Shorty 9 production numbers confirmed! PHOTOS ADDED post #10

[vigil617]

Old thread, I know, but I finally found a good photo of the Shorty 9 MkIII showing the right front slide marking. This is VPC 0236, product code 170067, and as you can see, its box was labeled as a "6906" and "9mm Compact".

 

[vigil617]

By the way, there is a Shorty 9 in the "Mark I" configuration for sale right now on another site. The gun looks very nice, though it doesn't have the original box, and the price is not bad considering what these usually go for. I'm not a 9mm guy, or I'd be all over it. If you are interested, PM me and I will give you the information. It's not my gun or anyone I know, and I have no interest in the sale other than as a fellow Forum member who'd like to see a nice Shorty 9 in another member's hands.

 

[Inlaw1]

My Shorty 9 story

Great info all around. I have recently taken some interest in this gun and it's manufacture history since I have been the owner of one since new. I was a fan of the 6906 series S&W and had carried one for a few years. In fact, my first 9mm purchase was the S&W 469 which came out before the 6906 and may of been considered the first high capacity (at that time) compact 9.

I purchased my Shorty 9 back in '94 and up until this thread didn't know as much about it as I do now. I knew that it was a Lew Horton run, and knew all the information about it such as is listed in the picture above posted by Smithnut of the brochure. The hand fitting, match barrel, assembled together, trigger, titanium barrel bushing, yadda, yadda.

I never knew the true production run numbers though and didn't know there was more than one series run. I vaguely recall that the total numbers were in the 900 range and I think I got that from a S&W rep years ago after taking a spill on a motorcycle while carrying it and slightly damaging the slide / frame (gun still functions perfectly). I had called to see if they could repair.

A slightly funny if not stupid story: A buddy has the shorty 40, he's out in the garage doing something with his bike, leaves the gun on the back bumper of his truck while working. Has to run to the parts store and recalls the gun on the bumper while going down Westhiemer in Houston (an 8 lane wide blvd). Stops, the gun isn't there for course, goes back, sees it in the road, parks, runs to get it just as two cars run it over... thunk! thunk!... thunk! thunk! AHHHH!!!!

Can't even work the action on it. Calls S&W and they say "send it in, we'll see what we can do." It comes back perfect! Like NIB! I scratch up the slide and frame on the front right side, action still works perfectly and they tell me "Nothing we can do." WHAT??!! Oh well, it works and I've lived with it as a motorcycle tank bag carry gun and occasional CCW. I bet I don't have 800 rounds through it though.

So, I'm off track a bit here, but I think I've found someone that might be able to somewhat repair the gun. Some tig welding and recoating. We'll see. I'll post up some pics and if anyone has an idea what I could do to get this thing back to looking new, or knows someone that does that type of work, that would be nice to know. I've always loved this gun, a factory hot rod of the 6906. Just wish now I had taken better care of it instead of having it as a CCW duty gun for a few years. Started looking around for another one, found one that was NIB that sold last year on Gunbroker for $1900. Yeow! Don't know about that, but wouldn't mind having one in ANIB condition.

I still have the factory box, the two PC marked mags that came with it, the paper they were all in and the label. My label also states 5906 (which I don't think I ever really noticed), serial PCV04XX and product code 170030, but lists the gun as a Shorty 9 which differs with the information above I think. Thanks for all the info on production numbers. Great info!

Pictures of the gun and damage. Again, if anyone knows someone that can heal this thing up, please let me know.

Thanks,

 

[vigil617]

Thanks for sharing, Inlaw1, and welcome to the S&W Forum!

A Shorty 9 with road rash!

I understand your desire to fix it up cosmetically, but since the gun still performs perfectly, I think the scrapes give it some true character. Also they are a testimony to a well-built pistol with the scars to prove it!

Looks like yours is what I called the "Mark II" version with the black-backed slide release button and in the PCV 04xx series, it would have been the latter part of that group of pistols. How nice that you still have the original PC mags and the labelled box too.

Glad the thread provided information that was helpful. You're right that some of these guns are going for high prices on GB if they're in outstanding condition with all the bells and whistles. They can be had for less under the right circumstances if you're ever looking for another one to go with your Purple Heart gun!

 

[Inlaw1]

Thanks for sharing, Inlaw1, and welcome to the S&W Forum!

A Shorty 9 with road rash!

I understand your desire to fix it up cosmetically, but since the gun still performs perfectly, I think the scrapes give it some true character. Also they are a testimony to a well-built pistol with the scars to prove it!

I like the way you think! A little "patina" to go with that Shorty?

Glad the thread provided information that was helpful. You're right that some of these guns are going for high prices on GB if they're in outstanding condition with all the bells and whistles. They can be had for less under the right circumstances if you're ever looking for another one to go with your Purple Heart gun!

If I could find one in ANIB condition, for the right price, I would like to get another. I'm starting to peruse the sale boards to see what may pop up. Been looking for a Para P12 Limited also to go with the Para P12 I bought the same day I bought this Shorty. No luck there so far.

Thanks for the reply. And again, if anyone knows someone that may want to tackle the cosmetic repair of this gun, I'd be interested in a contact.

 

[Erocksmash]

Can we resurrect an old thread here?

I've recently acquired a shorty 9 and I'm curious about what sights would have come on the gun? I've requested a Lew Horton letter I don't know if this will be so spfic as to sights... in my readings I've found it can be 2 possibly 3 options.. the LPA Adjustable sights the standard low mount white dot sights, and the biggest one in question is the Novax low mount Adjustable sights.

How does one find out what the gun originally had? And what MK it is ?

P.S. the gun currently has trijicon night sights..

 

[vigil617]

Erocksmash, I can't speak to the Trijicon sights issue, but I can speculate about which "Mark" your Shorty 9 is. Based on the serial number, I would guess it is a "Mark II," and you could confirm this yourself by looking at the right side of the pistol and seeing if the back of the mag release button is black. That's the only difference I had noted in pictures of the two that distinguished one from the other. Keep in mind also that the terms "Mark I" and "Mark II" were my own, as only the "Mark III" had that official designation in the name from Smith & Wesson. (Just like the Shorty 40s.)

The reason the serial number is a guess is that there were 611 total of the "Mark I" and "Mark II" pistols, and we don't know exactly how that number broke down between the two. I hope perhaps your letter from Lew Horton will help nail that down, and if it does, please add that information to this thread for "posterity."

 

[Erocksmash]

Erocksmash, I can't speak to the Trijicon sights issue, but I can speculate about which "Mark" your Shorty 9 is. Based on the serial number, I would guess it is a "Mark II," and you could confirm this yourself by looking at the right side of the pistol and seeing if the back of the mag release button is silver. That's the only difference I had noted in pictures of the two that distinguished one from the other. Keep in mind also that the terms "Mark I" and "Mark II" were my own, as only the "Mark III" had that official designation in the name from Smith & Wesson. (Just like the Shorty 40s.)

The reason the serial number is a guess is that there were 611 total of the "Mark I" and "Mark II" pistols, and we don't know exactly how that number broke down between the two. I hope perhaps your letter from Lew Horton will help nail that down, and if it does, please add that information to this thread for "posterity."

Yes sir, I absolutely will update the post ... the last owner has noted that the night sights were added in 2016, as to what was on that before??? Nobody knows...

Honestly would like to bring it back to its orgional configuration, hopefully the Lew Horton letter will elaborate.

 

[Erocksmash]

Erocksmash, I can't speak to the Trijicon sights issue, but I can speculate about which "Mark" your Shorty 9 is. Based on the serial number, I would guess it is a "Mark II," and you could confirm this yourself by looking at the right side of the pistol and seeing if the back of the mag release button is black. That's the only difference I had noted in pictures of the two that distinguished one from the other. Keep in mind also that the terms "Mark I" and "Mark II" were my own, as only the "Mark III" had that official designation in the name from Smith & Wesson. (Just like the Shorty 40s.)

The reason the serial number is a guess is that there were 611 total of the "Mark I" and "Mark II" pistols, and we don't know exactly how that number broke down between the two. I hope perhaps your letter from Lew Horton will help nail that down, and if it does, please add that information to this thread for "posterity."

Vigil617, confirmed by BMCM that the back of the mag release button is black so back to not knowing what Mk it is... hopefully the letter will tell.

 

[Erocksmash]

Some pictures for the thread, still nothing from Lew Horton...

Hope I get the letter before the closing

 

[4T5GUY]

My Shorty is the same as yours, (was.)

I think your Earl letter will be the same. I always thought mine was an earlier one due to the "5906" on the label. Earl said he didn't know when that changed to "6906".

Sorry about the crudeness of this post, I had to do everything on my stupid smart phone.

Jim

 

[tlawler]

Some pictures for the thread, still nothing from Lew Horton...

Hope I get the letter before the closing

When you contacted Lew Horton Co., did you speak with Earl Minot? He has emailed me a copy in the past, though I don't know how hectic it may be getting ready to close up shop.

 

[Erocksmash]

My Shorty is the same as yours, (was.)

I think your Earl letter will be the same. I always thought mine was an earlier one due to the "5906" on the label. Earl said he didn't know when that changed to "6906".

Sorry about the crudeness of this post, I had to do everything on my stupid smart phone.

Jim

I sent a letter request to Earl, he said hes gonna try and get to it before closing on my shorty9 and .40

 

[Erocksmash]

When you contacted Lew Horton Co., did you speak with Earl Minot? He has emailed me a copy in the past, though I don't know how hectic it may be getting ready to close up shop.

He seemed more concerned with reducing inventory, which is understandable... its business.

 

[BAM-BAM]

PCV 0460 is in W. Pa.; got it "used' but unfired ......unfortunately box was lost at a large LGS.



My other is part of the VPCxxxx gun run of 345 made in 95 but not ID'ed as a LH special in the SCS&W.

 

[Erocksmash]

PCV 0460 is in W. Pa.; got it "used' but unfired ......unfortunately box was lost at a large LGS.



My other is part of the VPCxxxx gun run of 345 made in 95 but not ID'ed as a LH special in the SCS&W.

Spoke briefly to Earl about both the shorty 9 and .40 he confirmed they are both LH

 

[BAM-BAM]

Spoke briefly to Earl about both the shorty 9 and .40 he confirmed they are both LH

So far total of 956....... about 1/5 the number of Reg. Magnums made in the 30s

 

[Erocksmash]

So far total of 956....... about 1/5 the number of Reg. Magnums made in the 30s

I'm not sure I understand

 

[BAM-BAM]

I'm not sure I understand

Just thinking about collectability someday........ Reg Magnums were the first .357 magnums....... hand built to order from 1935-40...... I've always associated them with being the first S&W Performance Center Guns.

The early PC autos weren't just cosmetically different from cataloged guns like the 6906...... they were imagined, designed and built by the last true gunsmiths at S&W......... it wasn't until years later that I, and maybe a lot of others, realized how few of each gun/model were actually built.

I prize my PC guns (4) ...... I carried my Shorty-9 for years after getting it in 1995/96 from a friend....... I still carry it but not as often as a 3913NL better serves my needs in my "Burb of the Burg". But it's still one of the guns that would be the last to go; or the first I'd grab if the SHTF or TEOTWAWKI. After 25 years mine shows a little more wear than yours in post #50...... but it has always ridden in a good Sparks holster with a cover garment to protect it ......an old trusted friend that doesn't deserve to be left at home.

 

[URIT]

A MINT Shorty 9 sold on GB for $4021.87 last night, 11/27.