I agree! The 3rd gen S&W autos are a real forgotten gun. Mine are mostly 9mm with one .40 S&W. I have a few alloy frames, a few all stainless and one carbon blued with and alloy frame and I can't decide which one is my favorite.
My father had the S&W 5906, which was an excellent 15 round pistol. Before my father passed away in 2016, some guys broke into his home and stole everything, even the cabinets off the wall in the kitchen. They got all his firearms too, which were a fairly extensive lineup of firearms. The 5906 was meant to go to me and my father's Remington 870 was suppose to go to my older sister. Unfortunately somewhere out there are the firearms, the guys that stole everything were arrested, but they sold off what they took before being caught.
You can still get parts for 5900, 6900, 4000 series 3rd gen guns. New old stock grips can be had as well. The grips are very easy to replace, hfunk has an excellent tutorial that shows complete assrmbly/disassembly. I would love to get a 915, 5903 or 5904. The 3rd gen S&W autos are moving up in price so grab a few now before they all end up in collections. The .45 and 10mm large frame, TSWs and Performance Center pistols command premium prices. Some of the Performance Center guns run into thounds of dollars now. But like in the video, solid shooter grade 9mm and .40 S&W guns can be had for a decent price. I recently purchased a 6906 Israeli police pistol. It's in the same condition as the 5903 in the the video, loys of holster ware but functionally in excellent shape. Excellent video, thank you
Mr. Funk has a few really good videos dealing with 3rd gens. Disassembly video is priceless. Mags are expensive but the Mec-Gars, in my experience, have been flawless and they come in 15 or 17 rnd capacity. I wish they'd make .40 S&W mags too...
I own several 1st, 2nd and 3rd gen versions of these pistols. The 3rd Gen's are built like tanks and I prefer carrying a 6904 over most modern plastic fantastic pistols. The only thing I don't prefer about these pistols is the frame mounted decocker, which are rare; however, I prefer the slide mounted decocker over the Beretta.
I love 3rd Gen. Smiths; they're among my favourite semi-autos. I have a 5906, 6906, 4006, and a 4053. They're all fantastic, and the .40s are pretty tame too. Of these, my 4053 is probably my favourite; it's a DAO with a *very* smooth ~6,5lb. trigger. Want to get a 4046 next. Kinda wish Smith & Wesson would revive the line and release a series of "4th Gen" pistols, but I doubt there's a big enough market for it, unfortunately.
Even as a revolver Bro I really like this vintage Smith bottom feeders. Modern classics. Seek it out for CCW? Why not rugged, reliable, accurate, with a proper action, and comfortable grip. Sounds good to me. I tried a 45acp compact back in the day and wish I had bought it.
The Smith & Wesson 5903 was the standard issue sidearm for the Montana Highway Patrol my favorite HP Agency this replaced their Smith & Wesson Model 28 Highway Patrolman 357 Magnum. The MHP started to issue the 5903 in the very late 80’s and carried it through the early 2000 when it got replaced with the Sig Sauer P229 357 Sig now the MHP issues the Optics Ready Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 9mm.
My personal fav is the 4576. I purchased one a while back for considerable coin. A slightly shorter barrel and a frame mounted decocker is all that separates it from the 4506. People pooed over these guns when glocks took over (I love Glock too), but these 3rd gen smithie’s are bomb proof.
I think your pistol is from the mid to late 90’s due to the blued hammer and trigger. The earlier 3rd generation Smiths that I am familiar with had flash chromed hammers and triggers.
The trigger and hammer in the video are MIMed parts to help keep costs down. Metal Injection Molding. MIM parts are pretty common now and actually made much better trigger pulls and are just as durable as the carbon steel/stainless triggers/hammers Smith was using earlier.
Try to get your hands on one today. All the greedmongers are hoarded them. You can get one. if you can find one for a 1000 bucks.. I remember when no one wanted these they were a commercial flop. Other than Law enforcement they weren't popular at all. Now it's like anything else. As soon as someone sniffs about it on CZcams, you can't find them at any price anymore.
I saw an LE traded one and it was filthy on the inside and rust around rear sight. I was really disappointed in how equipment bought with tax payers funds is maintained.
The 3rd generation Smith pistols were some of the finest firearms ever made. I still own 3 of them, a 3913, a 5906 and a 6906.
Yes, yes and yes! Love my 5903.
I agree! The 3rd gen S&W autos are a real forgotten gun. Mine are mostly 9mm with one .40 S&W. I have a few alloy frames, a few all stainless and one carbon blued with and alloy frame and I can't decide which one is my favorite.
My father had the S&W 5906, which was an excellent 15 round pistol. Before my father passed away in 2016, some guys broke into his home and stole everything, even the cabinets off the wall in the kitchen. They got all his firearms too, which were a fairly extensive lineup of firearms. The 5906 was meant to go to me and my father's Remington 870 was suppose to go to my older sister. Unfortunately somewhere out there are the firearms, the guys that stole everything were arrested, but they sold off what they took before being caught.
Damn shame Smith discontinued these line of pistols. Beautiful grouping by the way.
Beautiful guns and still something worth owning and carrying today.
You can still get parts for 5900, 6900, 4000 series 3rd gen guns. New old stock grips can be had as well. The grips are very easy to replace, hfunk has an excellent tutorial that shows complete assrmbly/disassembly. I would love to get a 915, 5903 or 5904. The 3rd gen S&W autos are moving up in price so grab a few now before they all end up in collections. The .45 and 10mm large frame, TSWs and Performance Center pistols command premium prices. Some of the Performance Center guns run into thounds of dollars now. But like in the video, solid shooter grade 9mm and .40 S&W guns can be had for a decent price. I recently purchased a 6906 Israeli police pistol. It's in the same condition as the 5903 in the the video, loys of holster ware but functionally in excellent shape. Excellent video, thank you
Mr. Funk has a few really good videos dealing with 3rd gens. Disassembly video is priceless. Mags are expensive but the Mec-Gars, in my experience, have been flawless and they come in 15 or 17 rnd capacity. I wish they'd make .40 S&W mags too...
Had the 5906 and 4006 as duty guns and now wish I had bought both when we traded up.
Holster wear and some other rubs and scratches add character to a gun well used. That's what it was designed for.
My stepdad has one of these 5903 TSW's and I love to shoot it more than the Baretta 92s and other guns we have.
I own several 1st, 2nd and 3rd gen versions of these pistols. The 3rd Gen's are built like tanks and I prefer carrying a 6904 over most modern plastic fantastic pistols.
The only thing I don't prefer about these pistols is the frame mounted decocker, which are rare; however, I prefer the slide mounted decocker over the Beretta.
My first pistol is the 5906 and similar to this. I’m never selling it.
Never had one of these, but I see some on sale, and that group size is hard to argue with!
I have seen these before in shops and wondered about them, as you never see anyone talk about them. Thanks for the great video!
I love 3rd Gen. Smiths; they're among my favourite semi-autos. I have a 5906, 6906, 4006, and a 4053. They're all fantastic, and the .40s are pretty tame too. Of these, my 4053 is probably my favourite; it's a DAO with a *very* smooth ~6,5lb. trigger. Want to get a 4046 next.
Kinda wish Smith & Wesson would revive the line and release a series of "4th Gen" pistols, but I doubt there's a big enough market for it, unfortunately.
I had a 5926 years ago. It was a great gun. Great video.
Even as a revolver Bro I really like this vintage Smith bottom feeders. Modern classics.
Seek it out for CCW? Why not rugged, reliable, accurate, with a proper action, and comfortable grip. Sounds good to me. I tried a 45acp compact back in the day and wish I had bought it.
Love the 3rd gens. I have the 1006 and 1046 both in 10mm.
I loved this pistols. I had a 5906, 3913, and a 4566 and a 4006. Still have the 3913 and 4566. Great guns and comfortable shooters.
This era had some of the best “easy to shoot well” pistols. (I may be a bit biased)
Great gun for sure. They were built like a tank and they go bang every time. ❤
The Smith & Wesson 5903 was the standard issue sidearm for the Montana Highway Patrol my favorite HP Agency this replaced their Smith & Wesson Model 28 Highway Patrolman 357 Magnum. The MHP started to issue the 5903 in the very late 80’s and carried it through the early 2000 when it got replaced with the Sig Sauer P229 357 Sig now the MHP issues the Optics Ready Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 9mm.
My personal fav is the 4576. I purchased one a while back for considerable coin. A slightly shorter barrel and a frame mounted decocker is all that separates it from the 4506.
People pooed over these guns when glocks took over (I love Glock too), but these 3rd gen smithie’s are bomb proof.
Love my 3913. If shit were to go down, that’s mu dog.
I had the .40 cal version. Hated it. Only pistol I ever sold.
👍👍👍
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A boat anchor
I have one! Sadly I can’t find a good conceal carry holster!
I think your pistol is from the mid to late 90’s due to the blued hammer and trigger. The earlier 3rd generation Smiths that I am familiar with had flash chromed hammers and triggers.
The trigger and hammer in the video are MIMed parts to help keep costs down. Metal Injection Molding. MIM parts are pretty common now and actually made much better trigger pulls and are just as durable as the carbon steel/stainless triggers/hammers Smith was using earlier.
Try to get your hands on one today. All the greedmongers are hoarded them. You can get one. if you can find one for a 1000 bucks.. I remember when no one wanted these they were a commercial flop. Other than Law enforcement they weren't popular at all. Now it's like anything else. As soon as someone sniffs about it on CZcams, you can't find them at any price anymore.
its basically a cz 75 compact . too bad smith dosent reissue these . had a 645 , the trigger was stupid heavy
I saw an LE traded one and it was filthy on the inside and rust around rear sight. I was really disappointed in how equipment bought with tax payers funds is maintained.
Looks like the pistols Mulder and Scully carried.
Lol I have one got it for 300 bills