Veterans Day 4006

[Dragon88]

To celebrate Veterans Day and finding a job for when I get out of the military next year, I decided to go buy a Smith. I'm a revolver guy, I didn't even own a S&W semi-auto handgun before today. I've wanted to jump into the 40 S&W cartridge for a while now, mainly to wring it out on the handloading bench. I had trouble finding a pistol I liked though. I'm moving away from plastic, and sadly that limits your reasonably priced options these days. I saw this 4006 at a local store a couple weeks ago and it piqued my interest. The gun shows exceptional craftsmanship, I mean you can tell a fine revolver maker produced these handguns. Trigger is nice, but everything feels dry. The gun is dripping Remoil onto a mat right now, but I snapped a pic before making a mess.

I think I'll brave the cold tomorrow morning and go make some brass at the range.

I hope everyone had a great Veterans Day. Remember our troops overseas, I have lots of friends over there still and I hope they all get home safe, and soon.

Dan

 

[sniper47]

First off, nice score. NTM, you take a very beautiful picture. My main CCW is a S&W SW99-40. Fantastic weapon. I love the .40 S&W ctg.

 

[remat457]

Wow, that looks really clean. Congrats!

 

[dsk]

That makes two of us. I just re-joined the S&W club (my last was a 686 about 15 years ago) yesterday with a 4006 of my own. I've seen them for pretty cheap online, but none in as good a condition as yours and mine. I tried a couple of polymer .40s over the past few weeks, but none were acceptable to me. Either the grip was horrible or the recoil sensation caused discomfort. By contrast, shooting the .40 in a heavy steel-framed auto like a 4006 is like riding in a Cadillac. You're going to like yours and shoot it often.

Now, does anyone have production info? #TFH4xxx is close to the OP's but I can't find a serial number table anywhere.

 

[84Carrera]

Beautiful gun Dragon. Welcome to the 4006 club. Have had mine since 1991 or so and she is still beautiful.

And thank you for your service.

 

[FirebirdV8]

That is a nice looking 4006 there. This is a purchase you won't regret. Enjoy your new gun.

 

[girl-in-blue]

Congrats, what a way to celebrate the day. It is a beautiful weapon (yes only a "girl" can call a weapon beautiful, and get away with it) My ex boyfriend has one and uses it as his duty weapon, and loves it.

Let me please also tell you, thank you, for your service, as the mother of an Active Duty FEMALE Marine, our armed forces is never far from my mind. My daughter's unit is currently deployed, they have lost 2 members of the unit due to a shooting in a mess hall 6 months ago.

 

[Dragon88]

Now, does anyone have production info? #TFH4xxx is close to the OP's but I can't find a serial number table anywhere.

The catalog jumps around a little in that serial range, but it looks like your gun shipped in 1989 or 1990.

 

[Craig19]

Very nice, congrats!

 

[RobG5589]

Nice. I need to get out and shoot mine.

 

[carbuncle]

Very nice example you got yourself there! I hope to join the 4006 owners club in 2012, I like plastic guns as well but I want to own the gun the .40 was made for.

 

[dsk]

The catalog jumps around a little in that serial range, but it looks like your gun shipped in 1989 or 1990.

Thanks, but since the 4006 model didn't start shipping until 1990 I'd say that would have to be the year. I agree with the last poster about the "allure" of the 4006. Polymer guns are fine, but they evoke little pride of ownership. There's nothing like 39 ounces of solid machined stainless steel to get your juices flowing. That extra "13th round" can come in pretty handy as well.

 

[RobG5589]

Thanks, but since the 4006 model didn't start shipping until 1990 I'd say that would have to be the year. I agree with the last poster about the "allure" of the 4006. Polymer guns are fine, but they evoke little pride of ownership. There's nothing like 39 ounces of solid machined stainless steel to get your juices flowing. That extra "13th round" can come in pretty handy as well.

13th round??

 

[84Carrera]

13th round??

Yeah, ain't no baker's dozen in the 06
Have another meaning? Like a back up 4013?

 

[Dragon88]

I think he means...one round in the chamber, 11 in the magazine, and then if that didn't do the job you club 'em with the pistol. I wouldn't want to get hit by this thing, that's for sure.

 

[Tracer_Bullet]

Nice snag Dragon88. It is definitely heavy enough to wallop someone with if the need arises. Also, thank you for your service.

 

[dsk]

I think he means...one round in the chamber, 11 in the magazine, and then if that didn't do the job you club 'em with the pistol. I wouldn't want to get hit by this thing, that's for sure.

Yup, he figured it out!

 

[Dragon88]

So I take it Smith semi-autos are highly addictive? After shooting the 4006 today (it shot great) I stopped by my LGS. They have five used 2nd and 3rd gens on the shelf which I previously didn't pay any attention to. Now I have the models and prices jotted down for further research.

 

[dsk]

To be honest I never paid much attention to them either over the years, probably from having drunk too much 1911 and Glock Kool-Aid. But now that I've discovered what good guns they are it feels a shame that S&W discontinued their entire line of all-metal semi-autos a few years ago. I can understand the reasons from a business perspective, but the market lost a lot of good guns. People can pick on the 4006 for being a dinosaur, but in a home defense gun a durable, heavy steel handgun capable of firing the hottest defense ammo available is no handicap.

 

[Tracer_Bullet]

Actually my first gun was a third gen (4596). Over 16 years I had a couple of broken sideplates (one broken by our PD armorer who was giving it an overhaul for me and the other broke while I was shooting it, so I may have had a bad part) and it developed some feed issues from having old, worn out magazines. In a fit of stupidity, I traded it in on a plastic gun because I couldn't find mags for it anywhere and I have kicked myself for that decision ever since. After a few years without a third gen I managed to snap up a pair of NIB 4006TSWs, a NIB 410, and a pair of lightly used 3913s over the last year, and I am keeping an eye out for a nice 4566 or 4516, so yeah, I would say they are mildly addictive . Oh, and the plastic gun was traded in on the first 4006TSW, so my universe is back in balance again.