Gen 3’s are Coming back !

[MattB]

Interesting. I always thought S&W gave up on the metal framed pistols too soon. If Sig, CZ, Beretta and others can be successful with metal frames, why did S&W stop? I'll be curious to follow this one.

 

[Gunhacker]

Interesting for sure. Was surprised to see the metal CSX even in S/A. Granted the price will be high but so is everything else these days and many willing to pay the money. Keeping tabs on this one!!

And that's why I'm kinda optimistic about the possibility of it being true... after all, no one saw the metal framed CSX coming out of left field.

Unfortunately, if it is true... it will be a moot point for Californian's unless our "safe handgun roster" law and firing pin micro- stamping is overturned in court.

 

[ugrey]

A 17 round Mec-Gar magazined, stainless or melonite TSW 5903 competes. A 15 round Mec-Gar magazined TSW 6906 in melonite, or stainless, competes. A TSW 3913 competes. A non value line, TSW CS9, with delrin grips, competes! DO IT S&W!!!!!

 

[Rlg#17]

This is just my opinion but here goes. Smith should have stopped at Gen 3's, OR developed Gen 4's etc. I cannot tell how many Gen 2s and 3's I have owned, carried and shot over the years. They were and are superb…

Then GLOCK came along and destroyed Smiths share in the LE market. So, smith tries to copy the Austrian bombshell and comes out with the crappy Sigma. Nasty lawsuit, then they continue coming out with "improved" versions of their ideal polymer pistol!

Several other manufacturers do pretty well on all metal pistols, really well. And we have a new offering from the mother ship with the CSX, which again imho cannot hold a candle to the previous Gen 3, or even a Gen 2 pistol.

Do I see a return to the Gen 3 pistol? Not likely. Would I love to see that Gen come back? Absolutely! S&W shot them selves in the foot on this one.

Regards from the Bluegrass,
Rick Gibbs

 

[kbm6893]

The more I think about it, the less I believe it is true. Yeah, Beretta, CZ, and SIG keep making metal framed guns, BUT, they never stopped! Where is the machinery for the 3rd Gen guns? Can't imagine they kept them. So they'd have to make new ones. Lot of investment for a small return. But I'd love to be wrong!

 

[Old_Cop]

Interesting, but I don't see it happening.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Who saw the CXS coming ????....... metal frame, SA trigger..... 10/12+1.... not a bad price point.

Everything seems to recycle......
Small striker fired were popular before WWII..... returned in the 80s
Colt 1911....... resurgence in interest in the 50/60s
"Wonder-9s" in the mid-80s. Beretta 92s Compacts have been a recent resurgence in interest with the Wilson Combat and LTT guns now with w/ 15/17/18rd mags from Mec-gar and factory.

"Things" get smaller ... then larger again. Look at the Sig 365, newer larger versions being introduced.

Maybe we will see a SA/DA Gen4 based on the CXS frame and slide??????????

Gun sales have been off from their highs in 2020(?) New products mean new sales.

We're looking at 5th Gen Glocks and where there was only a Glock 17 we now have IIRC Glocks 17s-43 or is it 44s??????

Another "New and Improved" gun

 

[SHOOT1SAM]

Wonder if there's even a minute possibility that this may be a foreign contract that fell through, so Smith decided to put them out on the American market?

Sam

 

[SHOOT1SAM]

Could happen. Colt brought back the Python and charged nearly 2 grand for one...

That's a good point, but maybe it was influenced by the fact that even half-worn out Pythons were going for ASTRONOMICAL prices at the time.

Sam

 

[Heinz]

maybe the OP's second post just means they are just making new parts available, not going back into full production?

 

[kbm6893]

That's a good point, but maybe it was influenced by the fact that even half-worn out Pythons were going for ASTRONOMICAL prices at the time.

Sam

Have you seen the prices for 3rd Gen's? Try to buy a 4506 for less than $900, and it surely won't look new. Guns that were $250 10 years ago are now nearly triple that.

 

[Frank Black]

Ok here is the story. Major dealer (biggest in New England) with range has range rental gen 3 needing repair. It was a 6906. * * *

But there were now 6906 parts available for the first time in a long time.

If that's true about S&W making "new" 6906 parts, I'd expect also to see new factory 12-rd magazines for the 6900s as well.

Maybe also other magazines for the old 3rd Gen models.

Not holding my breath though.

 

[WR Moore]

While I've got doubts, I expect that if the frames were MIM, production costs would go way down-at least after mold costs are covered.

 

[Ameshawki]

Skeptical. Highly skeptical. Can't see a ready market. Price tag will likely be north of a grand. Still plenty of used guns on the market to satisfy the itch. Unless this is something in the Classic line and even there I'm not seeing a viable market. I suppose they kept all the tooling so reopening the line is probably doable. I just don't see why. FWIW I own all three gens and like them.

 

[malph]

There are a lot of metal parts in a 3rd Gen. There is a lot of machining in the frame and slide.

I'm a fan of the platform but I just can't see Smith tooling up to build 3rd Gens again.

Maybe they've produced some new parts or contracted with someone who did???

Maybe they've figured out there is money to be made keeping these old guns running???

I'd love to see new 3rd Gens but I'm pretty skeptical as of new.

If they do come out with new 3rd Gens I'd expect a lot of complaining about the price by people who expect them to be priced like they were in the 80s.

 

[Phish]

I hope I can hold out long enough to it. Very interested for sure!

 

[Laketime]

When pigs fly. Sorry, but the market is polymer strikers.

True but as mentioned Colt has brought back their revolver line

 

[mauser9]

Still bet they would sell a lot at first especially for those who prefer hammer fire and metal. Price will be up there but many paying big bucks for most everything today anyway.

 

[GeoJelly]

Great news if it's true. I am sure not a machinist, but I am guessing the CNC/machining center only has to be programmed once for each part. Lots of keyboard and CAD time for a frame and a slide, then they put the correct sized forgings in, click OK and have a Starbucks. Just an old farm boy, but with more than a couple of 3rd Gens (not that it matters ) but my money says it's true. Oh, and it just continues a trend they have had for about a year: CSX, then metal-framed M&P, and now 3rd Gens. I don't think the machining centers care whether the part is forged or investment cast …

 

[Sevens]

The way S&W does their QC these days, I would hate to see the fine history of 3rd Gens besmirched by modern manufacturing.