
OP
Got quick feedback: my 5946 was a 1998 shipment to the New York Department of Corrections with sku 108186.
Great that you got the NY Dept of Corrections info - you obviously got more than usual info - fyi 108186 was the most common garden variety 5946.
Just looked this up for a different response:
6946 VJP358x 1/1998 Prod Code 108209
5946 VJP356x 5/2009 Prod Code 108186U - purchased surplus NOS 2022.
OP
Finally got her disassembled and cleaned up today. Bore looks practically new - outside pretty chewed up. Carried a lot and shot a little. Put some Hogues on I had laying around because the original plastic grips were, shall we say, chewed on by a big hound. A little Mothers Mag - and I think she cleans up right well.
The recoil springs came in today's mail. I requested one, but they sent three. I'll replace the springs in my 5906 and 5946.
I have to plan a trip to the range to try out the 5946. I'm sure I'll like it even though I don't expect that I'll ever carry it.
I have to plan a trip to the range to try out the 5946. I'm sure I'll like it even though I don't expect that I'll ever carry it.
