Serial number placement on Md 5946?

[cporfe]

Hi, I recently picked up a Md 5946 via GB. The one I purchased (they have others) has a UCW89XX stamped (obvious stamping) on the right side of the frame. I've owned many 3rd gens and the serial number is always on the left side above the model number. Any ideas? Is this a "first" run gun (1991?). I couldn't find the serial prefix in my 4th Edition S&W book.

Any info would be appreciated.

 

[ACEd]

I believe indented S/N in the frame casting on right side began after the move of production to Houlton, ME beginning late 2010. Most if not all of the UCK and subsequent UCx prefixes will have S/N on right side - either cast into an indentation of the frame or laser etched on the surface.

Probably all 3rd gen pistols of this vintage are police orders 3914DAO, 5946 for NYPD, 4566TSW for WV. I have also seen 3913TSW, 3914TSW, 3953TSW with Uxx S/N - pedigree unknown.

This continued after the move back to Springfield circa 2015 - so you may find both Springfield and Houlton markings on left side and indented S/N on right side.

There were no doubt many residual unassembled parts both conventionally marked that trasferred to Houlton and Houlton marked that transferred back to Springfield. In fact I have seen one 5946 UCV4747 with Frame marked Houlton and Slide marked Springfield.

 

[cporfe]

Great info! I checked and both the frame and slide are marked "Springfield". I bought this as a companion to my MD 6590 I bought awhile back. Both oddballs but both use the same mag. Thank you for your reply.

 

[GaryS]

The SN on my 3914DAO is on the right and it's a Houlton built gun with a date of 11/15/2012 according to the date on the spent shell casing envelope.

My rail 3913TSW and 3953TSW have the SNs on the left side in the normal place.

I thought that the SN on the right side in the depressed area was some sort of NYPD requirement.

Which reminds me that I have to call S&W to get the production dates on the 3953TSW that I bought jut before we left MA and the 3913LS that I bought a couple of months after we got settled in TX. I was just too busy with the move to do that.

 

[ACEd]

Most 3913, 3914, and 3953 variants were produced in Springfield prior to "semi-end" of 3rd production in 2000.

The known exceptions are the Value Line Models, the Chiefs Specials, the 3913 Lady Smith, 3913TSW, 3953TSW, and the 4040PD which "ended" around 2006 according to most references.

After that it appears the production was limited mostly to Police or other (Brinks, etc) minimum quantity Production Orders which were produced initially in Springfield.

The Uxx S/N groupings seem to begin in 2009 in Springfield with UBZ including 3914DAO and 3913TSW; UCF including most if not all of the 3914TSW circa 2009 as well as 3914DAO, 5946 and at least 1 CS9. These appear to have conventional left side S/N.

After the Transition to Houlton, ME circa 2010, they begin to have indented right S/N starting with the UCK prefix models 5946 and 4566TSW; UCS & UCT 3914DAO; UCU mostly 4566TSW plus 3953TSW and 5946; UCV & UCW 5946, 3953TSW, and 3914DAO.

Then back in Springfield beginning in 2015(?) with a part of the UCW prefix plus UCY 5946, UCZ 3914DAO after the subsequent transition from Houlton. These are right S/N but some indented (UCW & UCY) and others with laser on flat surface (UCZ).

 

[4T5GUY]

The Uxx S/N groupings seem to begin in 2009 in Springfield with UBZ including 3914DAO and 3913TSW; UCF including most if not all of the 3914TSW circa 2009 as well as 3914DAO, 5946 and at least 1 CS9. These appear to have conventional left side S/N.

Let’s not forget about the real Performance Center UCF’s from Springfield.

Probably a stupid question but did the PC move to Holton ?

Jim

 

[ACEd]

Let’s not forget about the real Performance Center UCF’s from Springfield.

Probably a stupid question but did the PC move to Holton ?

Jim

Jim, I cant answer your question about PC move - but I doubt it. The 3rd gen PC models seemed to end about 2009 just about when the transition to Houlton occurred (2010?) and I dont believe all SW handguns moved out of Springfield. But perhaps someone with more PC knowledge will respond.

As to the 945-1, you are of course correct to include UCF prefixes - I also found reference to a UBZ 945-1 and 952-2 with both UBZ and UCF prefixes and a 5906 Limited UBZ6807 instead of the more common PPC prefix.

So apparently my assumption of Uxx prefixes being LE orders only was incorrect at least regarding the Springfield UBZ and UCF production thru 2009.

 

[snw19_357]

I have a UCF Model 5904 that has Springfield on the pistol but the fired casing is from Houlton.

If "0044" on the label is still a Julian date then that's 02-13-2010 but the casing is dated 04-19-2010.

 

[ACEd]

I have a UCF Model 5904 that has Springfield on the pistol but the fired casing is from Houlton.

If "0044" on the label is still a Julian date then that's 02-13-2010 but the casing is dated 04-19-2010.

Very Interesting pistol - thanks for the post - I had not expected any garden variety 3rd gens in the 2010 UCF group. No doubt a special order as most consider the 5904 to have ended in 1998.

Probably last of pistols made in Springfield, shipped to Houlton in transition between Feb and April 2010, test fired at Houlton and shipped from there.

 

[cporfe]

Wow! So much good information from everyone. I read in the 4th Edition that production of the 5946 and others was 1991 to 1999 but this shows it continued on in some fashion well into the 2010s. Thank you. I guess the only way to know for sure about my pistol is a factory letter, but I'm not curious enough to spend the money.

Thank you!
Chris

 

[GaryS]

Keep in mind that the 59xx guns, at least some of them had TSW series later on in production. Those were the tactical guns with rails fitted to them among other improvements.

CHP used the 4006TSW until about five or six years ago. NYPD had at least some 39xxTSW guns as well.

As a general rule TSW guns with rails were made from 200-2006, although with S:&W there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to production. A large enough agency could order guns built to their specifications even after regular production ended.

Wow! So much good information from everyone. I read in the 4th Edition that production of the 5946 and others was 1991 to 1999 but this shows it continued on in some fashion well into the 2010s. Thank you. I guess the only way to know for sure about my pistol is a factory letter, but I'm not curious enough to spend the money.

Thank you!
Chris