Well last night I could not sleep. I woke up around 0100 and turned on the TV and picked up the iPad. I saw an ad for S&W 5946’s at Cabela’s. From the reviews they said they were NOS with three 15 round magazines and night sights. So I checked the local (ok well a few hours away) Cabela’s and they were in stock in the store. After getting coffee at 0500 and making breakfast I headed out about 0830. I got there about 1100 and spied them in the gun case. $599. As I waited my turn I noticed they had two in different cases, one had a Houlton, ME roll mark and one had a Springfield, MA rollmark. When I got my turn I inspected the Houlton ME one and said I’d like one. She said she had just sold one earlier and would head out back and grab another one. She came back and said although the computer said they had two she could only locate one; the one I looked at. I told her there was another in a different case and she said “oh that’s all we have left then”. I asked if I could inspect one real good, she said yes, so I ran over the ME one and told her I’d take it. $643.49 after the Governor's share and I was on my way home.

The trigger is awesome. I really like DAO pistols, and this is better than my Sig DAK’s (and my S&W 3953TSW). The night sights are bright, the rear being dated ’14 and the front ’13. I’m kind of surprised it came with the straight backstrap as most 5906’s I have seen (including my own) have the curved. I like the feel of it though. I never realized the front was so much narrower than the 4006. This has a slanted dustcover as opposed to my 4006 with a straight one. It is also narrower. Makes it feel great in the hand. Points very nice. It also does not have the magazine disconnect or the loaded chamber indicator in the barrel hood and the slide lock is stainless as opposed to most of the newer Smith third gens which are black.

As a fan of third gen smiths I am glad I found this. For the price I think it is well worth it. I am on vacation all week so hopefully I will get out to put a few rounds through it (along with my CHP 4006).
















5946, 4006 CSP, 4006TSW CHP











My two Houlton, ME guns. Both bought NIB within the last year. And if you had told me I would be buying two NIB S&W third gen automatics that were not hidden in a collection I would have called you crazy

Very nice. Huge fan of the third gen guns.

Not a gun ive ever held or had an interest to seek out,but ill be damned if that isnt one pretty gun!

Nice snag. I had a Smith 5906 ten years back, which I always wanted in DAO configuration... and probably why I stupidly sold it.

Nice Family of 3rd Gen Smith autos!

quote:

Originally posted by mbinky:

The trigger is awesome.

You probably got an LEO model. The 5946 was used by many PD's in the day, including NYPD. Although all S&W 3G DAO triggers are good, the special shorter trigger on some 5946's is outstanding. Of the eight S&W DAO's I have owned, none compared to the LEO 5946.

quote:

Originally posted by mbinky:
I’m kind of surprised it came with the straight backstrap as most 5906’s I have seen (including my own) have the curved.

That's not the backstrap, it's just the grips. You can change those out and have straight or curved.

Now I will have to get mine out of the safe and hit the range again.

I had one of my 5946s (round trigger guard) and my CS9D at the range today. They are fantastic guns. It's interesting to shoot those side-by-side because the 5946 has S&W's half-cock DAO system while the CS9D has a traditional DAO with second strike capability. I actually had to use that functionality today when a round failed to go off in the CS9D.

All the 3rd gen Smiths are nice.

Beautiful Smith!

I too am a fan of the 3rd Gen DAO SW's, I owned two, a 3954 (bluee version) and 6946(stainless), I was very accurate with those great triggers in those guns.

3G S&W are the bomb! I have a 5906 TSW and it shoots like a dream.

I hate trying to clean the gunk out of all the little places S&W built into these guns, but its worth the trouble when I shoot it.

Congrats on a great find.

RMD

Glad you found that! It looks happier now that you have it a good home.

Recently picked up a 4054. Made in September 1991. Only 154 made. Shoots like a typical 3rd Gen Smith.
Owned a CS9 many years ago but sold it.

PC

Cables is out of them now.

Just in case my Cabela's doesn't have any 3rd Gen S&W autos in stainless tomorrow, I gave my circa 1994 Model 915 some TLC today.

Very nice pics! I just noticed the 5946 frame is cut to be able to reverse the magazine catch, so I did. Although I'm right handed I prefer to use my trigger finger. Curiously the CHP gun is not cut that way but the CSP one, which is older, is. I guess S&W couldn't make up their minds

Beautiful gun....made in my hometown.

Sweet! Enjoy it!

Nice find. I have 3 third gen Smiths. They are great pistols but it sucks that they no longer service them.

I took my 5946 to the USPSA match today. The match is on the first Saturday of the month.

Today is the second Saturday of the month... sheeyit.... still a good gun.