Can anyone tell me about my 5906?

[jsbethel]

I forgot to note this & just realized something. A few years back I installed Hogue rubber grips on my 3913. Does this make any difference?

It just indicates to me that your 3913 won't be sitting around disabled while the original grip is replaced.

 

[Skoll]

Possibly, but since you say it shoots and functions flawlessly, I would just put out $2 for a new recoil spring and go from there.

I just assume it could probably use a whole spring kit since it's so old and I have no idea of its maintenance history besides my cleaning it after every shoot.

I wanted to gather more information on it though before I started thinking and whatnot. Eventually after I get new sights and whatnot and get a barrel or two for replacement parts, I want to EDC this gun.

 

[jsbethel]

I just assume it could probably use a whole spring kit since it's so old and I have no idea of its maintenance history besides my cleaning it after every shoot.

I wanted to gather more information on it though before I started thinking and whatnot. Eventually after I get new sights and whatnot and get a barrel or two for replacement parts, I want to EDC this gun.

It's your call - I would also replace the magazine springs (and if the current followers are black, replace with orange).

Smith & Wesson Recoil Spring S&W 5903TSW 5906TSW - MPN: 060480000

Smith & Wesson Mag Spring 15-Round S&W 5903TSW - MPN: 062650000

Smith & Wesson Mag Follower S&W 5903TSW 5906TSW - MPN: 239440000

 

[Dutchboy901]

It just indicates to me that your 3913 won't be sitting around disabled while the original grip is replaced.

I take it that with the Hogue rubber grips, it should be OK?

Forgive me Skoll for the hijack!

 

[Skoll]

It's your call - I would also replace the magazine springs (and if the current followers are black, replace with orange).

Smith & Wesson Recoil Spring S&W 5903TSW 5906TSW - MPN: 060480000

Smith & Wesson Mag Spring 15-Round S&W 5903TSW - MPN: 062650000

Smith & Wesson Mag Follower S&W 5903TSW 5906TSW - MPN: 239440000

I think I'm going to grab a Wolff gunsprings service pak and buy the followers separate. https://www.gunsprings.com/SMITH & WESSON/NUMBERED SERIES/cID1/mID58/dID261#905

Thanks for all your advice!

I take it that with the Hogue rubber grips, it should be OK?

Forgive me Skoll for the hijack!

It's ok, man. I don't mind at all.

 

[Kenneth07ex]

I've got that same gun, and I really like it. Unfortunately it's away at S&W right now, while they deal with a failure to extract issue. One of the first problems that I had was finding factory mags. Even used ones weren't easily found. Midway occasionally stocks these. You have to sign up for a notification email. When it comes in, you have to act quickly, since they won't last long. The mec-gar mags work okay while you're waiting for the factory mags.

It's a nice gun, but I don't think I'd want to carry that much weight all day. IMHO there's many choices that would be better for all day carry. Mine sees a lot of use around the property for dispatching critters.

 

[WR Moore]

Don't use White Out on the front sight. Go to Hobby Lobby or something similar and buy a bottle of Testor's Gloss White paint. Get a couple toothpicks (non flavored) and some acetone and you're all set. Put a couple drops of acetone in the paint dimple to degrease it, wipe it out. Do it again and let it dry. Put the slide in a vise so the rear face of the front sight is horizontal and use a tooth pick to fill the dimple with gloss white. Let dry.

 

[model3sw]

It is a early 5906 with the square trigger guard. IIRC, S&W used up all the 659 frames when transitioning to the 5906 after which it went to the round trigger guard.

There are so many, square 5906s out there, there really is no additional value added for these over the round trigger guard.

 

[gunhobbit]

I've got that same gun, and I really like it. Unfortunately it's away at S&W right now, while they deal with a failure to extract issue. One of the first problems that I had was finding factory mags. Even used ones weren't easily found. Midway occasionally stocks these. You have to sign up for a notification email. When it comes in, you have to act quickly, since they won't last long. The mec-gar mags work okay while you're waiting for the factory mags.

It's a nice gun, but I don't think I'd want to carry that much weight all day. IMHO there's many choices that would be better for all day carry. Mine sees a lot of use around the property for dispatching critters.

I would point out that the MecGar magazines work just fine and are readily available at a very reasonable price. I have both OEM and MG magazines and have yet to notice any difference.

Other than the 17 round MG mags being pretty neat.

Though, in fairness, I'm not putting 20K rounds downrange every year, so it's not like I'm super stressing the mags or the guns.

S&W 59 and 5900 Series 910, 915 & 659 9mm 15 RD blued MGSW5915B [MGSW5915B] - $20.95 : Greg Cote, LLC

 

[Dutchboy901]

I believe it was less than two weeks. All of this of course depends on if S&W has the particular grip in stock - I usually inquire through email about this. I have extras so my pistol wasn't sitting around disabled.

Yesterday I emailed S&W about the grip recall even though I have the Hogue grips on them, and today I received a response indicating that the part would be forthcoming.

Great customer support!

 

[Skoll]

Don't use White Out on the front sight. Go to Hobby Lobby or something similar and buy a bottle of Testor's Gloss White paint. Get a couple toothpicks (non flavored) and some acetone and you're all set. Put a couple drops of acetone in the paint dimple to degrease it, wipe it out. Do it again and let it dry. Put the slide in a vise so the rear face of the front sight is horizontal and use a tooth pick to fill the dimple with gloss white. Let dry.

Thanks for this tip, I'll do that and let it hold until I order those Trijicons.

It is a early 5906 with the square trigger guard. IIRC, S&W used up all the 659 frames when transitioning to the 5906 after which it went to the round trigger guard.

There are so many, square 5906s out there, there really is no additional value added for these over the round trigger guard.

That's fine, I'm not a collector and the "value" of the gun is in it's function to me. I appreciate that it's virtually a relic now but these things are tools first and foremost and as long as it still works, it still has a home with me.

Yesterday I emailed S&W about the grip recall even though I have the Hogue grips on them, and today I received a response indicating that the part would be forthcoming.

Great customer support!

Likewise, they got back to me as well and sent one out. Also answered my inquiry, my 5906 was manufactured in December, 1988. I'm only 13 months older than it. I wonder when they started full production.

 

[Dutchboy901]

Yesterday I emailed S&W about the grip recall even though I have the Hogue grips on them, and today I received a response indicating that the part would be forthcoming.

Great customer support!

Just received my recall grip today in the mail. Great customer support as that turnaround was less than a week!

 

[oink]

It is a early 5906 with the square trigger guard. IIRC, S&W used up all the 659 frames when transitioning to the 5906 after which it went to the round trigger guard.

There are so many, square 5906s out there, there really is no additional value added for these over the round trigger guard.

I thought they only went to square trigger guards with the 5906. My 659 has a round trigger guard A814XXX.

 

[Skoll]

Ok, ladies and gents.. I have another question about my 5906 I feel only you guys are knowledgeable enough to answer, because for all my googling I was not able to find a direct answer.

As I was asking earlier, I want to get new sights for my 5906, and mine is a first run model so it has the wings. I want to keep the wings if possible and avoid any milling of the gun. Given how these are set up, do I have any options at all or am I stuck with these factory rear sights?

The guns 30th birthday is this December and I plan on getting it professionally cleaned and serviced. I already have new grips, a complete Wolff spring pack, a gun smith I trust to do the work. I just need to know about these sights.

 

[jsbethel]

You're pretty much stuck with the sights as they are with the Trijicon upgrade. Millett used to make a sight that fit in that rear dovetail but the trade off was that you had to mill the front sight!

 

[Skoll]

You're pretty much stuck with the sights as they are with the Trijicon upgrade. Millett used to make a sight that fit in that rear dovetail but the trade off was that you had to mill the front sight!

By Trijicon upgrade, do you mean buy a pair of Trijicon SA01s or something and just get a straight replacement? Are the rears even the same size as the factory stock?

 

[jsbethel]

By Trijicon upgrade, do you mean buy a pair of Trijicon SA01s or something and just get a straight replacement? Are the rears even the same size as the factory stock?

Correct - get the SA01. Concerning the rear sight, the blade portion is the only part replaced.

 

[Skoll]

Correct - get the SA01. Concerning the rear sight, the blade portion is the only part replaced.

Alrighty then, thank you! Hopefully come December I'll update this thread again with new pictures of my 5906. I really appreciate your help.

 

[squekydad]

If you really like the 5906 then check the aluminum alloy frame 5903 for carry. Ten ounces lighter

 

[HCH]

Those look like they could be night sights on the OP's gun to me. Clean off the rears with a q-tip and acetone and look for little glass (sapphire) disks where the dots are. If so call Trijicon and have them relamped for $57.