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  4. Smith & Wesson Keeps Hinting on Bringing Back Stainless Wondernines

For the second time in three months, Smith & Wesson has been dropping photos of classic third-generation "Wondernines" in its social media feed without much context. 

In May, the company calmly dropped this grenade, which soon resulted in over 2,000 comments. 
 

(Photo: S&W) 


Then came this little gift last Friday afternoon.

Another S&W 5906, with no explanation. 
 

(Photo: S&W) 


Again, it gained an almost immediate 2,300 comments. 

A sampling: 

  • "Are you bringing the metal guns back? You absolutely should. A new classic version of the 39 and 59 would be awesome."
  • "All these hammer fired autos were some of the best ever made. It's about time Smith, Ruger and other quality manufactures to start producing them again..."
  • "Doesn't get much better than the metal S&W semi-autos of yester-year. Would love to see a Classic series run of them again sometime. Ideally with the full classic lines, no rails or optics cuts, etc."
  • "The 5900, 4500 series need reintroduced under the Classic Line with a slide mounted decock only."
  • "You build it, I’ll buy a 9mm and .45 ACP."
     

Who cares?


Why all this excitement for a gun that was replaced in the catalog by the polymer-framed M&P9 over 20 years ago? 

The S&W 5906, produced from 1989 through 1999 in its standard model and until 2004 in its railed TSW variant, was a well-liked double-stack DA/SA 9mm with a stainless-steel frame and slide. An alloy-framed half-brother, the S&W 5903, had a similar run. 

The 5906 was the peak of S&W's Wondernine evolution, benefiting from over 75 years of development of the platform, as well as the feedback (and warranty returns) from thousands of users going back to the old Model 39 and the Army's circa 1948-1954 X100 pistol program. 


Related: S&W Model 5904 – 1988 All-Metal ‘Wondernine’ Still Shines

 

Smith Wesson 5906
The 5906 runs a 4-inch barrel, giving it an overall length of 7.5 inches. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
Smith Wesson 5906
It runs 15-round double-stack magazines that are still common and easy to find. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)
Smith Wesson 5906
Being all stainless steel, it is a bit heavy at about 36 ounces unloaded, but that didn't stop it from being an icon. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)

 

In other words, it was about as perfect as Smith could make it for a duty-grade, all-stainless DA/SA double-stack 9mm. They are balanced, dependable, and shoot well, making them a good companion to similar all-metal, hammer-fired guns of the era, such as the CZ 75, Beretta 92, and SIG P226 – but all American. A 9mm muscle car, if you will. 

Please, S&W, mess around with our feelings here. Bring back the 5906. Maybe even with an optics-ready option.

Get on that. SHOT '26 is only five months away. 

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