Checking out used 6906

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I'm buying a used 6906 from a local gun dealer in Seattle and wondering if there's anything special I should look for in this pistol. (He's asking $340 [plus tax] which I think is a fair price. Certainly better than gunbroken, where I see them asking anywhere from $350 and up, plus shipping, plus FFL fee, plus sales tax here in WA State.)

Kinda excited to add this to my S&W 39/59 "collection." I now have a 39-2, 3904, 459 and 5906. If I sell a couple of my other guns I might shop for a 59 no dash and complete the sets.
 
You should look for the Same stuff as any other quality used handgun.....


Look for signs of abuse and neglect, not wear. Wear is normal. Some tool marks are normal. Chips and cracks are not normal. The safety /decock should operate, the mag safety should operate, mags should spit out. Sights should not wobble. The chamber and barrel should be free of rust and pitting but expect some crud from shooting. Muzzle crown shouldn't have dings. Grips should be tight and not loose. Scratches are normal. It's mostly stainless so refinish is easy. Mag lips should be consistent, ammo shouldn't spit out of mag of shaken. Followers should not be cracked. Recoil spring and mag springs should be firm, but need not be unreasonably stiff. Go by feel. Tired springsfeel tired.

Try the trigger pull in double and single action. Dry fire double action, following up with a single action shot to check the reset.


The only thing that Might show I think is the trigger return spring or some other little part in the trigger return movement. Which would be evident when dry firing and cycling the action.

These things are tanks. Hard to kill. If it looks like the last guy shot it a lot, chances are it worked fine for him.;)
 
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Same as what DanP7 says

Condition is everything when it comes to price. It may be a good deal or just fair
 
If it were me, I'd take advantage to buy a decently priced late production version of the 6906's I carried and used for several years as issued weapons.

I carried some made from the earliest of the 3rd gen production, but the ones made toward the end of 90's benefited from better machining and revised parts designs. This means I'd prefer to have one with the MIM hammer/trigger; wide cut breech face & barrel tab; and the longer ejector. (Yes, it also means the plastic disconnector & mainspring cup, but I happen to prefer those, myself ... and I've been a 3rd gen pistol armorer long enough to have gone through the armorer class 4 times.)

First thing I'd do is to replace the recoil & mag springs, though. I like the factory recoil springs, myself, but Wolff does offer a nice 5% mag spring that isn't too hard to load, and ought to run at least as long as the factory spring. I ran some for a while and received good service from them.

I know some folks like to brag about how many years/rounds they can eek out of springs, but weakened springs run too long let recoil forces needlessly batter guns, and can introduce more potential for various feeding & functioning issues that can be real head scratchers. Why risk it? (Then again, some folks like to try and run every last mile out of their tires, too, and wonder why they get a blow-out when the belts have been showing for a long time. :rolleyes: Ditto pushing motor oil for too long.)

S&W took to recommending armorers replace recoil & mag springs either every 5 years (of duty use) or every 5,000 rounds fired, whichever came first. Conservative, but then I tend to replace my recoil springs in the littler 3rd gen guns even sooner (and the mag springs at least at the recommended time/use recommendation, or sooner, if it appears prudent).

The little alloy 69XX's run best when lubed (like all aluminum alloy framed pistols ;) ).

I like the 6906, myself. Not quite as much as the 3913/3913TSW, as I like the slimmer grip of the single stack.
 
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$340 for a 9 mm smith and wesson. Life is short buy the gun. Best of luck and be sure to price some pics of your new toy.
 
I wish I could find a local 6906 for $340 let alone 350
 
Yep, good price, great gun. I recently acquired one, took it to my gunsmith along with my CS-45. Told him he did my CS-45; I wanted the same trigger on the 6906. DONE! Perfect!

***GRJ***
 
Check to make sure it has the Novak sights. The early ones came with the 2nd gen sights. Not worth buying if any early one unless you want as a collectors example or like the 2nd gen sights. I got burnt on that detail about a year ago... I say burnt but I am the one that missed that. It was a LNIB 6906 with like new box, docs and mags still in the paper. So being brand new I just paid the man. When I took it out to shoot it I noticed my folly and probably why he still had the gun. You can't just switch to Novaks either.. the slide needs to be milled. So you have to pay for both the milling and the new sights. I still have mine.. I won't pay the extra cost to make it right and nobody wants to buy it. Just sharing a detail to check for.
 
I have nothing to add to the suggestions so far except to add to the accolades. I have a 6904 and a 6906...both 100% reliable and fun to shoot. When I carry it is either the 6904 or a 3913. You can get a +2 adapter and convert the 15 round 59xx series mags to fit perfectly in the 6906 and up the capacity if desired...does add to the weight but provides the option. I was lucky and got both for around $350 each but mostly they go for $400 and up. My son-in-law shoots them better than he shoots his fantastic plastics. Yes, he ended up with a 6906 as well!:p

Replace the recoil spring as suggested and it will run for many, many years.:)
 
I picked up my ex-LEO 6906 two years ago. Per the serial no., it's a late '90's production. It has some holster wear and the grips are a little beat up. But, I bought it as a "truck" gun anyway. As long as it checks out per the suggestions given above, you'll have a pretty solid pistol. And that IS a good price. Magazines can be found. I purchased some from a fellow forum member last year. Holsters, I haven't had much luck finding anything I really liked.
 
"Holsters, I haven't had much luck finding anything I really liked."

I like tension holsters and the snap-loop that Ray Lobo makes suits all my stuff just fine for me. Custom made for the gun so fit is perfect. Although it was made for the slightly wider gripped 6904 that doesn't really come into play much for this style of holster so the 3913 fits as well.:)
 

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@lhump1961, funny you should say that. I'm waiting for one order from Lobo to be completed and come in and was thinking of getting him to do one for the 6906.
 
Well, things changed a bit on my 6906 buy. I sold a Tanfoglio Tz 75 to a fella and while we doing the deal I mentioned I was using the money to by a 6906. I also mentioned I had a CZ 82 and nine boxes of 9mm mak I was going to llst. Then he mentioned he had a 669 he'd be willing to trade. The combination of the CZ price plus the value of the ammo and we had a trade we were both happy with. Soooooo, now I own a 669 with fewer than 500 rounds through it and the CZ, which I wasn't shooting and didn't carry is no longer in the safe.

Range test comes next week. Here's a pic or two.
 

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