There is a growing roar for Smith & Wesson to bring back the 3rd generation of metal-framed pistols, with a particular interest in the classic 5906 series. The classic non-railed versions were discontinued back in 1999, with the railed versions discontinued back in 2004. So after 20 years, why are people constantly yelling at the Smith & Wesson marketing team online to bring back the classic metal-framed line of handguns? Are we remembering them with rose colored glasses when they were a disaster? Let's take a closer look at why people love the Smith & Wesson 5906 handguns. Classic Styling What we have to remember is that the 3rd generation of handguns from Smith & Wesson were from the Model 39 all the way back in the 1950s with a single-stack magazine. While I’d love to do a deeper dive into the Model 39 and then 59, this article will spiral out of control in length, so I'll stick to the surface-level history for your time's sake. While some incredible versions and historically significant handguns were developed on the Model 39 and 59, it was really building toward one of the most significant shifts for police departments in the late 1980s and especially in the 1990s. These handguns were full metal construction, making them incredibly durable under heavy abuse and giving them a unique classic look with the stainless finish and black polymer grips. It was one of the more aesthetically beautiful pistols to most people, just like the Beretta 92 was and it became an action movie staple. Whether it was the squared or round trigger variant, the 5906 had the classic DA/SA look that was truly different from other options out there. Combining its looks with the overwhelming success with large police agencies like the New York Police Department, Los Angeles Police Department and Chicago Police Department, this handgun served as a stepping stone between the classic revolver era of police forces and the more modern polymer-framed Glocks or Smith & Wesson M&P line of handguns that dominate today. The 5906 and other variants were the natural progression to more modern striker-fired handguns and defined a generation of law enforcement officers and shooters transitioning from older-style revolvers to the wonder 9s that eventually became the polymer pistols so common today. Culture in the 90s Like many things that become a generational icon, the 3rd generation of Smith & Wesson pistols were no exception, with a number of classic movies and TV Shows putting them front and center as a charismatic handgun for main characters. Whether it was Vic Mackie in The Shield, Denzel Washington in Training Day or even the cast of Reservoir Dogs all using them and even the Miami Vice crew rocking the iconic stainless finish with black grips, the gun was a staple in the 1990s. The reason I personally wanted a 3rd generation Smith & Wesson was Danny Glover's character in Lethal Weapon 3, where he carries a classic Smith Model 19 he had since the first movie, but also carried a square trigger guard 5906, which I thought was truly action hero energy. When I saw a perfect square trigger 5906, I had to pick it up and that was my first experience with them! I also snagged a round trigger guard 5946, which is a double-action-only configuration with no decocker or manual safety. There were multiple variants with a decocker only, DA/SA safety decocker and double action only. There were also black variants or stainless steel, depending on the model. If you're curious about the number designation, there are countless articles online I would highly recommend if you want to check them out and learn what numbers equal what model. When it comes to movie presence, though, there was an overwhelming amount of stainless guns on the silver screen, with very few being the regular black variants. Why People Want It NowPeople say if you wait long enough, almost anything can become collectable and these guns are experiencing a resurgence unlike anything else we've seen in recent memory in the gun community. Other iconic firearms like the Colt 1911 or Beretta 92 FS have been made constantly, as well as received new versions that improve on the original concept. The 3rd generation Smith & Wessons have been out of production for 22 years now and the only ones that are available are second-hand or police trade-ins. While you can certainly find a police trade-in, these iconic handguns are sometimes difficult to find in good condition because people just loved them and shot them heavily in most cases. You can certainly still find quality police trade-in models. My 5946 was a police trade-in, most likely from New York City, which adds to the overall cool level of this pistol to me. You can still find 5906s for $300-400 at the time of this article at places like Aim Surplus and other surplus dealers, with nice examples going for around $550-600 with the resurgence of popularity. Besides the scarcity of good examples, the iconic films and culture from the 1990s are certainly a draw for new shooters. The factory guns were far from perfect, with heavy triggers and some were known to be finicky with certain ammo, but the vast majority of models were known to be bulletproof tanks. Overall Thoughts While the 3rd generation Smith & Wessons have been out of production for over 20 years now, people have started a battle cry to Smith & Wesson to bring back the all-metal-framed handguns with little success so far. The next best thing is for people to pick up nicely preserved used models, which is driving up prices of all models on the market. If you have wanted one of these handguns, it's important to grab one sooner rather than later since prices have steadily increased over the last 4-5 years with no end to the increase in the near future. Let me know if you have one of these handguns and what you think about them in the comments below. If you have questions about the 5906 or firearms in general, feel free to shoot me a message on Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there and we will see you in the next one. If this post has you ready to hit the range, head over to gunranges.com - a free directory to help you find shooting ranges near you, wherever you are in the United States.