We often attribute quality to a higher price, for some reason.When choosing the right holster for your Smith Wesson, rely on quality that is proven by years and craftsmanship that has its work speaking for itself. The lower price tag probably hurt them a bit as well. It looks as though gun writers jumped all over the Europistols starting in the late 80's, giving them high marks and praise, and sort of ignored the Smiths. It seems to me that Smith suffered from the influx of the Euro pistols like Beretta and Sig.
As noted, I also like the manual of arms on the 3rd gens. I like the feel of the 3rd gens, more so than the Glocks. I can only conclude they're not going to make them anymore. Their new catalog has a smaller number of third-gens listed, not even mentioning the CS autos at all. That is indeed a shame, because it's a quality weapon that's pretty affordable. It's just that I can see a time in the near future where Smith moves away from the third-gens altogether. Not that it hasn't spawned some pretty nice weapons. Everybody turns out a lemon now and again, and I know other people swear by them, but I won't mess with a Sigma anymore because of that incident.Īlso, their customer service has been phenomenal.Ĭall me a Luddite, or whatever, but I am personally lamenting the plastic fantastic rage that's gripped the handgun industry. There's a little pin just above the trigger that runs across the pistol that broke loose and backed out the first time I shot the gun. The only S&W product I've had trouble with is a Sigma 40VE. I really like da/sa with a safety, and these fit the bill nicely. I've made it my mission to collect as many as I can afford. I am a fan of the 3rd gens, to say the least. Not quite pocket sized, but small enough to discreetly carry. I put the 45 tactical side by side with a Kimber Custom TLE and the Smith put out tighter groups that day. The two tacticals outshot anything else I've ever messed with. I think the S&W TDA pistols are not as well appreciated, valued and respected as their performance deserves.ģ913 Tactical (The one before the stupid rail)Ĥ513 Tactical (Also without the stupid rail)ĬS45 (one in stainless, and one blued, traded the blued). I've attended half a dozen S&W factory armorer classes for their various pistol models over the years and have helped maintained approx 500-odd pistols.
I've found the S&W '3rd generation' pistols to be reliable, durable and reasonably accurate for service and off-duty weapons. I simply like the slightly smaller compact S&W pistols. I carried an issued 5903 as an off-duty weapon for a number of years until I finally selected an issued 6906 for use in a plainclothes assignment. although I'd prefer the 6906, 3913 or CS9 for my own off-duty usage.
If your poll had included a 5903/06 I would've selected it. 45 ACP, I don't personally care for the S&W Double Action Only models. The limited pistol models and ammunition pairing didn't create any choices for which I would personally spend my own money.Īlso, although I've carried one or another traditional double action S&W pistol as an issued weapon since 1990, and own several TDA models in 9mm.