I two-toned my 3rd Gen (pic heavy).

[NWPROJECTS]

I toyed around with one of my 910 models. Blue finish was pretty rough when I bought it, so decided what the hell why not, stripped all the finish off the slide and left the frame black. After 2yrs now still not sure if I like the reverse tone of stainless upper and black lower. Also switched slides off my 915 and 5906. I really like the black on top of stainless look better!

 

[Mal Cap]

Thanks. Nice job all around on that handgun.

 

[loeman]

Whoooo Eeeee, Something I would never consider doing but I like it! Congrats to you.

 

[Mal Cap]

Jury is out. Hard to decide they both look fine to me. It's like wearing a sport jacket and attempting to match your socks to your shoes. Are they carry guns or house guns? Even such, color combo doesn't matter.

 

[Sevens]

I like it a lot, I think it's quite attractive. I wouldn't polish the slide myself but I've always loved a two-tone look and I don't discriminate either. Top or bottom, all of 'em look pretty good.

I've always loved stainless handguns but it's funny with 3rd Gens because so many of them (by far!) are stainless or at least stainless over a silver aluminum frame and the black/blued 3rd Gens make up such a small percentage. Probably why I find the 915 to be attractive when honestly-- it just wasn't ever meant to be attractive. It was simply meant to be low-cost.

 

[10xatten]

The original two-tone had a distinct purpose other than cosmetic. The way I remember it, the two-tone was created during the early days of IPSC, using the dark slide because they came that way (there were'nt many stainless guns), and it cut down on glare from the sun during outdoor matches. The frame was plated either electroless nickel or hardchrome to prevent rust from sweaty hands.

I forgot to say that I really like what you've done, Hills!

 

[Sevens]

I didn't realize that but it certainly sounds reasonable. My 745's are both two-toned in that way and one of them is an IPSC Anniversary model. I very much like the way they look also.

 

[686wheelgun]

Hi. I just purchased a used 3rd gen 5906 as well and replaced my worn and scuffed up grips with new factory S&W grips (ordered from Brownells). When I look at your pics closely focusing on your before & after versions it looks to me as though the safety may not rotate all the way down with the new grips in place. Just curious, but what am I missing? It looks like there may be a subtle difference in your old vs new grips. Has the plastic been thinned out at the top of your replacement grips so the safety has room to rotate? The grips I received were identical to the ones I removed (they match your old ones). Maybe my replacement grips weren't the most recent model??? I like the look of your replacement grips better.

 

[Hillbilly77]

Hi. I just purchased a used 3rd gen 5906 as well and replaced my worn and scuffed up grips with new factory S&W grips (ordered from Brownells). When I look at your pics closely focusing on your before & after versions it looks to me as though the safety may not rotate all the way down with the new grips in place. Just curious, but what am I missing? It looks like there may be a subtle difference in your old vs new grips. Has the plastic been thinned out at the top of your replacement grips so the safety has room to rotate? The grips I received were identical to the ones I removed (they match your old ones). Maybe my replacement grips weren't the most recent model??? I like the look of your replacement grips better.

The safety works as designed. The top of the new grip has the same contour as the old one. The picture just doesn't show it very well because of the black grip on the dark frame.

Here's a zoom-in.

The difference between my grips is that the old one was curved on the back and the new one is straight.

 

[686wheelgun]

The safety works as designed. The top of the new grip has the same contour as the old one. The picture just doesn't show it very well because of the black grip on the dark frame.

The difference between my grips is that the old one was curved on the back and the new one is straight.

Now I see it (had to look very, very carefully)! Thank you.

 

[gman51]

I like your end result much better than the dull original finish. I like the polished slide and the dark frame much better than the other way.
It looks awesome to me.