I turn 50 this Friday and have decided to treat myself to a pistol. An S&W 3906 has caught my eye. I already own a 3913 and a 5903. Other than filling a niche in my Smith collection is there any shooting quality of this gun that stands out, epsecially in light of the guns that I already have, that makes it worth owning? Is it different enough so as not to be redundant?
S&w 3906?
- Thread starter Storm
- Start date
- Status
gc70
Member
The 3906 is a full sized, all stainless pistol with the grip width of the 3913. It makes an exceptionally mild shooting range gun for recoil sensitive shooters or shooters with small hands. It would actually be a good practice companion for the 3913 since the grips are so similar and the controls and manual of arms are identical. The fly in the ointment is transitioning between the 3906 and 5903 - going back and forth makes it difficult to become instinctively comfortable with the feel of either grip.
As a 3913 owner, the appeal of the 3906, to me, is the additional weight, slightly longer grip frame, and extra round on tap. It is also a beautiful looking pistol. I like the adjustable sight model 3906.
I'm currently searching for a LNIB example, for IDPA use.
Nothing will ever replace my 3913 as a CCW pistol though. IMO the finest 9mm CCW pistol ever made.
I'm currently searching for a LNIB example, for IDPA use.
Nothing will ever replace my 3913 as a CCW pistol though. IMO the finest 9mm CCW pistol ever made.
pistolero6869
Member
Happy Birthday! Storm "The Big 50"
Storm just a heads up for the Birthday boy! CDNN Has the last of the steel frane # 5906 0MM stainless ambi safety, 3 Dot fixed sights New in factory case with one 15 Round Hi-Cap mag, $399.99 and the S&W 410 Blue one 11 eouns mag alloy frame Chambered in 40S&W 28.6 OZ synthetic grips green fiber optic sights #399.99 Buy them both for yourself you Deserve It!
Storm just a heads up for the Birthday boy! CDNN Has the last of the steel frane # 5906 0MM stainless ambi safety, 3 Dot fixed sights New in factory case with one 15 Round Hi-Cap mag, $399.99 and the S&W 410 Blue one 11 eouns mag alloy frame Chambered in 40S&W 28.6 OZ synthetic grips green fiber optic sights #399.99 Buy them both for yourself you Deserve It!
The model 3906 does not often show up for sale these days having been catalogued by S&W only between 1988-91. If you have found one and desire it, you should get it because you may not see another for quite a while. A few years ago, I was lucky to find both a 3906 and 3904 within a month or so of each other having not seen an example of either model since the early 90's when they were new.
lawdog41
Member
Grab it. It'll outlast most of the other 9's on the market today being all steel and recoil a whole lot less.
Shear_stress
Member
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2005
- Messages
- 2,728
Grab it. The 3906 is a very neat gun. Sort of the last hurrah of the 39 series (the current 952 excepted). Several police agencies (San Jose, CA?) used them because they were not allowed to carry "high capacity" pistols.
I just drove over and grabbed the 3906 and put it on layaway until Friday. I'm darned glad that I did. It was the only police trade-in 3906 (Gwinnett County and Sherriff's Dept, in Georgia). When I asked for it (all of the LEO trade-ins are behind the counter) I was told that it was probably sold from when I saw it this past Saturday. It had gotten a lot of attention. But, it was still there with the single stack frame easy to spot. The gun is in very nice condition and just a little work will make it like new. I'll change the grips as they have a few dings at the butt, a common place for wear. The gun has the low mount night sights (pretty well depleted) with a blackened trigger, hammer and ambi safety. "Gwinnett Co. PD" is stamped on the right side of the frame. To me that just adds nicely to the gun as I live a very short distance to Gwinnett County. By way of trivia, Larry Flynt was shot right by the Gwinnett County Courthouse after his obscenity trial. Gwinnett County, well northeast of Atlanta, is also the home of the infamous Runaway Bride.
The gun feels darn good in the hand. I find my 5903 really comfortable as I have medium large hands, but the 3906 feels really good. I also like the heft and I think the gun may well be a real winner.
Again, thanks for the comments helping me to decide.
The gun feels darn good in the hand. I find my 5903 really comfortable as I have medium large hands, but the 3906 feels really good. I also like the heft and I think the gun may well be a real winner.
Again, thanks for the comments helping me to decide.
S&w 909
For those that want but can't find a 3906, you might want to search also for a model 909. It was the economical version of the 3906/3904.
I actually prefer it to the 3906 as it doesn't have the squared trigger guard.
Were all 3906/3904s manufactured with the square trigger guard, or were some made with the rounded trigger guard before they were discontinued?
For those that want but can't find a 3906, you might want to search also for a model 909. It was the economical version of the 3906/3904.
I actually prefer it to the 3906 as it doesn't have the squared trigger guard.
Were all 3906/3904s manufactured with the square trigger guard, or were some made with the rounded trigger guard before they were discontinued?
They all have square trigger guards. The only variation was in the fixed sights - early models had a blade type rear sight and later models had Novak sights. Storm - check out KY Imports for factory grips - http://www.kyimports.com/accessor.htm#OEM
Gixerman1000
Member
Great pistol and a good find as you don't see them very often. I found one NIB a few years ago, it's very good shooter accurate and very smooth recoiling.
here's a pic of mine
Not sure if you know but the newer mags from S&W for the 39, 639, 3906 & 952 now hold 9rds yet are still the same length as the old 8rd mags.
here's a pic of mine
Not sure if you know but the newer mags from S&W for the 39, 639, 3906 & 952 now hold 9rds yet are still the same length as the old 8rd mags.
Mike, the 3906 I'll be picking up tomorrow has the nine round mag. There seems to be some confusion about these nine round mags.
I see that your gun has the adjustable sights. I wish one of my 3rd Gen Smiths had the adjustable sight. The ex-police guns that I'm seeing all have night sights. When I had a 5906 and 4506 back when they first came out they both had the adjustable sights. When I do sneak up on another 4506 it will be with the adjustable sight so I have one in my collection.
That 4506 that I had years ago was a great gun. One time at the range I had a squib load and a bullet lodged half way down the barrel. I walked it over to the gun smith and he tapped it free with a wood dowel. The bullet left a considerable ring in the barrel. After that the gun shot even more accurately. Go figure. I've heard folks say that the 3rd Gen Smiths are over-engineered. I would tend to agree.
I see that your gun has the adjustable sights. I wish one of my 3rd Gen Smiths had the adjustable sight. The ex-police guns that I'm seeing all have night sights. When I had a 5906 and 4506 back when they first came out they both had the adjustable sights. When I do sneak up on another 4506 it will be with the adjustable sight so I have one in my collection.
That 4506 that I had years ago was a great gun. One time at the range I had a squib load and a bullet lodged half way down the barrel. I walked it over to the gun smith and he tapped it free with a wood dowel. The bullet left a considerable ring in the barrel. After that the gun shot even more accurately. Go figure. I've heard folks say that the 3rd Gen Smiths are over-engineered. I would tend to agree.
- Status
