1. One of the most popular concealed carry handguns ever made, Smith & Wesson’s line of Shield pistols has been steadily improving since its inception in 2012. Smith introduced the Shield M2.0 along with the new-shooter-friendly Shield EZ in 2018, and last month the company rolled out new models of both lines.
2. Smith & Wesson Model 65 This stainless steel Smith & Wesson was brought onto the market in the 1980’s as a law enforcement firearm, but it quickly became a popular choice for the private citizen who wanted a concealable.357 Magnum revolver. The Model 65 we acquired for this test came with a 3-inch heavy barrel, which was the shortest available.

Today, Smith & Wesson is mostly known for revolvers and their growing line of M&P pistols. Despite the rapidly growing popularity of these polymer-framed striker fired semi-auto pistols, there’s also a lot of buzz around the former metal-framed S&W pistols that were discontinued a few years ago.

Mec-Gar Smith & Wesson 910, 915, 459 & 5900 Series 9MM 10 Round Magazine $31.15 $26.95 Mecgar Smith & Wesson 910, 915, 459 & 5900 Series 9MM 10 Round Nickel Magazine.

Prices on the used market for the so-called 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation S&W pistols are still affordable, but have been rapidly rising over the past couple of years. These pistols are usually tough, reliable, and excellent shooters. If you happen to run across one for a good price, now would be a great time to snatch it up.

The trouble with that plan is the absurdly confusing system that S&W used to assign the model numbers for these pistols. Today, their M&P pistols follow a pretty logical formula. I carry a M&P9c — a compact 9mm. Makes sense, right? Well, the 3rd Gen equivalent of that pistol is the 6904. But if it was made before the late 80’s, it would be the 2nd Gen version — the 469. And the single stack version would be the 3914, which is virtually identical to the 908. Confused yet?

Unless you’ve committed these models to memory, looking at the numbers stamped on the slide of an old S&W pistol in the case at a gun shop or an online ad doesn’t really tell you much. Even if you ask Google for some help, you might have to wade through a multi-page forum thread to get a straight answer.

Well, believe it or not, there is some logic to the old S&W numbering system, it’s just not particularly intuitive. So we whipped together this S&W semi-auto model number quick reference chart to make it a little easier for you the next time you misplace your S&W decoder ring.

Our chart covers most of the regular production models for the discontinued Smiths chambered in major service calibers. There are a few less common ones out there, but these are the pistols you’re most likely to run across today. Even with the chart, there might be a few confusing details about the numbering system, so keep reading for a little background info on each “generation” of S&W autos.

1st Gen Pistols

The first S&W semi-automatic chambered in a service caliber was the Model 39, which first saw the light of day in 1954. The aluminum alloy-framed 9mm pistol had an 8-shot single-stack magazine, a 4-inch barrel and a traditional double action/single action trigger with a slide-mounted safety/decocker, similar to what many people are familiar with from the Beretta 92 series. The Model 39 was developed as a potential replacement for the U.S. Army’s M1911A1. The Army declined to adopt the Model 39, but the pistol was a commercial success, and was even used by a few police departments as one of the very first semi-autos carried by American law enforcement.

In the early 1970s, S&W released a version of the 39 that used a double-stack 14-round magazine dubbed the Model 59. Together, the 39 and 59 are considered the “first generation” of S&W semi-autos. All of the following S&W 2nd and 3rd generation 9mm pistols are essentially derivatives of these two and in many cases, their model number provides some clue to that origin.

2nd Gen Pistols

In the late 1970s the S&W models 439 and 459 were released, which are considered the first of the second generation pistols. These were basically the 39 and 59 with a few small changes and the number “4” added to the begining of the model number. Steel framed versions of these pistols followed, available with either a stainless, blued, or nickel finish. Blued and nickel model numbers start with “5” (539, 559) and the stainless steel models start with “6” (639, 659).

In the mid 1980s, S&W released two alloy-framed compact versions of the 59 series; the 469 (blued or nickel finish) and 669 (stainless finish). Establishing the form factor that the third gen compacts would follow, these pistols had a 3.5-inch barrel and 12-round magazine.

Around this same time, S&W also began producing their first .45 ACP pistol — the model 645. This was a large frame, single stack pistol with an 8-round magazine, 5-inch barrel, and DA/SA with slide-mounted safety/decocker just like the 9mm pistols. There is one variant of the second gen .45 pistol — the single action only model 745, which was a special limited run intended for IPSC competition shooters.

I hope you caught all that because here’s where it gets complicated…

3rd Gen Pistols

The third generation of S&W pistols started hitting the market in the late 80s. They can be easily spotted by their four-digit model numbers. S&W continued the numbering trend they had started on the 9mm pistols — the 3900 series are full size and compact single stack pistols, the 5900 series are double stacks, and the 6900 series are compact double stacks.

Third gen pistols in other calibers are much easier to remember. The 4500 series is for .45 ACP, 4000 series for .40 S&W, and 1000 series for 10mm.

So, looking at the first two digits of a four-digit model number from a 3rd gen pistol, we can know the caliber, and if it’s a 9mm, we might also know the frame size. The rest of the info we’d need is in the second half of the model number.

The third digit indicates one of nine possible combinations of action type and frame size. Most S&W autos are DA/SA, but not all. Some are double action only (DAO), and a few were even made with a slide-mounted decocking lever and no external safety (similar to what you’d find on a Sig P220 series pistol). Each model series has a frame size and barrel length that is “standard” for that series, which we’ve listed on the chart. The third digit will tell you if a given model is the standard size, mid-size, or compact.

The final digit in the model number indicates the frame material and finish. Frames are either steel or aluminum alloy and the finish is either blued/black (sometimes with a nickel plating), or stainless/silver.

Exceptions

Smith And Wesson Model 915

What makes this complex system frustrating to follow is that there are multiple exceptions to the product “codes”. Some are pretty easy to figure out like the “value” series pistols. These were budget versions of the third gen pistols that lack some of the finishing touches of the standard models and have a three-digit model number. The first two digits reflect the caliber (9, 40, or 45).

Smith And Wesson 915 Holster

The Chief’s Special pistols are also easy to spot, like the one in the header image of this post. They are single stack, sub-compact variants with a “CS” pre-fix and they’re some of the most sought-after 3rd gen pistols on the used market. There’s one model each chambered in 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45ACP called the CS9, CS40, and CS45 respectively.

Besides these obvious exceptions, there are a few sneaky model numbers that look normal but don’t follow the numbering trends. For instance, the 6906 should really be the 6903 — a “6” for the final digit normally means stainless steel, but the 6906 is an alloy framed pistol with a silver stainless finish.

The compact .40 S&W pistols can also be confusing. Most are double stack, but a few single stack versions were made. The model 4040PD in particular breaks multiple model numbering “rules” and seems to have been given its name arbitrarily.

Letter suffixes are another detail to watch for. A couple of letters tacked to the end of the model name might mean something minor like a new finish, but they can also indicate major changes like the “TSW” (Tactical Smith & Wesson) series of pistols which indicate the addition of features like improved sights and accessory rails. Sometimes, the TSW pistols were built with a completely different frame size and barrel length than the standard model.

Some of the oddball model names come from pistols developed by S&W’s in-house custom shop, the Performance Center. To keep things simple (relatively speaking, anyway) we didn’t include these and other obscure models in our chart. If you want more detailed information on any of these models, I highly recommend picking up the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson which was a huge help in verifying the info for the chart.

Hopefully, the next time you’re trying to track down a deal on an old Smith, this info will help your search go a little quicker. If we’ve missed anything important, or if you spot any errors in the chart, let me know and I’ll try to correct it ASAP. If you guys like this one, be sure to tell us in the comments and maybe we’ll tackle S&W revolvers in the next one!

2018-12-11

At any given moment there are firearms on the market that are conspicuously undervalued. Sometimes this is due to supply, as when an importer brings in a fresh boatload of some surplus model and they are literally everywhere at bargain prices until suddenly they are all gone and the price spikes. Other times a certain model is simply in a “down” cycle while we shooters chase some other hot trend leaving little demand for a classic this or that. These invariably turn into the shooters’ classic reminiscence: “Remember when the Colt/Smith/Ruger ABC’s were everywhere for only XYZ dollars!? I wish I had bought one then!” If you step back and look broadly at the market you can sometimes spot these buying opportunities before the market adjusts and prices a steal accordingly. This is one of those occasions.

N-Frame (The .44, or large frame) Smith & Wesson revolvers were always a premium product. The classic big-bore wheelguns hit a spell where they were bargain priced about a decade ago but have been ticking higher year more than a year for a while now. Never produced in massive numbers, collectors and the rising generation of shooters routinely outbid each other on good condition specimens of the post-war Ns. That is, with one conspicuous exception: The Highway Patrolman (later Model 28) .357 Magnum.

Smith And Wesson Model 915 Manual Transfer Kit

Introduced in 1954, the Highway Patrolman was Smith’s bid to capture more market share with law enforcement by cutting largely cosmetic costs to their existing, and premium quality, .357 Mag. (later designated the Model 27). The Highway Patrolman received a more utilitarian vice, high-gloss blue, and eschewed the extensive checkering down the top strap and barrel rib. Mechanically and internally there is no difference between the two models, although the 27 was offered in more barrel lengths than the four- and six-inch choices of the Highway Patrolman. At the time these changes led to a modest price decrease and the Highway Patrolman was quite popular. Today, however, the price difference can be dramatic. In equal condition, a Highway Patrolman can usually be found for half (often less) than a similar vintage Pre 27.

This situation has led me to the point where my armory is starting to look like a rescue shelter for homeless Model 28s. Here are five reasons to save your lunch money and get a Highway Patrolman while the “‘getting is good.”

1. The Highway Patrolman is the Muscle Car Wheelgun. One look at that large frame, sharply tapered barrel with its high rib and ramped sight and you know the era it came from. Firearms are both influenced by and ultimately become a part of the aesthetic of an era. The Highway Patrolman looks as 1950s as a ’57 Chevy Bel Air.

2.History. The Highway Patrolman was very popular with law enforcement and particularly so with the state troopers and highway patrols of sundry states. A Model 28 you pick up today stands a decent chance of having served and protected in a past life, or it may just be a perfect facsimile of the many thousands that did. I particularly enjoy shooting old service weapons as a hands-on history experience and the big Smith is a window into another time.

3. Performance. Every Model 28 I have fired has been a performer. The old pieces are exceptionally accurate with both .38 Specials and .357s. The long-barreled one in the photos fired an honest one-inch group from a barricade at 25 yards with Black Hills 158 gr. jacketed hollow points and its siblings will routinely pile wadcutters into nearly an inch. I’d offer that the Highway Patrolman was the closest thing to a laser beam ever issued out on a large scale. The magnum velocity and trajectory, target sights, and stereotypically excellent triggers allow hitting to stretch out beyond traditional limitations.

I recently walked the six inch Patrolman out to 80 yards from a Defense Targets Ready Ship Target, which is similar (if slightly smaller than) the vital zone of many law enforcement silhouettes. From a barricade, the Smith put five right where I intended, and four of those had the splatter marks nearly touching in a 3.7″ group. Eight-inch steel plates at 40 or 50 yards are easy money with the shorter barrel.

The large frame is matched well to the recoil level of the cartridge and the Model 28 soaks up full-house .357 “whap” without punishing the shooter. The classic wheelgun allows full control of current self-defense or duty-oriented .357 loads, which tend to have mid weight projectiles for caliber and are driven to less than maximum velocity. Dropping .38 Specials in the cylinder takes recoil down to an almost laughably negligible level. Running Magtech 158 gr. Specials I was able to clear the plate rack on one smoking run that was a beat or two faster than my typical compact striker fired 9 mm times.

4. Quality. Something interesting happened as our world changed. The dull finish of the Highway Patrolman is no longer quite so dull, looking comparable and perhaps superior to most of the satin blue that is offered on contemporary firearms. Of course, the dull blue bears no comparison to the outrageous polished high lustre blueing of the upscale N frames of the era, but it looks custom compared to the spray-on, bake-on standard finishes of our time.

The casehardened hammer and trigger look downright high-end in our currently polymer world. There is a smoothness and gentle precision in cocking the old Smiths that reaffirms that a craftsman fitted the connecting parts by hand and the ensuing years have worn the parts into a well honed union.

5. Value. When one looks closely at the care and hand work that went into building the classic high-polish N frames and imagine what it would cost to replicate that today, it is not hard to see their current valuation. The Highway Patrolman in most cases skirts the bidding wars, trading mostly among folks who appreciate the model for its performance and value rather than its modest collectibility. This and the greater production numbers of the 28 series create a situation where a seriously high quality and great shooting classic can be found for less than the cost of a new Glock. A new Smith & Wesson N frame .357 will run hundreds of dollars more and will have distinct differences from the vintage elder.

It is possible that a few years from now “Golden Era” N frames become passe and lose all value, but it is highly unlikely; quality and era-specific arms seem to always have a market. I would imagine that the prices will continue on a gentle rise—the 28s are undervalued as is. There may be no rush to get a Highway Patrolman, but I suspect that whenever you do, you will be glad you did.

Don't forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.