I am a BAD, BAD man !

[K-framer]

(Just trying to be funny there. I promised some close friends that I would not buy any more pistols... but I got weak. Really, it's not MY fault - those darned LGS guys had a nice one for me !)


OK, enough comedy. Not funny, I know (I never am when I try to be....but thanks for putting up with it).


I got another itch. I looked at an S&W 569 a week ago, at a certain LGS in a nearby town....and thought about it almost non-stop for the last week. I went there with a friend and his wife (also a friend), while he picked up a new Stoeger Cougar. (I bought one several months ago - and love it - so he wanted one too.) Anyway, while waiting on my friend, I saw this pistol in the case, tagged as a S&W 569. I checked it out....and it was stamped "Mod 569" and in good shape. I said I'd think about it.

Subesequently, I did some research and found that the Model 569 shouldn't exist.....that S&W apparently only produced the 469 (alloy frame) and the 669 (stainless).

As I said, I thought about the "569" alot, over the last week. I have been wanting another CC pistol, in 9mm and I like slightly older designs (I'm getting on myself). I've gotten a bit enamored of the S&W 3rd generation pistols, while researching the 569. So, last night, I made up my mind. The "569" would be mine - if it was still there.

As luck would have it, it wasn't. Some guy bought it on Tuesday. Nuts. I told the guys at the GS about the "569" not existing, etc. They were adamant that it WAS a 569. No matter, though, at this point, as I couldn't check the frame with a magnet....and buy it for myself.

I was a wee bit dejected and about to leave, when something else caught my eye. An excellent condition, though not quite "LNIB", S&W model CS9 Chiefs Special, in stainless. I looked it over, it looks terrific and appears to have been fired very little. A little holster wear (very little)....and the grips have slight wear, that's all. The price was OK to me ($375 OTD, with a little haggling).....and it is exactly the right size and heft for what I wanted. I instantly liked it, even though I am not a stainless pistol guy (I prefer blued, but I didn't let that stand in my way). Gotta step outside the box sometimes, right ? It even fits my Gould and Goodrich Yaqui holster perfectly.

It was traded in, so say the gun store guys, by a local LEO (detective), who used it as a CC off-duty. I don't know about that - but it doesn't matter. But, it came with the two original mags, the original box and (I discovered when I got home), the original papers. It shows very little wear, was quite clean inside and out (only needing a bit of attention under the grips). Overall, I am very happy. It carries beautifully in my G&G holster and doesn't dig into my side at all.

Besides being clean and obviously well cared for, the trigger is nice and the little gun seems to function perfectly. I'll try to get to the range with it tomorrow.

What's not to love ? I ask you. But, it's NOT my fault. I have a sickness (yeah, that's it....that's what I'll tell my friends !).

Sorry for the long post. What say you guys ? Did I do well, or will I regret the purchase ? I've read all I can find here on this site about the CS9 - and the reviews seem to be positive.

Oh and one more thing. The serial # is BAW793x . Would any of you gentlemen be kind enough to look up the ship date for me ? I'd be grateful !

Thanks for reading this.....novel. Got to work on my long-windedness..........

 

[kamloops67]

i understand your sickness, got a touch of it myself...if you dont like it you can always sell it, i mean, its a s&w how could you go wrong..youve been working hard you deserve this...might not see another like it...helping you rationalize lol
seriously congratulations on a new addition to the family

 

[OldNavy]

BC restrictions?

Hey there Kamloops - I understand that our friends north of the border have some pretty severe restrictions on purchase, ownership, carry etc. I heard that barrel lengths shorter than some minimum are even more restricted. How do you manage with that yet still get what you want?

 

[gtoppcop]

K-Framer,

Those 3rd Gens are addicting!!! In a little over a year I have amassed 9/ea.

It's funny how many people (I used to!) think of them as junk and pass them by without a look.

I just got my 3rd 4566 (a 2001-vintage 4566TSW). I know have 4/ea .45 3rd Gens to complement my .40s and 9mms.

One can NEVER have too many 3rd Gens (and K-Frames)!!!

 

[K-framer]

Yes, I really started to take a shine to the 3rd gen Smiths, when doing research (this last week). They used to have alot of (or most) of the polizei market, during the 1st generation changeover to semi-autos....but then were somehow forgotten by the public (and it seems many of the police agencies). Glock's "giveaway" program, no doubt, teamed with the rush to polymer in general. A sad thing, IMO.

I looked HARD at several 5903's and 5906's today (and I've looked at them before)....but they are just a bit too large for what I wanted this time 'round. I definitely wanted a smaller (3 - 3.5" barrel) "sub-compact" class pistol. Not to replace my Cougar or my Sig....but just to compliment them. The CS9 seems perfect to me.

When I had it apart earlier today, cleaning and looking it over, something struck me. This little pistol just screams quality...or so it seems to me. I was very impressed with the guts of the gun - it looks very well designed (and made).

The stainless finish is growing on me already. I had thought that I might send this one out to be refinished in some way (parked or something, maybe)....but I will have to think hard about that. I'm kinda liking it the way it is.

The only thing I just don't like about the CS9 is the ambi safety/ decocker lever. On such a small pistol, I'd prefer only a left-side lever. I pulled the right-side lever and it looks to me that I could leave it off.....or cut it off and re-install the stub. With the lever removed, the extended drum w/slot could get caught in clothing, so I don't see leaving it off as a good idea. Cutting it down and re-installing the stub would work - but, it wouldn't save much volume at all - so it's not really worth it. Perhaps I'll look into a non-ambi safety assembly, which I'm sure could be obtained (I bet the analogous 3913 parts would fit).

Finally, the grips. The Hogues on the gun are perfectly serviceable, but I might look into modifying a set of 3913 grips for it. The straighter back strap on the 3913 grips might fit my hand better. I am aware of the work of Big Dog on this, so perhaps I'll contact him as to this possibility. I am pretty handy, though...and I don't see any difficulty in doing my own.

Anyhoo, thanks for the encouraging words, fellas.

 

[K-framer]

A couple of (not so good) photos.......

 

[Jim PHL]

K-Framer; You did great on that deal so don't feel guilty! I personally let my CS9 go but not because it's not a great gun...it is! Even though it's not "the gun for me", I think I would have had to buy another one if I stumbled across a deal like you got. Congrats and enjoy!

(By the way, I think you can buy a single-side safety for it and I agree with your preference in that regard.)

 

[K-framer]

Thanks for the support, Jim.

I got to the range today, with the CS9. What a great little pistol ! I fired 165 rounds, of mixed 115 gr. FMJ and 124 gr. JHP ammo.

The CS9 seems to shoot about 2" right and 2" below POA. However, I get basically the same results with every hand gun new to me - until I get used to it. So, I'll reserve judgement on POA vs. POI until I put many more rounds through it.

I had ZERO problems of any kind. The operation of the CS9 was flawless, even though the magazines seem as if they are not fully broken in (they are tight and a bit hard to load). The trigger feel is quite good, I think - not too heavy in DA mode and quite nice in SA. The DA trigger is heavier than my Stoeger Cougar, but still not bad. Control was not a problem.

In conclusion, I think that the CS9 is quite a fine little pistol. I am VERY happy with it so far - and I doubt that this will change. I'm darned glad that I happened onto the S&W 3rd generation pistols - because before originally looking at one (and subsequently doing a lot of research about them) - I more or less ignored them, as I know many others have. I am happy that this has changed for me.

 

[gtoppcop]

K-Framer,

Send me a PM with your address and I'll get a single-sided stainless lever for you pronto. I had it on my custom 3914, until I had Smith and Wesson make it 'decock only'.

 

[Barrie]

In Canada barrel lengths shorter then 4.1" are classed as "Prohibited" guns and not allowed unless you have the same class of licence. No-body ever gets that class anymore up here at all unless some very special circumstances exist for the person to have it. The standard class is referred to as just "Restricted" with barrels over the 4.1" length. That goes for all makes and models except anything fully auto which is also illegal up here as well. I had my Prohibited class in the 70's well before they changed the laws here and like a Dummy let it slide as I was not into the shorter barreled guns at the time. Now there is some great buys to be had but virtually no-one can buy them at all.