My LE Trade-in 6906: Thoughts and impressions

[Cossack]

I just bought an Agency trade-in 6906 for $250 from Standard LE Supply's Monthly Specials page. Shipping cost about $16, and it came with three mags. Standard was polite and easy to deal with on the phone. They were slow to ship the gun, which didn't really bother me - I can tell their bread and butter is LE Agencies, and that's probably why they offer such good deals on the trade-ins. There's no middleman. They did not offer any hand-pick option. They said they had boxes of them, and didn't open the individual boxes to check them; they just grab a box and ship it when an order comes in. This is probably the reason why the packing job left a bit to be desired - the gun was bagged in a plastic sack and the two spare mags were in another, but that was the extent of the padding. They were otherwise rattling around loose in a box. My dealer said that when they got the box they could feel things sliding and bumping around inside.

The gun is dirty, with lots of dirt and grime, but appears to be in Very Good condition. There's a department stamp and number on the left side of the dust cover, which i enjoy as it adds to the history of the gun. The double-action pull is surprisingly heavy - more so than on the CS9 i just bought or on any other DA pistol I have, or any revolver I have, for that matter (other than my my M95 Nagant - but nothing, in my experience, is stiffer than a Nagant trigger). Is this normal for a 6906?

All in-all I think it's an excellent deal. I'll post a photo or two and tell how it shoots when I get to it.

I was surprised, comparing it with the CS9, because i supposed that it would be very noticeably bigger. With the hogue grips on the CS9 and the protruding magazine floorplate, the CS9 is almost as big as the 6906.

Perhaps I'm less surprised at the size of the 6906, and more surprised at the CS9 - I just thought it would be littler. I haven't had a chance to carry them very much and haven't invested in good, model-specific holsters yet.

In others' experience, is the CS9 significantly easier to conceal or more comfortable to carry compared to the 6906? How does the 3913 compare on the spectrum? With the delrin grips, it must be thinner than either the 6906 or the CS9. Is it enough to matter?

Thanks!

 

[TTSH]

All in-all I think it's an excellent deal. I'll post a photo or two and tell how it shoots when I get to it.

I was surprised, comparing it with the CS9, because i supposed that it would be very noticeably bigger. With the hogue grips on the CS9 and the protruding magazine floorplate, the CS9 is almost as big as the 6906.

Perhaps I'm less surprised at the size of the 6906, and more surprised at the CS9 - I just thought it would be littler. I haven't had a chance to carry them very much and haven't invested in good, model-specific holsters yet.

In others' experience, is the CS9 significantly easier to conceal or more comfortable to carry compared to the 6906? How does the 3913 compare on the spectrum? With the delrin grips, it must be thinner than either the 6906 or the CS9. Is it enough to matter?

Thanks!

I'm not a police trade-in kind of guy. My limited experiences delving into the world of police trade-ins did not go so well. Part of the problem is shipping and transfer fees which cause you to lose much of the potential savings. The other part of the problem is not knowing what you're getting in terms of condition. I did okay once. I got zinged pretty badly the second time. Low-res pix can only tell you so much. I learned that fact the hard way. But then again, consider the fact that I am not exactly the world's luckiest man. Not even close.

Once you get out of the true pocket pistol category and into heavier &/or larger capacity "compact" 9mm pistols, I don't personally see them as all that different in terms of easier or more comfortable to conceal. I love my CS9 and CS40... but the differences between them and my 3913's or 6906's aren't going to make any huge difference in how I'd want to carry them. It might for some due to age, build, body type &/or clothing... but not for a plump, old guy like me.

 

[ColbyBruce]

I have purchased dozens of LE trade-ins; former duty, confiscated, T&E, evidence, turn-in, stolen/recovered firearms. Most have come from a local LE supply shop and it's sister stores in NC, SC, and FL; four came from various other shops out of state. I have always been pleased with the items I received.

I owned a S&W CS9, 908 and a 3913 at the same time. The CSP was only about a thumb width shorter in heighth and length than the other two guns. I did not own it long before a neighbor LEO talked me out of it. She still carries it. I owned two 908 and 3913 pistols before I traded for a 3953. I like the 3953 best of all.

My old CS9.

 

[Geno44]

I think that's a heck of a deal! I always do a strip, clean and lube on anything I buy and it doesn't take a lot longer to clean a real dirty one than a slightly dirty one. As long as what's underneath is in good to great shape, my time is worth very little. As I mentioned in a recent response here, a 6906 in pretty good shape with no magazine sold for $345 last week on an auction site. I would think used mags for these would be at least $20 each. I've always thought $400 with two mags for a clean 6906 was about right.

 

[N4KVE]

I purchased a HK USP45 LE trade in once, but it was at a gunshow, so I could choose the one I wanted. Slight holster wear, but like new inside. No LE markings, it shoots like a dream, & the price was $440. Just shot it last week. I'd do it again, but only if I bought it in person like I did with the HK. GARY

 

[Arik]

Most of my handguns are police trade ins

3/5 Glocks
2/4 HKs
1/2 Sigs
2/2 ARs
2/2 Shotguns

but they were all bought locally.

 

[Fastbolt]

Getting a LE trade-in is kind of like buying a used motor vehicle. You don't know how it was used & maintained, nor how it was inspected and refurbished before you bought it.

One of the guys brought me a LE trade-in earlier this year. It was an early production 6906 (judging by the sights and trigger guard) of the vintage I used to carry as an issued weapon.

The gun was in decent shape, and I guessed that it had been maintained by an agency armorer to some degree. I based that upon the extractor having been replaced with the newer revised type at some point, and the extractor gaged normally for both fit and tension.

I replaced the main (hammer) spring, as it was some weird black/green/dirty color I'd never seen, but seemed to be a factory spring as it was of the "closed" spring design as comes from the factory. I also replaced the recoil & magazine spring, and upgraded the ejector to the revised version (for faster ejection). Otherwise, the gun just needed a good detailed cleaning & lube. (No, I didn't remove the rear sight or extractor, as those aren't commonly removed unless a problem requiring repair is suspected.)

The old 6906 did just fine for a couple of range outings, using modern duty loads. The trigger was a bit rough, but that's understandable considering the variations of machining that can be found among some of the older machined parts (and why I really like MIM and the newer drawbars).

I tried to wear out 2 or 3 of the older 6906's I was issued at one time or another. Reasonable recoil spring replacement and proper lubrication can go a long way to helping provide for a good service life for those older aluminum-framed guns.

As far as the overall size? Not bad. The 6906 differed from the 3913 in its widened rear of the frame, to obviously accommodate the double stack 12-rd magazine. The slides & barrels were the same for the 6906/3913 guns (and their carbon steel counterparts), although production & design 'vintages' had to be taken into consideration (breech face cuts & barrel tab dimensions).

As much as I liked my issued 6906's, I came to like my 3913, CS9 and my later issued 3913TSW even more. I liked the slimmer grip frame and single stack mags, even at the expense of 4-5 rounds per mag (6906/12rds v. 3913/8rds & CS9/7rds).

Here's some older pics of my 3913 & CS9, from a couple of angles.

 

[BAM-BAM]

I'd call that a "good deal"

Use to buy a guns from a local Police Supply House here in the "Burgh"..got to know the owners and would get my pick of guns......often would get the "unissued/spare" guns....or pick up an overrun on an order (they would often have extra guns for Depts)..... how I got my Beretta 92 Type-Ms ( single stack compact) one of my favorite guns.

Lots of guns, small market of buyers (walk ins and cops) = great prices........

Once the internet took off they started selling the trades on line.....so prices went up.... my selection went down


Have and do own 6906s and 3913/14s.......

I looked at the CS guns when they first came out.....I carry IWB (Sparks SS) so the short barrel/slide wasn't a plus for me ...... and I have a stash of 7rd flush fit steel base mags for my 3913/14s so my guns were as short in the butt as the CS w/mag......... so I passed on the CS line.

IMHO for concealed Carry there is no "practical" difference between my 3913NL with checkered Hogue grips and a 6906 with stippled factory grips..each represents the best fit for my hand.........and I've CC both since 1990.

Where I live;a 3913 w/ 7+1 and a spare 8rd mag and I'm good to go..... but since Paris....

I've taken to carrying my PC Shorty-9 (6906) with an backup 15rd 5906 mag with a Smith +2 grip extension.....it's also the option I use when I travel......I'll throw in a 6906 mag with a old steel 59 base-plate (ground back to the 6906 grip frame) ..... for the ultimate in flush fit magazine.........

 

[N4KVE]

but since Paris....

Since Paris I now carry an extra loaded mag for my 3913 with me. GARY

 

[TercGen]

In others' experience, is the CS9 significantly easier to conceal or more comfortable to carry compared to the 6906? How does the 3913 compare on the spectrum? With the delrin grips, it must be thinner than either the 6906 or the CS9. Is it enough to matter?

Thanks!

I would say that all three models are just as comfortable to carry, with the 6906 being a bit more concentrated in weight due to the double stack mags, and the CS9 a bit lighter. I like the fact that the CS9 can be carried more easily in a jacket pocket due to the shorter slide length, but I see that as the only real advantage it has over the 3913.

The 3913 and CS9 conceal the best due to their thinness, while the 6906 will be slightly thicker (conceals decently in an IWB holster, but the spare mags are a pain to hide). Delrin grips on the CS9 thin out the profile as well as replacing the rubber Hogues (which can sometimes catch clothing), but can be a difficult to obtain or make. Even then, the frame difference between the 3913 & CS9 keeps the modified Delrins from being a perfect fit, and I believe they can wear out faster because of this.

IMO, the best all-around choice is the 3913. It's thin & very concealable, easy to handle (even with gloves on), and doesn't give up much in barrel length or capacity.

 

[petepeterson]

I was also a little disappointed in the CS9, after searching for one for a few years. It's a nice shooter, but I expected it to be smaller somehow, and to be about the perfect CCW. After a little range time and a few weeks of carry, I decided the 3913 still filled that role better.

 

[nll401]

By coincidence, I purchased (in person) a LE trade-in 6906 earlier this week. Price was a bit less than your price but I only got 1 mag (15 round with the extender) and paid sales tax. So I'd say - assuming condition the same - you got a slightly better deal. And I think I got a good deal.

I figure extra mags will cost me at least $25 each.

As to condition of mine, I'd consider it "VG to Exc". Not a safe queen by any means but not abused.

Based on 1 short visit to the range, function is fine. No FTF or FTE. I'm no expert, but I don't find the DA unusually heavy. And I'm used to lighter triggers on .22 and .45 target pistols. It's not a "target" trigger by any means but OK. SA was surprisingly good.

The double stack is a bit big for my small hands, but usable. I've had difficulty finding a single stack 3rd gen around here. And, to me, the 6906 would be a bit large for CC, though I understand many do.

I look at buying a LE trade-in as buying a firearm with character. It's not supposed to look new.

 

[Cossack]

I finally got to shoot it, and I'm pleased as punch. The DA is not so bad - it's heavy but smooth. It may have been a bit gummy when I first tried it. Even though it's still probably among the heaviest DA pulls of my handguns, it's easy to fire. It was easy to group the DA shots and SA shots on the target. It was a nice shooting gun with no problems, and I see it being carried regularly.

It cleaned up pretty nicely, too, with no problems other than holster wear buffing up the aluminum in places and the muzzle end of the slide. I used a toothbrush and brass brush in places where the grime was packed in tight, and I'm happy with the result. I haven't detail stripped it or even pulled the grips off yet, just pulled the slide off.

My full cost, inlcuding shipping and FFL fees, was just under $300 with three mags. I see Standard is still listing them at $275 now, which still seems fair to me.

 

[kaveman]

Seems like a good deal to me. Any time you can get a good functioning, quality pistol with mags for under $300 I think it leaves little to complain about. The same $300 would buy a lower rung 'new' pistol like a SCCY or Kel Tec or Taurus,........gimme the tried and true S&W thankyouverymuch.

I found pretty much the same thing when I got my first CS9D. I expected it to be noticeably smaller than my 3953 single-stack but then I started comparing the stats online(because I'd never actually seen a CS9D in the flesh)and could see that while there was a measurable difference, it was fairly slight. I held off on the CS9 for quite awhile until I was able to convince myself that the 5oz weight difference was substantial. If the CS9 were small enough to be carried in a pocket I suspect the 5oz differential would prove to be an advantage, but it's not, so it's not.

There's not much difference between the CS9 and the 3953, or between the 3953 and the 6946, or between the 6946 and the 5943,.........but each small step does make for some benefit in some situations. I think if I swap out the CS9 Hogue grips for a set of Big Dog delrins and get rid of the finger extension floorplate it would be possible to bring the CS9 down another full step. Still don't know if it'll ever be a true 'pocket pistol' that can displace my Kahr CM9.

 

[grcoffman104]

Seems like a good deal to me. Any time you can get a good functioning, quality pistol with mags for under $300 I think it leaves little to complain about. The same $300 would buy a lower rung 'new' pistol like a SCCY or Kel Tec or Taurus,........gimme the tried and true S&W thankyouverymuch.

I found pretty much the same thing when I got my first CS9D. I expected it to be noticeably smaller than my 3953 single-stack but then I started comparing the stats online(because I'd never actually seen a CS9D in the flesh)and could see that while there was a measurable difference, it was fairly slight. I held off on the CS9 for quite awhile until I was able to convince myself that the 5oz weight difference was substantial. If the CS9 were small enough to be carried in a pocket I suspect the 5oz differential would prove to be an advantage, but it's not, so it's not.

There's not much difference between the CS9 and the 3953, or between the 3953 and the 6946, or between the 6946 and the 5943,.........but each small step does make for some benefit in some situations. I think if I swap out the CS9 Hogue grips for a set of Big Dog delrins and get rid of the finger extension floorplate it would be possible to bring the CS9 down another full step. Still don't know if it'll ever be a true 'pocket pistol' that can displace my Kahr CM9.

Couriou, what agency?

 

[MWater]

I called these guys up the Monday after this thread started and put in an order. Just got it today. Took about about half a dozen calls and a lot more trouble than I'm used to (and for my FFL, too, I bet), but at least they were always pleasant on the phone. $275 just seems like a steal for a 6906 in relatively good shape and the three mags are certainly a bonus. Packaging was okay (bubble wrap in a USPS box--nothing loose or rattling around).

Here are a couple of pics from when I first got home:

My biggest concern was the aluminum frame, and it turned out to be mostly pretty good. Some shiny spots in the front from holster wear and underneath the slide release.

The slide is pretty good with no deep scratches whatsoever. I'll be able to bead-blast the slide to perfection in a heart beat.

The dirt was pretty crazy and just really, really caked on in spots. Here she is all cleaned up. Looks a bit worse in real life than in the pics, but you know these things tend to photograph really well:

I'm pretty satisfied with the purchase. Now I just need to order some new grips and some springs. It would be nice if I could clean up the finish on the frame, but maybe some day I'll get into the hobby of cerakoting stuff. I'm gonna give it a shot IWB and if it works out, I'll just leave the frame finish alone.

 

[MWater]

Oh, and it's a VHM. The closest to that in the book is VHN in 1998, so.. should I just assume somewhere around 1998?

 

[Psycshrink]

I just bought an Agency trade-in 6906 for $250 from Standard LE Supply's Monthly Specials page. Shipping cost about $16, and it came with three mags. Standard was polite and easy to deal with on the phone. They were slow to ship the gun, which didn't really bother me - I can tell their bread and butter is LE Agencies, and that's probably why they offer such good deals on the trade-ins. There's no middleman. They did not offer any hand-pick option. They said they had boxes of them, and didn't open the individual boxes to check them; they just grab a box and ship it when an order comes in. This is probably the reason why the packing job left a bit to be desired - the gun was bagged in a plastic sack and the two spare mags were in another, but that was the extent of the padding. They were otherwise rattling around loose in a box. My dealer said that when they got the box they could feel things sliding and bumping around inside.

The gun is dirty, with lots of dirt and grime, but appears to be in Very Good condition. There's a department stamp and number on the left side of the dust cover, which i enjoy as it adds to the history of the gun. The double-action pull is surprisingly heavy - more so than on the CS9 i just bought or on any other DA pistol I have, or any revolver I have, for that matter (other than my my M95 Nagant - but nothing, in my experience, is stiffer than a Nagant trigger). Is this normal for a 6906?

All in-all I think it's an excellent deal. I'll post a photo or two and tell how it shoots when I get to it.

I was surprised, comparing it with the CS9, because i supposed that it would be very noticeably bigger. With the hogue grips on the CS9 and the protruding magazine floorplate, the CS9 is almost as big as the 6906.

Perhaps I'm less surprised at the size of the 6906, and more surprised at the CS9 - I just thought it would be littler. I haven't had a chance to carry them very much and haven't invested in good, model-specific holsters yet.

In others' experience, is the CS9 significantly easier to conceal or more comfortable to carry compared to the 6906? How does the 3913 compare on the spectrum? With the delrin grips, it must be thinner than either the 6906 or the CS9. Is it enough to matter?

Thanks!

I had a complete action job done on my 6906. The original trigger was 14 pounds. Had it reduced to 7 DA and 4 SA. Also replaced all the springs with a wolf reduced power spring set. I would recommend you replace the springs routinely they compress and lose power. I also polished the finish I didnt like the anodized lower frame. Im going to trim the finger guard off the magazine it doesnt need it and prints. Went to the range to try out the action job and I would put this gun against anything new.

 

[18DAI]

I love the 39XX series guns. I've used them for on and off duty for going on two decades. My current favorite, a 3914NL vies with my 4513TSW as my EDC.

As a 39XX fan and user, I was intrigued by the CS9. Until I bought one. I got an early production blue CS9. It was not significantly smaller than my 3913 and frankly didn't do anything as well as my 3913 did. I dumped it at a loss quite quickly. Perhaps the later stainless versions are better, dunno and am not likely to find out.

As to the 69XX series guns, I've had three. Two 6906's and a 669 that I purchased for my father and inherited back on his passing. Well......four 6906's if you count my PC Shorty 9. I liked all the 6906 guns just fine, but for some reason or other just used the 3913 more and wound up trading away the standard 6906's. I still have the Shorty 9 and am currently using it as a range toy with an eye to employing it as a carry gun.

The idea of a nice clean.......and inexpensive 6906 LE trade in appeals to me. If nothing else as a range tiy to keep the wear and tear off my other pistols.

Congrats OP on scoring a great deal on a great gun. I look forward to your range report and shooting impressions. Regards 18DAI

 

[BAM-BAM]

18DAI..... as I talked about above.. I've never found a practical difference in concealed carrying a 6906 vs. 3913/14. I know there are guys out there that think/feel that the "ambi-safety" add enough width to a 3G to disqualify it for concealed carry. Never been an issue for me in 25 years of carrying 3G Smiths.

Where I live and work I don't feel under gunned with a 3913NL w/ 7+1 and a spare 8rd magazine in a Safariland horizontal (Model 123) mag pouch on my belt.

I tend to carry the 39xx's more due to the size/thinness of the extra 8rd mag. vs the 15rd w/ +2 adapter I tend to carry with the 69xx guns.

Those Shorty-9s from the mid 90s are some of the best PC guns ever made. That period was the high point of PC production IMHO!!