S&W 3906: single stacks are neat

[Shear_stress]

After missing out on one of these at a local shop, I lucked upon one online. Essentially a "third generation" Model 39, the single-stack 3906 was introduced in 1988. Smith's timing wasn't great. The "wonder nine" craze was going balls out and a gun that held eight rounds of 9mm was as hip as a nehru jacket. The 3906 did enjoy limited success as the official sidearm of the San Jose Police Department (whose chief didn't think he could trust his officers with high-caps). That aside, the 3906 didn't exactly fly off the shelves and died a premature death in 1991.

This is a shame for single-stack fans. Something about that slim grip and curved back strap work for me. I could do without the trendy hooked trigger guard, but that's how that made them. Anyway, I'll post a range report as soon as I get the gun in my greedy hands. The actual gun is shown below:

 

[Srigs]

Nice looking gun! I had a 39-2 which was a sweet shooting gun. Yours should have no recoil at all.

 

[Shear_stress]

Thanks, Srigs. Plenty of steel in the 3906 to soak up the pop from those 115 grain pellets. I would wager that your 39-2 was probably a little more elegant looking, though.

 

[nero45acp]

The S&W 3906 is my favorite semi-auto. Here's a few pics of mine:



nero

 

[benEzra]

My all-around 9mm (HD, carry, target) is an S&W 3913 Ladysmith. Love it.

 

[Shipwreck]

Congrats!

 

[brickboy240]

Yep, single stack 9mms are cool. I used to have a Mdl.39 Smith and loved it.

Try a Sig P225 sometime...to me, this is the best mid-range single stack 9mm.

- Brickboy240

 

[spencerhut]

My wife carries a 3913TSW. I have shot it in a run and gun match and use it for practice from time to time. I think it's a vrey nice weapon. It's been very reliable with every ammo I've fed it.

Spencer

 

[bakert]

Nice looking pistol. I've always liked single stack pistols for concealed carry. 15 to 17 shot magazines?? Hell, I'm not going to war, I'm just going out and carry a gun for protecton.

 

[ShelbyV8]

I like the 639 just because you can change the grips.

 

[Longbow]

Try a Sig P225 sometime...to me, this is the best mid-range single stack 9mm.

- Brickboy240

Aahhh the P225! I wish they made one in .40 cal. Its the best fitting SIG in my hands.

 

[GroovedG19]

Nice pistol, Shear_stress.

 

[Ala Dan]

10-04 on the single stacks, but gim'me an old S&W model 39-2~!

 

[Gixerman1000]

Great pistol and good find, you don't see them very often, mine is accurate and very smooth shooting.

here's a pic of mine

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/Gixerman1000/Handguns/SW3906.jpg

Not sure if you know but the new mags from S&W for the 39, 639, 3906, 952 hold an extra round, the new 9rd mags are still the same length as the old 8rd mags.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a70/Gixer1000/Mis/100_6503.jpg

 

[Shear_stress]

Thanks, Gixerman. Good to see a couple of other fans of the 3906 out there.

 

[spencerhut]

My wife loves her 3913TSW . . .

 

[Essex County]

Can anyone explain the diffrence between a 3906 and a 908 for me?...Essex

 

[Erich]

Stainless steel frame on the 3906 and alloy on the 908, for one. I understand that the finish (both external and internal) is not as good on the "value" guns as on the top-of-the-line 3rd Gens, too. And the 908 only has a 3.5" barrel, not the full 4" tube found on the 3906.

 

[Shear_stress]

Stainless steel frame on the 3906 and alloy on the 908, for one. I understand that the finish (both external and internal) is not as good on the "value" guns as on the top-of-the-line 3rd Gens, too. And the 908 only has a 3.5" barrel, not the full 4" tube found on the 3906.

Good explanation. The 3906 is also on a larger frame than the 3913 or 908. The 908 uses some plastic internal parts as well.