I need help with the model number of a pistol I am looking for, Smith 3rd gen auto, 9mm, full size, blued, alloy frame in DAO. I saw one years ago and I almost bought it, wish I had because I liked it
Thanks
I need help with the model number of a pistol I am looking for, Smith 3rd gen auto, 9mm, full size, blued, alloy frame in DAO. I saw one years ago and I almost bought it, wish I had because I liked it
Thanks
The S&W 5946 was the DAO full size 9mm in stainless and was issued in large numbers to the Canadian RCMP.Originally Posted by 1986s4
The S&W 5905 was the full size blued model but it was not offered as a DAO as far as I know, it was a DA/SA with frame mounted safety & decocker like the 5906. But ostensibly with S&W 3rd gen nomenclature the pistol you describe would be a 5945. Quick Google-fu with that model number comes up with nothing, however.
If memory serves, I believe it should be a 5944. "59" = Full size 9mm, "4" in the 3rd slot = DAO, "4" in the 4th slot = black/blue alloy frame under blue/black steel.
Last edited by Jason M; 04-22-2019 at 12:31 PM.
Lucky Gunner chart:
https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/g...357-revolvers/
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That's for revolvers.
Here's the page for the autos.
https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/g...omatic-models/
Stupid Google and iPhone.
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Yup, M5944. Relatively rare but not expensive. I had one with the Type 1 (square with hook) trigger guard. It may have been the only variant as DAO was really not popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Most were made in 1991 during the height of the 3rd Generation "Model of the Week". I saw a photo of one with a round trigger guard, but those were not released until well after the M5944 came out of the catalog. With S&W, nothing is certain, so it is hard to say whether it was factory or reworked.
The original DAO guns like the M5944 have outstanding triggers.
By far the best third-gen DA trigger that I've ever pressed was a 5946 in the local Cabela's display case from the last batch that were cleared out and sent to distributors a few years ago. Pretty sure it was engraved Holton, ME.
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A Houlton, ME gun would likely be a late LE model, possibly a gun meant for NYPD sales. Those later guns have DAO actions with second-strike capability. The earlier guns like the M5944 need the slide to cycle to partially cock the hammer. The action on the earlier guns feels a lot like the action from a well-tuned K-frame revolver.
I have several of the older 3953s. I wouldn't say any of them come close to the smoothness of my GP100 that's been deburred and smoothed. I don't have a deburred and smoothed K frame yet, but there are a couple in the queue waiting.
The internal surfaces that rub on some of the older, pre-MIM third-gen guns are actually astonishingly rough. Like they were machined on equipment with spindle bearings 10,000 parts past needing to be replaced. Then as now, quality in all aspects seems to have been a roll of the die. The MIM guns are more consistent. That's why I was astonished by the smoothness of the 5946.
I actually picked up a late-model 3953 TSW from the batch a couple years ago. When I realized that burrs on the slide were damaging the anodizing on the rails on the frame with just a handful of manipulations (Sigs can be shipped with a similar condition, so...), I put it in the safe until I get around to finishing the QC reworks.
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