Mix & Match S&W 9mms

Joined
Oct 19, 2018
Messages
779
Reaction score
1,103
Location
North Carolina
Here is a photo of some experiments in matching slides and frames to get some one offs.

Top is a 3913 frame with a 5904 slide assembly.

Middle is a 439 frame mated to a 639 slide.

Bottom is a 5904 frame mated to a 5906 Magnaport custom slide.

Opps, picture is upside down. Does anyone know how to rotate it 180 degrees.

Yes, thanks JJEH in Post #9

I'll add a shooting report later. (I took the 5906/5904 hybrid to the range today. I was short of targets. The little holes are .22 from my S&W model 18. The larger ones are the 5906/5904 at 25 yards. I believe it will do.)

I've done this before with a 4516 frame and 4566 slide to create a CCO type carry 45 and the 3913 frame shown here with the magnaport 5906 slide. The slightly longer slide makes for a better shooting and carrying in an inside the pants holster pistol.
 

Attachments

  • MIX & MATCH S&W 9MM.jpg
    MIX & MATCH S&W 9MM.jpg
    288.8 KB · Views: 37
  • 20 09 11 5906_5904 Target.jpg
    20 09 11 5906_5904 Target.jpg
    87.1 KB · Views: 24
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
That's what I've been doing on my Franken-Smith project... I'm using a 639 frame and experimenting with 439 and 915 slides. I really like the retro competition look of the blue over stainless two tone combination! To be honest, I've never seen the attraction of stainless (or nickel) over blue, but some folks go for that as well, so it comes down to what looks right to you.

Froggie
 

Attachments

  • 71D88740-E893-42CF-B501-6B7B463E297E.jpg
    71D88740-E893-42CF-B501-6B7B463E297E.jpg
    68.4 KB · Views: 56
S&W Legos

Fun with Guns...Now Two Tones

DEC 1988 6904 TT
MAY 1989 6906 Reverse TT
 

Attachments

  • S&W 6904-6906 TT L.jpg
    S&W 6904-6906 TT L.jpg
    59.3 KB · Views: 38
  • S&W 6904-6906 TT R.jpg
    S&W 6904-6906 TT R.jpg
    63 KB · Views: 30
That's what I've been doing on my Franken-Smith project... I'm using a 639 frame and experimenting with 439 and 915 slides. I really like the retro competition look of the blue over stainless two tone combination! To be honest, I've never seen the attraction of stainless (or nickel) over blue, but some folks go for that as well, so it comes down to what looks right to you.

Froggie

I hear ya and I agree!

The classic IPSC/USPSA competition pistol look of a blued or blackened slide on a stainless, nickel, hard chrome, or silver anodized receiver is hard to beat. Why the dark slide on a bright receiver? Back in the heyday of IPSC, a hard chrome finish on a carbon steel 1911 receiver provided corrosion protection from sweaty hands and the blued slide, always with matte or checkered rear and top surfaces, provided a glare resistant view of the sights. To me, if you want a two-tone pistol, it is the only way to go. A bright slide on a dark receiver defeats the intended purpose.
 
I've got two 6915s one I built and one built by Squidsix......

6906 frames with 4" 915 uppers.........great concealed guns.

Both are blue slides over silver frames................
 
Last edited:
I love the look of two tone pistols with stainless slides and black frames. I understand Stansdds point if view about why a dark slide and light frame make sense. I just think light slide on dark frame looks really cool. My .40 P226 is setup with a Stainless slide over a black anodized frame and I love it. Plus it helps me tell it apart from my all black 9mm P226. My MR9 is the same way, except with a polymer frame. If anything it's probably cheaper to produce since it eliminates a manufacturing step of coating the frame, but I just think it's very sharp looking.
 
I hear ya and I agree!

The classic IPSC/USPSA competition pistol look of a blued or blackened slide on a stainless, nickel, hard chrome, or silver anodized receiver is hard to beat. Why the dark slide on a bright receiver? Back in the heyday of IPSC, a hard chrome finish on a carbon steel 1911 receiver provided corrosion protection from sweaty hands and the blued slide, always with matte or checkered rear and top surfaces, provided a glare resistant view of the sights. To me, if you want a two-tone pistol, it is the only way to go. A bright slide on a dark receiver defeats the intended purpose.

Yes, a reflection bucking slide on a corrosion bucking receiver makes perfect sense in summertime matches.

I've known about this for a long time...

However, here in "rust country" a stainless slide on an aluminum alloy receiver makes a lot of sense for ease of care and corrosion resistance.

I've been known to swap a stainless slide on an alloy framed, blued pistol for "sweaty" carry days.

John
 
Opps, picture is upside down. Does anyone know how to rotate it 180 degrees?

Like this? :)

attachment.php
 

Attachments

  • MIX & MATCH S&W 9MM.jpg
    MIX & MATCH S&W 9MM.jpg
    288.8 KB · Views: 198
Back
Top