Hey Newbomb! Nice pick-up. I just got a 6906 myself. I'm not an expert, but here are a few thoughts on the 6906 compared to the 9mm Glocks.
- The gun is a double-stack 9mm, with an alloy frame and a steel slide. It weighs around 27 oz. with an empty mag, which is about 6 oz. more than an empty Glock 19.
- The standard magazine holds 12 rounds. You can also use the longer 15-rd magazine for the 5906. S&W makes a plastic "sleeve" that fits over the 15-rd magazine to make it fit the 6906 grip.
- The trigger on the 6906 is a DA/SA. The lever on the side of the slide works as both a safety and a decocker. Hence, you cannot carry the gun "cocked-and-locked" like a 1911. Most people load the gun, chamber the first round, use the lever to decock the hammer, and then leave the lever in the safety-off position. The heavy DA trigger minimizes the chance of an ND.
- The recoil of the 6906 feels similar, IMO, to a Glock 19. The Glock has a lower bore-axis, which helps to minimize muzzle flip. OTOH, the 6906 is a bit heavier than the Glock, which helps to minimize recoil. They're both easy guns to shoot well.
- The 6906, like most of the metal S&W semi-autos is a very reliable gun. IMHO, you aren't losing anything in terms of reliability compared to a Glock.
- Holsters are somewhat hard to find for the 6906. Many people have had good luck with holsters made for the compact Sig models, (229 and 239.)
That's all that I can think of off the top of my head. That's a good gun that your dad gave you. Let us know what you think after you've taken it down to the range.
TMann