M-3906 Questions

[smitholdtimer]

Found this today at a local GS, S/N TCL 47XX, not very familiar with the model but was advised that it's a 3rd generation S&W Semi-Auto but it has the single stack 9 round magazine with an ambidextrous safety/de-cocker and is all stainless construction, not an alloy frame. I seem to have a like for the design of the Models 39, the 639, the 3906 & the 5906 so this was added to a couple other stablemates. Your comments are very welcome so do not hesitate to express your opinion, I'll appreciate it too.

 

[btr4me]

My first 3rd Gen was a 3906. I did not realize at the time how few were manufactured. Mine is shooter grade, has a few rubs on the finish, but I love it, one of my favorites. It fits my small hands perfectly.

If the gun is in decent shape and the price is right I would purchase it and shoot it. You should be able to get your money back or use it in a trade. My 2 cents.

 

[jsbethel]

Much info here - http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-...-produced-small-numbers.html?highlight=calmex

Be aware that early 3906 grips were subject to a recall. If your grips have no dimple on the bottom, S&W owes you an updated grip (if in stock).

 

[SingleStackNine]

I love mine, and looked for one specifically. It's routinely my friends' favorite pistol at the range, as it is very comfortable to shoot. The heavy stainless steel frame absorbs recoil like a champ, and the thin, single stack grip feels great, and conceals well. I'm working on making mine a bit of a Colt Commander, in that it's got the full size, single stack frame, with a shorter than regular slide and barrel. It's one of my favorite 3rd gens.

And, at the risk of being a chemistry nazi, differentiating steel (stainless or otherwise) and aluminum by suggesting one is an alloy, and the other is not, is incorrect. Any steel, by definition, is an alloy. Iron is chemically combined with carbon to create steel. Any aluminum firearm frame will be an alloy too, but for some reason "steel vs alloy" has become a popular replacement for the more accurate "steel vs aluminum", or "iron alloy vs aluminum alloy". Again, I'm not trying to be obnoxious about it, I just can't help but scratch that chemistry itch!

 

[Sevens]

I don't think you're being obnoxious about it at all and I hear and agree with what you are saying... but what you're up against is decades upon decades of popular gun culture. I might even want to bet that it was S&W itself that either totally began the trend of calling them alloy or at the very least, jumping quickly on the bandwagon with the term.

Obvious (maybe not?) but we certainly have numerous examples of these "misnomers" for lack of a better term, across all of guns and shooting. Popular ones include .45 "Long" Colt, magazine vs clip, pistol vs revolver, crane vs yoke, pencil vs tapered... and these simply scratch the surface of what we love to argue about in a mostly friendly manner.

 

[wadcutter1]

One of the few guns on my must-buy list. I've never seen one in person but when I do I'll buy it.

 

[SingleStackNine]

I don't think you're being obnoxious about it at all and I hear and agree with what you are saying... but what you're up against is decades upon decades of popular gun culture. I might even want to bet that it was S&W itself that either totally began the trend of calling them alloy or at the very least, jumping quickly on the bandwagon with the term.

Obvious (maybe not?) but we certainly have numerous examples of these "misnomers" for lack of a better term, across all of guns and shooting. Popular ones include .45 "Long" Colt, magazine vs clip, pistol vs revolver, crane vs yoke, pencil vs tapered... and these simply scratch the surface of what we love to argue about in a mostly friendly manner.

Very well said. I suspect you're right about gun companies pushing the "a word". Excellent examples, too. So, any pics of this bad boy? What sights does it have? Mine's got the adjustable. Some hate them, but they're rather iconic, and I think they work well. Here's mine, also shown with 3.5" bbl/slide from an early 6906.

 

[SingleStackNine]

Much info here - http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-...-produced-small-numbers.html?highlight=calmex

Be aware that early 3906 grips were subject to a recall. If your grips have no dimple on the bottom, S&W owes you an updated grip (if in stock).

This is something that I meant to look into a while ago, and forgot all about it. Mine doesn't have the dimple. Do you know the procedure? I don't have to send them my gun or anything, do I? Good piece of advice, by the way. Thanks.

 

[digiroc]

... Mine's got the adjustable. Some hate them, but they're rather iconic, and I think they work well. Here's mine, also shown with 3.5" bbl/slide from an early 6906.

Put me down as "hate them" I just don't care for the "ears" as I call them. I replaced the adjustable sight slide on my 5906 by swapping to a 3.5" with "normal sights" just for that reason.

Smith made a 5906 SSV (Short Slide Varient) for the Pennsylvania State Police that I would love to find, until then I made my own. While the 17+1 capacity can be useful the 39xx series is far better in hand and on person for CC. I like the LadsySmith and NL versions the best with their angled dust cover.

Another thing I don't care for is the "chin" on the trigger guard of some models, I very much prefer the rounded trigger guard.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder I guess.

digiroc

 

[smitholdtimer]

SingleStackNine

Of the two photos you supplied the second is the same as the one I wrote about, non adjustable sights, white dot front, two dot rear.

 

[jsbethel]

This is something that I meant to look into a while ago, and forgot all about it. Mine doesn't have the dimple. Do you know the procedure? I don't have to send them my gun or anything, do I? Good piece of advice, by the way. Thanks.

Just call S&W and indicate that you have a pre-recall grip. They may want you to send the grip to them. However, it's a moot point if they don't have them in stock. The part number is 203530000.

 

[Sevens]

This is something that I meant to look into a while ago, and forgot all about it. Mine doesn't have the dimple. Do you know the procedure? I don't have to send them my gun or anything, do I? Good piece of advice, by the way. Thanks.

One other note about the grip recall in case you aren't aware of the whole story.

The grip is "delrin" which probably makes some sense to a person familiar with the plastics industry, but to a simple guy like me... it just means some kind of plastic. And the earliest grips they made ended up looking right, functioning right and feeling right -HOWEVER- they must have had the mix wrong or they never considered testing it eek but the early grips would shatter or crack if the pistol were dropped.

As the grip wholly contains the mainspring (the hammer spring!) a cracked or broken grip directly results in a pistol that absolutely will not fire.

Why do I say all this? Well, as the the 3906 and 3904 were the only full size single stack 9mm 3rd Gens... these models were not produced in high numbers and as was mentioned above, S&W may not find a grip for you.

So I write all this to say that an early recall grip is 100% perfectly fine to own, use and love as long as it isn't cracked or shattered and you don't drop it.

Obviously, it would not be a good idea at all to use a 3rd Gen in a defensive or duty role while it is wearing a recall grip. But the point is that if you own a 3906 to have, shoot and love as a fine pistol and a range toy and a great pistol to pull out of the safe and enjoy... that recall grip is perfectly good to go if it turns out that S&W can't provide a replacement.

Just don't drop the pistol... or use it to hammer nails.

To this end, I have found and purchased early recalled grips from gun shows on occasion, when they are priced low enough to garner my interest. I'm sure that S&W would much rather -NONE- of the grips be floating around or for sale at a gun show... but then again, S&W and myself don't hardly agree about much of anything these days.

 

[Kenna]

So what 3906 were produced first. The ones with fixed sights or ear adjustable ones or Novak sights?? Thanks

 

[Sevens]

Actually...
Earliest 3906's hit the dealers before the Novak fixed rear sight was ready. I don't believe there was a distinction between adjustable or fixed as far as which was first... but the very first 3rd Gen fixed rear sight pistols had the simple blade just like the 2nd Gens, and this includes the 3906.

IIRC, the hold up with the Novak had something to do with licensing or contract, not supply. To this day it leaves me perplexed simply due to the fact that it was supposedly Wayne Novak himself that helped design many of the updates that encompassed the 3rd Generation.

I hope someone can offer better insight.

 

[SingleStackNine]

One other note about the grip recall in case you aren't aware of the whole story.

The grip is "delrin" which probably makes some sense to a person familiar with the plastics industry, but to a simple guy like me... it just means some kind of plastic. And the earliest grips they made ended up looking right, functioning right and feeling right -HOWEVER- they must have had the mix wrong or they never considered testing it eek but the early grips would shatter or crack if the pistol were dropped.

As the grip wholly contains the mainspring (the hammer spring!) a cracked or broken grip directly results in a pistol that absolutely will not fire.

Why do I say all this? Well, as the the 3906 and 3904 were the only full size single stack 9mm 3rd Gens... these models were not produced in high numbers and as was mentioned above, S&W may not find a grip for you.

So I write all this to say that an early recall grip is 100% perfectly fine to own, use and love as long as it isn't cracked or shattered and you don't drop it.

Obviously, it would not be a good idea at all to use a 3rd Gen in a defensive or duty role while it is wearing a recall grip. But the point is that if you own a 3906 to have, shoot and love as a fine pistol and a range toy and a great pistol to pull out of the safe and enjoy... that recall grip is perfectly good to go if it turns out that S&W can't provide a replacement.

Just don't drop the pistol... or use it to hammer nails.

To this end, I have found and purchased early recalled grips from gun shows on occasion, when they are priced low enough to garner my interest. I'm sure that S&W would much rather -NONE- of the grips be floating around or for sale at a gun show... but then again, S&W and myself don't hardly agree about much of anything these days.

Great to know. I carry my 3906 pretty often. I'll now be to sure to get the replacement, one way or another. In the meantime, I'll substitute my 4006, where possible. Confidence inspiring, to be sure, but a double stack? After carrying my 3906 regularly, I've really grown to prefer a single stack. Correct me if I'm wrong, but SW never made a single stack, steel frame, TDA .40. I believe they had some DAO examples, but that's it. Too bad. Maybe just for me, though. But I'd buy pretty much any configuration of steel frame, TDA 3rd gen, if I could afford it.