Nowadays every service pistol seems to be some derivative of the Glock 17. Polymer framed striker fired pistols dominate the duty market and for good reason. They are light, reliable, and high capacity. However, not that long ago steel pistols reigned supreme. Back in the 1980’s and 1990’s law enforcement was transitioning from revolvers. Service pistols were durable hammer fired affairs, and a popular choice was the S&W 5946.
History
Smith and Wesson is one of the first companies to manufacture handguns back in the 1800’s. In 1954 they released their first autoloader, the Model 39. A series of minor improvements eventually lead to the release of the Model 5906 in 1989. A double action only version soon followed in 1990.
During the 1980’s and 1990’s law enforcement was replacing their aging service revolvers similar to the S&W 686. The thought at the time was that a semi-automatic pistol could increase capacity while maintaining weight. Popular thinking at the time was that the heavy double action trigger of a revolver helped to avoid negligent discharges. As such, many agencies were looking for a pistol with a similar trigger.
The S&W 5946 saw use with many police agencies, the most notable of which are the LAPD, Chicago Police Department, NYPD, and the RCMP. However, around the turn of the century police agencies realized that they could have the same capacity in a much lighter pistol. Designs like the Sig Sauer P226 and Glock 17 used lighter frame materials to give a slimmer trigger. Coupled with high production costs, this lead to the decision for S&W to discontinue their third generation autoloaders in 1999.
Specifications
The S&W 5946 is a boat anchor, weighing just over 38 ounces unloaded with a 4 inch barrel. It is a double stack, double action pistol with 15 round magazines. Controls are in the traditional places for North American pistols, with a slide release and a thumb magazine release located on the left hand side of the gun. There is no manual safety. The S&W 5946 features a magazine disconnect safety. Personally I dislike magazine disconnects, but the original intent was to provide an officer the ability to disable the pistol in a struggle by dropping the magazine.
Like most pistols of the era, the 5946 is made entirely of steel. The operating system is the classic Browning style tilting barrel design utilizing the short-recoil operating principle. Oddly, the 5946 comes standard with night sights. This is strangely forward thinking for an antiquated design. However, nowadays it is largely redundant as the sights will have long since gone dim anyhow.
Strengths
Despite its age, the S&W 5946 does have its strengths. First of all, it is nearly as reliable as modern polymer framed 9mm. Under normal use conditions the pistol will run both FMJ and aggressive hollow points without a hiccup. There were some failures to go into battery after several hundred rounds of military surplus 9mm from the 60’s. However, under normal conditions, the S&W 5946 is worthy of confidence.
Also, the 5946 has very low recoil for a service pistol. 9mm is a reasonably mild cartridge to begin with. Add the 38 ounce weight and the 5946 is quite soft shooting. This can help to stay on target during faster strings.
Finally, the 5946 has a very simple manual of arms. The double action only trigger and the lack of manual safety make the gun as point and shoot as possible. While this is not a concern for most enthusiast, it is a benefit when training a large number of people.
Weaknesses
Having been discontinued in 1999, the 5946 obviously shows its age. Probably the most glaring deficiency is the trigger. The trigger is smooth, but it is heavy even for a double action trigger. The 12 pound double trigger is heavy enough that it can make it challenging to shoot quickly. This effectively negates the benefits of the softer recoil.
In addition, the S&W 5946 is very heavy. Weight is almost double many comparable capacity polymer framed pistols. This translates to more weight on your belt making it more difficult to carry. Even aluminium framed pistols offer a much better balance of weight and shootability.
Finally, the 5946 has next to no aftermarket support. It has been years since Smith and Wesson has manufactured replacement parts and the third generation autoloaders are slowly fading into obscurity. Safariland is the only company making a holster for them that I am aware of.
Competitors
The full-sized duty market is full of many possible competitors. four double action only fanatics the Sig Sauer P226 with the DAK trigger is a lighter option with a better trigger. The standard P226, the Beretta 92, and the CZ 75 all offer equal or better capacity with nice DA/SA triggers. In my opinion all of these offerings are better choices for service pistols than the S&W 5946.
For all around duty options, there are many polymer framed striker fired options available. The most popular among these are the Glock 17, Sig Sauer P320, and the S&W M&P 2.0. These guns offer lighter weight, higher capacity, better triggers, compatibility with a light, and better reliability.
Closing Thoughts
In closing, the S&W 5946 is a quality made firearm but is growing a little long in the tooth. It is no longer appropriate for serving in a front line role. However, for the collector they offer an interesting look into the evolution of police sidearms. The S&W 5946 is a fascinating example of the transition from revolvers to polymer framed sidearms. While no longer practical, the 5946 continues to be a interesting piece of firearms history.