S&W CS9
- Thread starter jsbethel
- Start date
S&W seems to have improved the CS experience over the past year or so. I think they actually have people who do nothing but CS.
My last couple of calls have been very pleasant. I called for the DOB on my CS9 and not only got an answer, the nice young lady arranged for a new recoil spring to be sent out.
Similarly, I called about an ANIB 3914 I bought some months back and got a new set of grips under the ancient recall.
I have to call about an even older 5906 which still has the original pre recall grips and see if they have any of those.
On the down side, it might be a sign of how many people are having problems with new guns that wear the S&W label that they had to add dedicated staff.
Cue 18DAI to comment on the company that calls itself S&W...
My last couple of calls have been very pleasant. I called for the DOB on my CS9 and not only got an answer, the nice young lady arranged for a new recoil spring to be sent out.
Similarly, I called about an ANIB 3914 I bought some months back and got a new set of grips under the ancient recall.
I have to call about an even older 5906 which still has the original pre recall grips and see if they have any of those.
On the down side, it might be a sign of how many people are having problems with new guns that wear the S&W label that they had to add dedicated staff.
Cue 18DAI to comment on the company that calls itself S&W...
FWIW, several years ago I was told that the Customer Service dept often had a staff of 18-30+ people answering phones on any given work day. The people staffing the phones might range from new people to those who had much experience working in other depts. Might be someone brand new who had come over from their factory store (who had perhaps never fired a gun), or a former production/assembler who wanted a desk job answering phones before they retired. Luck of the draw.
I picked this up today - it looks like it was shot once and put away. It appears to have a metal magazine catch as a magnet will stick to it - interesting. Strangely, I sort of like the Hogues but I'll decide for sure after I shoot it.
The mag catch body ought to be steel, but the mag catch button is plastic.
The center of the mag catch button is the visible end of the steel mag catch body (post), onto which the mag catch button is snapped.
Congrats.
The center of the mag catch button is the visible end of the steel mag catch body (post), onto which the mag catch button is snapped.
Congrats.
I was always under the impression that the CS9 magazine catch (part #262590000) which is shared with the 908 and 909 value pistols was polymer/plastic.
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JohnHL
Member
For the record, I have NEVER run across one of the illusive unicorns often referenced on this sub-forum, the infamous and legendary plastic magazine catch.
But I sure have seen a boat load of plastic magazine buttons!
John
But I sure have seen a boat load of plastic magazine buttons!
John
I must say that while under that impression, I thought it was a pretty stupid design shortcut.
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I have a couple of those #26259 mag catches in my spare parts kit. One is from many years ago, when I decided to order a "parts kit" spare directly from the factory for my then-new CS9, and the other one is from within the last year or so, when I had a chance to order another one from a retail company who sells new S&W parts.
Both are steel and can be picked up with a magnet.
The button/nuts, however, are plastic.
Ditto for a couple of CS45 mag catches, spanning the same wide time range and sources.
Now, I can't remember anything in my notes from various armorer classes that lists they ever used a plastic mag catch body for the CS & "value" line guns, but then again, with S&W "never say never". They did make some former metal parts out of plastic in the 3rd gens over time (mainspring plunger, disconnector, sights & some guide rods).
I just haven't ever personally seen a mag catch body made out of plastic. Just the nut/button.
Of course, it's seldom that a mag catch actually requires replacement/repair, meaning either the traditional threaded post bodies or the bodies on which the plastic buttons snap over the end of the post.
The simpler non-threaded, non-adjustable bodies didn't involve the use of the small plunger & spring in the separate hole under the edge of the threaded mag catch button, so they didn't seem to gather oxidation in tight places like might sometimes happen with the traditional mag catch design. Armorers were told not to remove the plastic buttons from the mag catch except for repair/replacement, meaning no disassembly for routine cleaning or inspections. (Because the plastic buttons were a 1-time use/installed part, and if ever removed, it would be replaced with a new one.)
I've known my fair share of guys & gals who bought 908/457 & Chiefs Special models over the years, and none of them ever required replacement of the original mag catch assembly. That's why I never ordered more than 1 or 2 replacement mag assembly parts, and in actuality, those were simply ordered since I owned a CS9 & CS45 myself and was in the habit of adding to my spare parts when I could afford to order them. Just in case.
I eventually decided to have a couple spare plastic buttons for each spare mag catch body I put back. They were available, so why not? I don't plan to ever remove the mag catch in either Chiefs Special unless it's ever required for repair.
I've put a respectable number of rounds downrange through both of them, though, and have replaced the recoil springs several times in each over the years.
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FWIW, I called a guy who might have a mag catch from a very early production 457, which he had to replace because the edge had frayed (like plastic can do). If he's still got the old part he'll try and take a pic and post it.
Also FWIW, I just went out and checked my CS45 and the original invoice for it. The invoice date is June '99 (FFL), but I think the serial number dates from April/'99 (entry date). It was ordered direct from the factory and delivered to my LE/FFL after being produced.
The mag catch body in that early stainless CS45 is steel, even though it originally arrived with a single-side manual safety and plastic sights. I just checked the mag catch body with a small magnet, meaning both the right side "flat" (with the mag catch pressed, so it stuck out the right side of the aluminum frame), and the left end "post" inside the button. Stuck firmly to both ends. Steel.
However, I'm not yet ready to bet against the possibility of S&W engineers having tried a plastic mag catch in the very earliest CS & Value model guns, but then soon changing over to cast steel for the mag catch body. That's the kind of simple ongoing production change that might happen without it being specifically mentioned in the armorer updates. Kind of like how they changed from using plastic to steel for the guide rod plungers in the CS guns. I only found out about it when I noticed it and called to ask about it. They never mentioned it in the classes.
Ditto switching back and forth between steel and plastic for the 3rd gen butt plate catches.
Also FWIW, I just went out and checked my CS45 and the original invoice for it. The invoice date is June '99 (FFL), but I think the serial number dates from April/'99 (entry date). It was ordered direct from the factory and delivered to my LE/FFL after being produced.
The mag catch body in that early stainless CS45 is steel, even though it originally arrived with a single-side manual safety and plastic sights. I just checked the mag catch body with a small magnet, meaning both the right side "flat" (with the mag catch pressed, so it stuck out the right side of the aluminum frame), and the left end "post" inside the button. Stuck firmly to both ends. Steel.
However, I'm not yet ready to bet against the possibility of S&W engineers having tried a plastic mag catch in the very earliest CS & Value model guns, but then soon changing over to cast steel for the mag catch body. That's the kind of simple ongoing production change that might happen without it being specifically mentioned in the armorer updates. Kind of like how they changed from using plastic to steel for the guide rod plungers in the CS guns. I only found out about it when I noticed it and called to ask about it. They never mentioned it in the classes.
Ditto switching back and forth between steel and plastic for the 3rd gen butt plate catches.
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Damn, I didn't realize I'd kept all my invoices for guns I'd ordered & bought or just bought back then.
The 4513TSW arrived at my FFL from the factory 5 months after the CS45, and my CS9 arrived Sep/'02 (I procrastinated on even ordering a CS9 because of how much I liked my 3913).
My 3913 arrived from the factory more than year earlier than the CS45.
The 4513TSW arrived at my FFL from the factory 5 months after the CS45, and my CS9 arrived Sep/'02 (I procrastinated on even ordering a CS9 because of how much I liked my 3913).
My 3913 arrived from the factory more than year earlier than the CS45.
LOOK! A UNICORN!
Found it Fastbolt! Hard black nylon. Crummy pic, but you can see the frayed edge which is shorter than the metal catches - from use. It also has a ridge/mold line running up the back. My magnet does NOT stick to it.
Came out of my 457 made the first year of production. Roll marks and forged hammer and trigger. The good news is it lasted to just over 4K rounds. Which is probably more than anyone will run through a value line or CS series gun.
Fastbolt I checked my early production, black CS9. The catch on it is steel. Regards 18DAI
Found it Fastbolt!
Hard black nylon. Crummy pic, but you can see the frayed edge which is shorter than the metal catches - from use. It also has a ridge/mold line running up the back. My magnet does NOT stick to it. Came out of my 457 made the first year of production. Roll marks and forged hammer and trigger. The good news is it lasted to just over 4K rounds. Which is probably more than anyone will run through a value line or CS series gun.
Fastbolt I checked my early production, black CS9. The catch on it is steel. Regards 18DAI
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My oldtimers is acting up, but IIRC Chicago PD had a large order of 457s.......457D DAO guns.......I think.
Anyways, there was some problems with their vinyl mag catches and S&W made steel replacements which were supplied through the S&W LE rep. IIRC, thats where I got my steel replacement catch from. And NO, I don't know how to find another. Sorry! Regards 18DAI
Anyways, there was some problems with their vinyl mag catches and S&W made steel replacements which were supplied through the S&W LE rep. IIRC, thats where I got my steel replacement catch from. And NO, I don't know how to find another.
Sorry! Regards 18DAI
My memory matches yours. As I recall the 457D was made for CPD. Officers could buy them for off duty use, much like NYPD allowed officers to buy off duty guns.
And of course I had to head downstairs to the gun safe and check my late 457 and CS9s. Both have metal magazine catches.
And of course I had to head downstairs to the gun safe and check my late 457 and CS9s. Both have metal magazine catches.
My oldtimers is acting up, but IIRC Chicago PD had a large order of 457s.......457D DAO guns.......I think.
Anyways, there was some problems with their vinyl mag catches and S&W made steel replacements which were supplied through the S&W LE rep. IIRC, thats where I got my steel replacement catch from. And NO, I don't know how to find another.
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Thanks for checking.
If I had to guess, I'd suspect that the engineers tried the hard nylon mag catch body and quickly figured out (via LE agency feedback?) that the part wouldn't withstand heavy usage, and they simply replaced it with a cast steel part.
A close friend of mine bought a black CS9 & CS45 during their first year of production, and he still owns the CS9. Next time he's planning to make the drive to visit, I'll ask him to bring the CS9 so I can inspect the mag catch.
He's been shooting the dickens out of that CS9 since he first bought it, though, and it's never exhibited a problem with seating or dropping the mags.
If I had to guess, I'd suspect that the engineers tried the hard nylon mag catch body and quickly figured out (via LE agency feedback?) that the part wouldn't withstand heavy usage, and they simply replaced it with a cast steel part.
A close friend of mine bought a black CS9 & CS45 during their first year of production, and he still owns the CS9. Next time he's planning to make the drive to visit, I'll ask him to bring the CS9 so I can inspect the mag catch.
He's been shooting the dickens out of that CS9 since he first bought it, though, and it's never exhibited a problem with seating or dropping the mags.
JohnHL
Member
LOOK! A UNICORN!
Found it Fastbolt!
Came out of my 457 made the first year of production. Roll marks and forged hammer and trigger. The good news is it lasted to just over 4K rounds. Which is probably more than anyone will run through a value line or CS series gun.
Fastbolt I checked my early production, black CS9. The catch on it is steel. Regards 18DAI
WAY COOL, 18!!!!
That IS a unicorn.
I've acquired a few S&W oddities including Novak style rear sights without a provision for the set screw, a 4006 adjustable sight slide that has had the adj. sight dovetail welded up and re-cut for the Novak sight, and an extension welded to the rear and shaped to mimic the hammer shroud on the DAO models (maybe the 1st prototype DAO?), and an early 4506 slide that was cut down to 4516 length and re-welded (The 1st 4516? That one was shot a lot!), plus some other historic and crazy stuff.
But I have never seen a plastic mag catch and I just can't imagine that anyone would think a nylon ledge would hold up against a steel edge on the magazine.
John
My pleasure!
My black CS9 runs fine. Not all that many rounds through it as I shoot my stainless CS9 and carry it more.
I will be replacing the plastic sights on the black CS9. I can move its rear sight with my finger. Not good. I just have to give BMCM some time to recover from wrestling with my 457 sights. Regards 18DAI
My black CS9 runs fine. Not all that many rounds through it as I shoot my stainless CS9 and carry it more.
I will be replacing the plastic sights on the black CS9. I can move its rear sight with my finger. Not good. I just have to give BMCM some time to recover from wrestling with my 457 sights.
Regards 18DAIJohnHL I never say never with S&W.
The cost cutting measure with the mag catch just didn't pan out for them.
I will say mine lasted quite well. And I was surprised when I removed it, that it was not metal. Regards 18DAI
The cost cutting measure with the mag catch just didn't pan out for them.
I will say mine lasted quite well. And I was surprised when I removed it, that it was not metal. Regards 18DAI
CS9 replacement
I noted barbara_em's comment about a slightly larger pistol than the CS9 but all stainless. I also live in salty Texas and a all stainless S&W 9mm pistol would be something I would be interested in. I'm a S&W revolver freak and understand the autos are probably here to stay??? What model is barbara_em
referring to?
Thanks
A very good friend of mine, a school PD lieutenant (who recently retired and is sorely missed) fell in love with my 3rd gen Smiths with one range outing and he had to have one. Considering that he was a dyed in the wool Glock-o-phile, I was quite impressed with his intelligence.
I could give up my CS9 or my 908S. I figured that the stainless, slightly larger pistol was better for me in the Texas gulf coast climate and sold him the CS9. I think he's probably still wearing it. It's truly an excellent carry piece, as testified to by many members here.
Maybe someday I'll replace it, although it's not a high priority for me.
I noted barbara_em's comment about a slightly larger pistol than the CS9 but all stainless. I also live in salty Texas and a all stainless S&W 9mm pistol would be something I would be interested in. I'm a S&W revolver freak and understand the autos are probably here to stay??? What model is barbara_em
referring to?
Thanks
She has a 908S which is a value version of the 3913 (pictured).
