I Wish S&W Had Made a Model 915S

[legelegel]

I have a S&W Model 910S which I prefer over the lines of the S&W Model 59, 459 and finally the 5906.

I just wished they had made a stainless steel S&W Model 915 which has the more rounded lines that the squared Model 910 does not.

 

[JohnHL]

The 5903TSW and 5906TSW both have the unstepped frame.
Or you could put your 5906 slide on your 915 and have the look you want for much less money.

John

 

[legelegel]

The 5903TSW and 5906TSW both have the unstepped frame.
Or you could put your 5906 slide on your 915 and have the look you want for much less money.

John

Actually, I don't have a S&W Model 5906 or 915. I did buy a 915 some time ago and gave it to my adult son. I do have two S&W 910S. Could I put a 5906 slide on the 910S?

 

[JohnHL]

Actually, I don't have a S&W Model 5906 or 915. I did buy a 915 some time ago and gave it to my adult son. I do have two S&W 910S. Could I put a 5906 slide on the 910S?

Yes, but you cannot put a 910S slide on a 5906 frame.

John

 

[legelegel]

Yes, but you cannot put a 910S slide on a 5906 frame.

John

I think I'm going to just live with the boxiness of my two S&W Models 910S. Maybe when I have the money to burn, I'll get a gunsmith to round those corners for me.

 

[JohnHL]

Practically any 2nd or 3rd gen 9mm slide will fit on your 910S frame, but any slide other than a 910 will require its own barrel because the 910 barrel lacks the front locking lug that all the others have. Of course, shorter slides would require their own barrel, too. But you are virtually unlimited: 3" (CS9), 3 1/2" (469, 669, 908, 3913, 3914, 6904, 6906), 4" (459, 659, 909, 910, 915, 5903, 5904, 5906). I probably missed some.
Still probably cheaper (used) than having the slide machined and it leaves your pistol easily returnable to the original and possibly (some day) collectable status.

John

 

[legelegel]

Practically any 2nd or 3rd gen 9mm slide will fit on your 910S frame, but any slide other than a 910 will require its own barrel because the 910 barrel lacks the front locking lug that all the others have.
Still probably cheaper (used) than having the slide machined and it leaves your pistol easily returnable to the original and possibly (some day) collectable status.

John

I don't like the ambidextrous safety on the 5906. I would like a right handed safety which the DAO S&W 5946 does not have.

Is there a 2nd or 3rd generation stainless steel 59 series without an ambidextrous safety?

Will my S&W Model 639 fit on the S&W Model 910S?

 

[petepeterson]

Practically any 2nd or 3rd gen 9mm slide will fit on your 910S frame, but any slide other than a 910 will require its own barrel because the 910 barrel lacks the front locking lug that all the others have. Of course, shorter slides would require their own barrel, too. But you are virtually unlimited: 3" (CS9), 3 1/2" (469, 669, 908, 3913, 3914, 6904, 6906), 4" (459, 659, 909, 910, 915, 5903, 5904, 5906). I probably missed some.
Still probably cheaper (used) than having the slide machined and it leaves your pistol easily returnable to the original and possibly (some day) collectable status.

John

I guess I never thought about this. I can put my CS9 top on my 3913 frame? That sounds like the best of both worlds for me.

 

[legelegel]

I guess I never thought about this. I can put my CS9 top on my 3913 frame? That sounds like the best of both worlds for me.

The barrel length of a S&W 3913 is 3.5 inches.

The barrel length of a S&W CS9 is 3 inches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LGqfchL8sQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0HMMbxby0Y

 

[JohnHL]

I guess I never thought about this. I can put my CS9 top on my 3913 frame? That sounds like the best of both worlds for me.

Unfortunately, no.
In 9mm, the Value Line (908, 909, 910) and CS9 (Chiefs Special) lack the front dust cover frame rails and corresponding slide cuts of the regular production models (3913, 639, 3906, 5906, etc). So Value Line and CS9 slides won't go on standard production frames.
But there is a bright side.
The Value Line and CS9 pistol frames WILL accept the slides from most all the other 9mm models (single or double stack).

John

 

[JohnHL]

I don't like the ambidextrous safety on the 5906. I would like a right handed safety which the DAO S&W 5946 does not have.

Is there a 2nd or 3rd generation stainless steel 59 series without an ambidextrous safety?

Will my S&W Model 639 fit on the S&W Model 910S?

Ambidextrous and single sided safeties interchange so that's no problem and yes, the 639 slide assembly will also fit your 910S. (Any non-DAO single or double stack TDA 9mm, any barrel length).

John

 

[petepeterson]

Unfortunately, no.
In 9mm, the Value Line (908, 909, 910) and CS9 (Chiefs Special) lack the front dust cover frame rails and corresponding slide cuts of the regular production models (3913, 639, 3906, 5906, etc). So Value Line and CS9 slides won't go on standard production frames.
But there is a bright side.
The Value Line and CS9 pistol frames WILL accept the slides from most all the other 9mm models (single or double stack).

John

Thank you for clarifying. I thought that was the case.

Unfortunately, the CS9 lower is the part I don't like!

 

[JohnHL]

Thank you for clarifying. I thought that was the case.

Unfortunately, the CS9 lower is the part I don't like!

Go to the hardware store and pick up a few black rubber o-rings to fit around the bottom of your 3913 (or longer) mags and use them in your CS9.
Voila! Longer grip and shorter barrel. Cheap!

John

 

[petepeterson]

Go to the hardware store and pick up a few black rubber o-rings to fit around the bottom of your 3913 (or longer) mags and use them in your CS9.
Voila! Longer grip and shorter barrel. Cheap!

John

It's not actually the lenght, but more the girth(?) of the grip. It seems too long from backstrap to frontstrap. I feel like it holds 7 30-06 rds. The 3913 fits my hand much better.

 

[JohnHL]

It's not actually the lenght, but more the girth(?) of the grip. It seems too long from backstrap to frontstrap. I feel like it holds 7 30-06 rds. The 3913 fits my hand much better.

That's probably because of the fat Hogue rubber grips that came on the CS9.
A lot of people are into modifying 3913 grips to fit on the CS9.
Do a Google search on this forum for Big Dog grips and you will see a lot of threads about them.

John

 

[rasmith3442]

Cera Cote

Legel legel,

Have you considered having your gun Cera Coted? I have a 5906 frame, 915 slide semi-Frankengun which I had Cera Coted in Columbus. It looks awesome. Just a thought.

S/F,

RAS

 

[legelegel]

Legel legel,

Have you considered having your gun Cera Coted? I have a 5906 frame, 915 slide semi-Frankengun which I had Cera Coted in Columbus. It looks awesome. Just a thought.

S/F,

RAS

What happened to the S&W Model 5906 slide, what did it look like and would it be for sale?

 

[legelegel]

I have about concluded that I will have to find a used S&W Model 659 or 639 slide with a rear fixed sight and non-ambidextrous safety to really satisfy myself. It appears that I may not find this combination in any other stainless steel S&W models.

A Novak rear sight with an non-ambidextrous safety on a stainless steel 4" barrel frame would probably be perfect.

 

[JohnHL]

You're a nice guy, egel! Don't make it hard on yourself.
Right now, 5906 slide assemblies with fixed Novak sights are common and plentiful. Switching to a single side safety takes 2 minutes. I'd be glad to trade a single side safety for an ambi (I'd even switch it out for free), but I think you would be better served with the ambi, just in case....
You could even swap safeties with your 910S.

John

 

[legelegel]

You're a nice guy, egel! Don't make it hard on yourself.
Right now, 5906 slide assemblies with fixed Novak sights are common and plentiful. Switching to a single side safety takes 2 minutes. I'd be glad to trade a single side safety for an ambi (I'd even switch it out for free), but I think you would be better served with the ambi, just in case....
You could even swap safeties with your 910S.

John

Thank you for the continued heads up.

I think I will stay with the single side safety just for the looks.

 

[legelegel]

Practically any 2nd or 3rd gen 9mm slide will fit on your 910S frame, but any slide other than a 910 will require its own barrel because the 910 barrel lacks the front locking lug that all the others have. Of course, shorter slides would require their own barrel, too. But you are virtually unlimited: 3" (CS9), 3 1/2" (469, 669, 908, 3913, 3914, 6904, 6906), 4" (459, 659, 909, 910, 915, 5903, 5904, 5906). I probably missed some.
Still probably cheaper (used) than having the slide machined and it leaves your pistol easily returnable to the original and possibly (some day) collectable status.

John

I have begun looking for a stainless steel barrel and slide.

How hard is to take the safety off my S&W Model 910S and put it on the more rounded slide that I hope to find?

 

[Biggfoot44]

Are you wanting two tone on purpose , or all stainless ?

Option 1 : existing gun , get slide electroless nickled

Option 2 : have frame contour rounded to your likings , then have whole gun electroless nickled.

 

[legelegel]

Are you wanting two tone on purpose , or all stainless ?

Option 1 : existing gun , get slide electroless nickled

Option 2 : have frame contour rounded to your likings , then have whole gun electroless nickled.

I just want a stainless steel slide on my S&W Model 910S, that has the more rounded look of my S&W Model 639.

 

[JohnHL]

Gee whiz, egel!
I didn't know you had a 639.
Just put your 639 top end on your 910S and you're done!
No additional out-of-pocket expenses!
Three pistols for the price of two! (910S slide won't work on 639 frame.)
John

 

[legelegel]

Gee whiz, egel!
I didn't know you had a 639.
Just put your 639 top end on your 910S and you're done!
No additional out-of-pocket expenses!
Three pistols for the price of two! (910S slide won't work on 639 frame.)
John

Well, I'm looking at the two of them together right now.

I also have a S&W Model 39-2 for which I have a blue slide and a chromed slide.

 

[JohnHL]

Well, I'm looking at the two of them together right now.

Bravo!
Well done, counselor!
Now let's see pictures!

John

 

[legelegel]

One could always have an extra stainless steel barrel. I need some help on identifying what S&W models this barrel would fit on. Note that my S&W Model 910S has the same exact markings "9MM Parabellum", but my S&W 639 has just "9MM."

 

[JohnHL]

That is a 1st and 2nd gen barrel. It will only work with a 1st or 2nd gen slide i.e. those slides with a separate, removable barrel bushing such as your 39-2 and 639.

John

 

[legelegel]

That is a 1st and 2nd gen barrel. It will only work with a 1st or 2nd gen slide i.e. those slides with a separate, removable barrel bushing such as your 39-2 and 639.

John

Can you tell if it is stainless steel or chromed?

Did they make any stainless steel or chromed 1st generation barrels?

What models would have had "9MM Parabellum" marked on their barrels?

 

[JohnHL]

It looks like a stainless barrel. They are/were fairly common. I recall seeing very few chromed or nickel plated barrels and I'm not aware of S&W plating any.

John

BTW 1st gen slides will not work on 2nd or 3rd gen frames because the slides on the earlier pistols were not machined to accept the firing pin safety lever on the frame of the later models (2nd and 3rd gen).