Need a little advice to Frankengun a 3906 and 6906

[SingleStackNine]

Hello! I've got a 3906 with adjustable sights, and I'm looking to shorten the slide. I've got a bunch of 6906 parts coming in the mail tomorrow, and I needed some advice. I'll start by painting a mental picture of what I'm looking for. I want a 3906 with 3.5" barrel and matching slide. Guide rod and recoil spring too, obviously. I'm 99% sure all of this will be a cakewalk. As easy as field stripping and reassembling the pistol. I also want to use the bobbed hammer from the 6906. I'm wondering how difficult this will be. From what I understand, I will need to put the bobbed hammer on the 3906 hammer strut. Is the spring around the hammer strut the "hammer spring"? Do I need to use this spring from the 3906? The "cup" that holds in the strut? Does that have to be from one pistol or the other? My biggest concern is the disassembly/reassembly of the hammers. If somebody has a video of this process, that would be great. Thanks.

 

[growr]

Think I would just get a 3913 and be done with it......just me though...

Randy

 

[SingleStackNine]

I would if they had made one with a steel frame. I've also got a 4516 on my to do list, but in steel frame 9, reducing as much room as I can on a 3906 is pretty much my best option. I'll have additional grip length and weight, as compared to the 3913, but I don't mind the weight. I suppose I could get the grip cut to 3913 size, but I couldn't bring myself to permanently mangle a nice 3906. I'll just live with a little extra grip and 1 more round. Good suggestion, just not quite for me.

 

[85V65Sabre]

"Is the spring around the hammer strut the "hammer spring"? "
That's generally called the main spring.

"Do I need to use this spring from the 3906?"
Yes, I suggest a new spring kit from Wolff Gunsprings.
https://www.gunsprings.com/SMITH & WESSON/NUMBERED SERIES/cID1/mID58/dID261#905

"The "cup" that holds in the strut? Does that have to be from one pistol or the other? "
The mainspring plungers are the same.

This link may help you with what parts interchange.[emoji106]
3906. Accessories | Numrich Gun Parts

You can find the disassembly videos here.

S&W 3rd gen complete disassembly video

 

[SingleStackNine]

"Is the spring around the hammer strut the "hammer spring"? "
That's generally called the main spring.

"Do I need to use this spring from the 3906?"
Yes, I suggest a new spring kit from Wolff Gunsprings.
https://www.gunsprings.com/SMITH & WESSON/NUMBERED SERIES/cID1/mID58/dID261#905

"The "cup" that holds in the strut? Does that have to be from one pistol or the other? "
The mainspring plungers are the same.

This link may help you with what parts interchange.[emoji106]
3906. Accessories | Numrich Gun Parts

You can find the disassembly videos here.

S&W 3rd gen complete disassembly video

That video is an excellent resource, and something I'm sure I will use very often in the future. Thanks very much for your help.

I'm still not seeing any removal/installation of the hammer from the hammer strut. It sounds like people do it easily enough, I just need to know which way the pin drifts out.

 

[85V65Sabre]

I'm still not seeing any removal/installation of the hammer from the hammer strut. It sounds like people do it easily enough, I just need to know which way the pin drifts out.

Ive never removed the hammer strut myself, but I believe it makes no difference on the direction you push that roll pin.

 

[SingleStackNine]

Ive never removed the hammer strut myself, but I believe it makes no difference on the direction you push that roll pin.

Great. One last thing. Is it absolutely necessary I have someone range test my pistol before I fire it? This is looking more and more like a job I can undertake without much trouble, but I know that pistol fitment isn't quite like legos. If it's the consensus that having a professional test fire it first is the only safe route, I'll go that way. I just don't want to do that if I don't really need to.

 

[85V65Sabre]

If it's the consensus that having a professional test fire it first is the only safe route, I'll go that way. I just don't want to do that if I don't really need to.

That my friend is a call that you will have to make.

 

[SingleStackNine]

That my friend is a call that you will have to make.

That's a very fair answer. Thanks again. I'll have pics up in a couple days, hopefully.

 

[jsbethel]

That is a good combination. (3913LS upper)

 

[SingleStackNine]

That is a good combination. (3913LS upper)

VERY cool. That, with a bobbed hammer is exactly what I was looking for. I wound up with the old style sights. They seem ok, and it's sort of cool to have an example of that type, but I really was hoping for the low profile sights.

How does yours shoot? I'm having some cycling issues thus far, but I've yet to replace the old recoil spring that came with it, so I should save my judgment Further, do you find it concealable? I love the single stack, but have yet to carry my 3906 in the 3.5" bbl configuration.

Again, nice pistol.

 

[jsbethel]

Actually, I have not shot that configuration - I just switched out the slides from the two pistols after reading your post.

I imagine your cycling issues will go away with a new recoil spring.

As far as the old style blade rear sight, you might look into the Trijicon SA05 - you will see a definite improvement. I have Trijicons on both my 3904 and 3906 to give you an idea.

SA05 BNTNS - Trijicon, Inc.

 

[digiroc]

Heres a 5906 with Short Slide ...

I'd really like to find a 5906 SSV as the Pennsylvania State Police used to carry. Until then I just made my own.

digiroc

 

[SingleStackNine]

Actually, I have not shot that configuration - I just switched out the slides from the two pistols after reading your post.

I imagine your cycling issues will go away with a new recoil spring.

As far as the old style blade rear sight, you might look into the Trijicon SA05 - you will see a definite improvement. I have Trijicons on both my 3904 and 3906 to give you an idea.

SA05 BNTNS - Trijicon, Inc.

Yeah, those look like an improvement. I'll look into it. Great looking pistols, by the way.

 

[SingleStackNine]

I'd really like to find a 5906 SSV as the Pennsylvania State Police used to carry. Until then I just made my own.

digiroc

That's great. I've got a 4006, and I'd love to do something like that. Unfortunately, the slide interchangeability on the .40s isn't as... interchangeable (really talked myself into an Austin Powers situation there) as various 9mm equivalents.