Info on 5903

[tda003]

I kicked off a considerable (friendly) discussion on the Atlanta retired police forum on Facebook asking about Atlanta's switch to the model 5903 in 1989. There were apparently several iterations of that pistol. Mine had Trijicon fixed night sights and a rectangular trigger guard with stippled (?) front and was one of the 1st issued. I recall seeing oblong trigger guards with smooth front and also saw round guards. The first 2 had room to accommodate a gloved finger. Besides the Trijicon sights there were night sights which were elongated to the rear which, I believe, were made by Novak. I also observed sights with raised "wings", unknown maker. These too were night sights and I'm told they were adjustable.

Although my trigger was smooth, there were also grooved triggers.

Is there any material that identifies the various sights and trigger guards, etc. used on the 5903 and dates of implementation?

Of course, it's always possible the the various frames/sights were random depending on what was on hand, but the sights seem to have definitely been on a timeline.

 

[robertrwalsh]

The winged sights sound like standard issue S&W adjustable sights to me. Never heard that they had night sights though, at least not at that time. Other than that, I've got no idea. I am confident someone with better info than me will dive in soon.

 

[tda003]

You may be correct. Many officers purchased gen 2 & 3 series as personal weapons (either gen was permitted), generally the compact versions. (Sorry, memory lapse on the models.) These probably did not have night sights as they were made for the civilian market.

 

[jsbethel]

These probably did not have night sights as they were made for the civilian market.

I thought this recent auction was interesting due to the factory pre-Novak (Trijicon) night sights on a 1989 5903 - S&W Model 5903 9MM BOXED COMPLETE - Semi Auto Pistols at GunBroker.com : 818332630

 

[tda003]

Virtually the same as mine except for the bobbed hammer on APD 5903's.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

I have no historical accounts, but I did buy an Atlanta Police 5903 Trade In from a pawnshop is this helps?

 

[VASCAR2]

The early 5903 (SS slide, silver alloy frame) had the early squared off trigger guard to accommodate those that like to use their support hand finger on the front of the trigger guard.

The early pattern fixed sight could be ordered with night sights and Trijicon sold night sights which would fit the front and rear dove tails.

During production the fixed rear sight was changed to the Novak rear sight plus were available from the factory with night sights or from Trijicon Night Sights. I was able to purchase Meprolight Novak style night sights for my 3913 in the early 90's so Meprolight nights were available pretty early in third generation production (late 80's).

I was issued a 6904 in 1990 and my pistol had the fixed rear early pattern night sights. I later swapped the 6904 for a Department issued 5904 with the winged rear adjustable sights with Factory night sights.

During production the shape of the trigger guard changed plus S&W started using black color trigger and hammers. I personally liked the alloy frames (5903/5904) better than the 5906 SS frame or 5905 blued metal frame.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

I bought this 5903 police trade-in less than two months ago from Classic Firearms. Picture submitted in case it helps.

 

[tda003]

Rick, Yours is the same (early) as mine. Those mags were a scarce item at the time and so I purchased a couple of 14 round mags, too.

Yoda, Yours has the "wings" and oval smooth guard I saw as time went on.

The 5903 felt good in the hand and was quite accurate.

 

[tda003]

Vascar, That's the order of changes as I remember them. Like my early model, though. There were several holsters made for the 5903 and you had to be careful to get the correct one. Duty holsters were issued plain clothes or off duty were at the officer's expense.

 

[Sevens]

I've seen a million 1st, 2nd and 3rd Gen pistols. Okay... maybe not quite a million, but I got my first in 1995 or 1996 and I'm an enthusiast. I don't walk by them, I tend to check them out whenever and wherever I see them and of course the couple dozen that I own and all my buddies that I've converted... etc etc, on and on, superlatives dished out with reckless abandon...

Although my trigger was smooth, there were also grooved triggers.

Outside of a Model 52 and a 745, neither of which are typical DA/SA 1-2-3rd Gens, I've never seen a grooved trigger on a 1st, 2nd or 3rd Gen Smith & Wesson pistol.

Am I suffering from early onset age-related memory dysfunction? Did I miss some of these?

If anyone can expound on grooved triggers, I'd like to hear it.
(FWIW, I loathe grooved triggers on absolutely ANY FIREARM OF ANY SORT. I'll not accept any argument in favor of their existence, most especially on double action revolvers.)

 

[snw19_357]

Here you go.

Except for a Model 39 made for some foreign country I can't recall, I had never seen a serrated trigger on (especially) a 3rd gen either.

But, there were some EARLY 5903's made before the 5903 was introduced (marked Mod 459) that had serrated triggers and some pretty neat, tiny night sights.

 

[Sevens]

That's blowing my mind! Can't believe I've never seen that before.

FWIW, yours is a pilot gun (I'm sure you know that but maybe others aren't aware), marked 459 but the original box end label probably calls it a "4590." Your slick rear sight appears to be a standard 2nd Gen fixed setup but the fact that they are night sights is wildly interesting, I would think that was "still emerging technology" back in 1988 when that gun was hatched from S&W.

I do NOT like the trigger but it sure is neat and by all accounts, it's far beyond scarce.

Thanks for sharing these pictures, that's a really cool pistol!

 

[snw19_357]

Yup, sure does, a 4590.

Not sure it's a 'pilot' though because those were for the models that already existed; 659-5906, 459-5904, etc.
There was no 359 and the model 5903 wasn't introduced until two years later in 1990 so these were a LEA special order. I think the SCSW says Georgia but this one went to Texas.