A mini-history of the 3906 in SJPD
Sorry for the revival necro-post (vampire or zombie post?), but I came across this topic and wanted to expand on 18DAI's post (#54) and Sevens (#55) on the 3906 as it related to the San Jose (CA) Police Department.
Up until the mid-1980s, the Department issued sidearm was the Smith & Wesson model 66 with 4" barrel. Officers were allowed other revolver makes as long as they bought it themselves. A retired SGT recalled to me seeing a couple of Dan Wessons out in the wild. He himself went to a 6" Python after probation and eventually to a S&W 57 (yes, .41 Magnum).
Chief Joe McNamara [1976-1991] was adamantly opposed to the officers being issued semi-automatic pistols, whether the reasoning was a fear of spray-and-pray tactics or something else borne out of his anti-gun mentality. McNamara eventually conceded the officers should be allowed autoloaders. He made public appearances throughout the country speaking against handguns and semi-auto weapons saying how outgunned his officers were. The officers used that in contract negotiations and faced with his own words he had to cave on the issue. I have to believe part of the overall calculation was when Officers Gordon and Silva were killed in a downtown shootout in 1989.
Legend has it McNamara sent his admin SGT, a captain, and a deputy chief in plainclothes to Tri-City Sporting Goods in Fremont, CA. They were told to find a full frame, semi-auto pistol, NOT in .45, double-action, preferably American-made, and most importantly CARRIED THE FEWEST NUMBER OF ROUNDS.
Viola! The 3906 fit the bill and the decision was made.
“But it’s not what we wanted!” and the reply came back, “WTF? I am giving you 50% more bullets!”
Circa 2013, I was able to purchase a 3906, a 66, and a SIG Sauer P225 from the department before I left. A few 3906s may still exist in the armory. I doubt 66s do -- there were lines and horse trading and cash flowing for those guns when they went up for sale. The problem with the 3906s and P225s were the dearth of magazines. You really had to scrounge for those. Both my 3906 and P225 are marked "San Jose PD" on the right side dust cover; the markings appear to be die struck on the 3906 and deep laser on the P225.
The 3906 still lives (at least on paper); the most recent MOA with the City allows officers who are currently issued a Smith & Wesson model 66, 3906 or 3913 as a primary weapon to continue carrying the weapon as an option (as opposed to the currently issued P226 or Glock 17/19). I have never seen either a 3906 nor 3913 carried by an officer. And I have never seen a 3913, period. I'm sure the 3913s exist, but like the P225, they were probably tucked away and forgotten (or squirreled away?) by the Range crew. I know of one officer that carried a P225 while in uniform. I came onto the PD when P226s were general issue.
Within the department the 3906 had a reputation as unreliable. Whether that stemmed from ammunition (I have no idea what the duty ammo was in the 90s), technique, or lack of maintainence is beyond my research to this point. If I take my 3906 as an indicative example, I don't think they were shot a lot. Mine was in excellent condition with light holster wear and some expected scuffing. Even the trigger play spring was intact. Not what I'd expect to see in a 30 year old issued police pistol. In contrast, my 66 was beat to hell (sights were trashed/bent, timing was unsafe, cylinder lock up was iffy -- just a general mess).
I've only fired 1000 rounds through the 3906 (so 1k in 7 years or approx. 142 rounds a year. Sad); a mix of Winchester Ranger 147gr and Federal HST 147gr. Zero failures to feed, fire, extract, or eject. Accuracy is totally fine (I shot a 260/300 [86%] on the FBI Bullseye course. I'm sure a better shooter would get 100% -- I was definitely the weak link). I'd be interested in trying to replicate any anecdotal firing failures with the period-appropriate duty ammunition.
