I've never understood the attraction to the 3rd Gen Smiths.
I've owned two, still have my Model 52, which I do love. But the 9mm 6906 was a lesson in suffering. It was reliable, I'll give it that much.
My .o2
My 6906 experience and impression differ from yours.
This started with me with the S&W second generation version, the model number IIRC was 469.
At the time we were still carrying the 4" S&W 686, which I had been able to move my patrol division into. Excellent revolver, far superior than the 66 for us.
During this period, prior to our transitioning to dept issue semi-autos, there was a lengthy list of semi-auto pistols our troops could furnish and carry. Our evidence section had a S&W 469 (9mm) that had been assigned to the department following a court disposition. The department owned it, could issue it, but could never dispose of it. I was offered this pistol for issue. When I picked up this pistol, compact and light weight with a 12 round magazine capacity due to the large grip frame diameter, I really liked the feel of it. I have large hands, width wise, but not overly long fingers, and the fit to my hands was perfect, far better than any of my revolvers had ever been. I took it out to the range for testing. It functioned flawlessly. But the trigger was terrible. Although I could never own it, I decided to have my local gunsmith, whom I knew, do an action job on it on my dime. What he did was amazing, and that is an understatement.
I started carrying this pistol on and off duty. My worst qualification score was 100%. Here I was with a much smaller and lighter hand gun than the 686 going clean every single time, and with ease. That large grip frame with my large stocky hands was a perfect fit. I had found, for me, the perfect hand gun. No one could stay with me. Out of some approx 400 sworn personnel I was the only to go the entire year with a 100% score.
Alas, we were destined to part. Our department adopted the full size .40 cal Glock (don't recall the model number now) as the mandatory carry duty pistol, so the 469 got called back in. I had become accustomed by this time to a semi-auto, so my transition was simple and I still continued with possibles. In fact that is where I was when I retired.
But the Glock was too bulky for off duty carry. So I bought the third generation version of the 469, the 6906. I had my gunsmith do the same action job, and the magic was back. I carried the 6906 until the Glock 26 came out (well after I had retired). This was perfect for me. I had become accustomed to the feel of the Glock and really liked it. The 26 was even lighter and more compact than the 469/6906 so that replaced the 6906 for EDC.
Also, given the utility of the 26, I decided the 6906 was too nice and too valuable to be subjected to the potential rigors of EDC.
I still take it out and shoot it on occasion. It still amazes me how easy it is to shoot so accurately.
I also have a S&W model 52-2, and I consider it to be my ultimate target handgun, despite my several PPC revolvers. But there is something about the 6906 (and 469) that for me is perfection.
I consider the S&W 469-6906 et seq series of pistols to have been S&W's pioneering effort to take compact cut down semi-auto pistols from customized gunsmith creations to factory production status. In my opinion it was refinement by S&W that so improved the compact and reliable breed to induce other manufacturers to introduce them. That includes my Glock 26 which to this day is, for me, the ideal EDC.
I don't have a 'rotation' of hand guns I EDC. Carrying a firearm is strictly business for me. I am certain I will not vary from the 26 in the few years I have left.
But the 469-6906 series are exceptional.
