For a long time I have lusted after three of four different guns, my Grail guns so to speak. They are, in no particular order; The Bren Ten, S&W 4506-1, S&W 1006 and my all time Grail Gun, the Smith and Wesson 945. I don't really know why these guns speak to me the way they do, all I know is they haunt my dreams and fill me with the nostalgia of 80's and 90's actions films when I see them. They have been elusive to me but I recently was able to obtain one, The Smith and Wesson 1006. I was in the market for a 10mm and was looking at a few options when this Bad Boy popped up on the EE. It was fate, it had to be. I pulled the trigger, lied to my wife about the price and then set up a tent next to my mail box while clicking refresh on my Canada post app playing the waiting game.
But enough about my sad obsession.
The 1006 is a all stainless 10mm pistol with a DA/SA trigger, a slide mounted safety/decocker and is fed from a single column 9 round detachable box magazine.
I have some experience with 3rd get Smiths, particularly the 5906 with a god awful DAO trigger. When this pistol arrived, my first thought was "well this is BIG" and it is. Most of the pistols in my safe are modern PFSF pistols which are all substantially smaller. But when I picked it up it didn't feel big, the grip is very slim, slimmer than my 1911 with magpul grips. It has a 5" barrel and balances very nicely in the hand. The slide is buttery smooth and has a very minimal amount of play in its fit to the frame. The slide is topped with a 3 dot sight variety, the front post has a larger dot than the rear dots. I like this as I usually find 3 dot or figure 8 arrangements distracting. My preferred sight arrangement is a tritium front (with a colored ring like the trijicon HD's) and a black serrated rear. The rear sight on my example is the fully adjustable type with the stainless "ears".
The DA trigger pull is quite long but very smooth with a nice clean break. I find it is quite easy to stage the trigger rapidly with out going past the breaking point. Those of you who have shot a lot of DA revolvers would appreciate this. The SA pull has a minimal amount of take up but breaks cleanly. The trigger reset is short and tactile. Over all I am pleased with the trigger.
Now on to the controls, the decocker/safety lever is reachable with the thumb without breaking grip but unless you have giant #### beaters, there is no way one can reach the slide release with out breaking grip. I will be using my weak hand when reloading as I am not a fan of the "power stroke" or "sling shot". The magazine release can be reached with a slight break of the grip and is not really an issue.
My example came with 2 magazines ****** IF ANY ONE HAS SOME THEY WOULD LIKE TO PART WITH, DROP ME A PM****** The magazines hold 9 rounds each and have witness holes numbered 2-9 one each side. They feature white followers, although I have seen some mags with yellow followers. I will be buying up what ever mags / mag parts I can get my hands on as I usually like to have 10ish mags per pistol in my inventory and 2 is a far cry from that. "An auto pistol is only as good as the mag that feeds it" I heard that some where once, maybe, I dunno...
These mags also feature two raised tabs, one on each side between the 8 and 9 holes, these tabs index with channels cut into the magwell. I guess this is so you don't put your 1006 mags in your 4006 or your 4506?
Disassembly is quite simple, very 1911-esque with out any of the barrel bushing nonsense. Reassembly is simple but requires pressing down some of the components near the hammer so the slide may travel all the way back.
Over all I am quite impressed with this pistol. The phrase "they don't make em like this any more" comes to mind. I truly wish the Smith and Wesson continued their 3rd Gen pistol line up when they introduced the M&P polymer line like Sig Sauer did.
I will update this thread with a range report one I get to feed this beast.
This overview was inspired by Master G and his excellent threads showcasing some the examples from his collection.
Please share your pics and thoughts of 3rd Gen Smith and Wesson's.
And now, on to the pics...
But enough about my sad obsession.
The 1006 is a all stainless 10mm pistol with a DA/SA trigger, a slide mounted safety/decocker and is fed from a single column 9 round detachable box magazine.
I have some experience with 3rd get Smiths, particularly the 5906 with a god awful DAO trigger. When this pistol arrived, my first thought was "well this is BIG" and it is. Most of the pistols in my safe are modern PFSF pistols which are all substantially smaller. But when I picked it up it didn't feel big, the grip is very slim, slimmer than my 1911 with magpul grips. It has a 5" barrel and balances very nicely in the hand. The slide is buttery smooth and has a very minimal amount of play in its fit to the frame. The slide is topped with a 3 dot sight variety, the front post has a larger dot than the rear dots. I like this as I usually find 3 dot or figure 8 arrangements distracting. My preferred sight arrangement is a tritium front (with a colored ring like the trijicon HD's) and a black serrated rear. The rear sight on my example is the fully adjustable type with the stainless "ears".
The DA trigger pull is quite long but very smooth with a nice clean break. I find it is quite easy to stage the trigger rapidly with out going past the breaking point. Those of you who have shot a lot of DA revolvers would appreciate this. The SA pull has a minimal amount of take up but breaks cleanly. The trigger reset is short and tactile. Over all I am pleased with the trigger.
Now on to the controls, the decocker/safety lever is reachable with the thumb without breaking grip but unless you have giant #### beaters, there is no way one can reach the slide release with out breaking grip. I will be using my weak hand when reloading as I am not a fan of the "power stroke" or "sling shot". The magazine release can be reached with a slight break of the grip and is not really an issue.
My example came with 2 magazines ****** IF ANY ONE HAS SOME THEY WOULD LIKE TO PART WITH, DROP ME A PM****** The magazines hold 9 rounds each and have witness holes numbered 2-9 one each side. They feature white followers, although I have seen some mags with yellow followers. I will be buying up what ever mags / mag parts I can get my hands on as I usually like to have 10ish mags per pistol in my inventory and 2 is a far cry from that. "An auto pistol is only as good as the mag that feeds it" I heard that some where once, maybe, I dunno...
These mags also feature two raised tabs, one on each side between the 8 and 9 holes, these tabs index with channels cut into the magwell. I guess this is so you don't put your 1006 mags in your 4006 or your 4506?
Disassembly is quite simple, very 1911-esque with out any of the barrel bushing nonsense. Reassembly is simple but requires pressing down some of the components near the hammer so the slide may travel all the way back.
Over all I am quite impressed with this pistol. The phrase "they don't make em like this any more" comes to mind. I truly wish the Smith and Wesson continued their 3rd Gen pistol line up when they introduced the M&P polymer line like Sig Sauer did.
I will update this thread with a range report one I get to feed this beast.
This overview was inspired by Master G and his excellent threads showcasing some the examples from his collection.
Please share your pics and thoughts of 3rd Gen Smith and Wesson's.
And now, on to the pics...







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