Third Gen. S&W Pistols with AIP serial number prefix

redshooter

redshooter

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I recently acquired a S&W 5904 with an AIP serial # prefix. I contacted S&W today and was told it was manufactured in September 1988. This is before the actual start of production of Third Gen. Pistols which according to pretty much every source is 1989. This makes sense as the AIP prefix relates to the Automatic Improvement Program, and these guns are considered pre-production and may differ from production guns. I've been able to find out very little about these guns other than they are very limited in numbers. I was planning on using this gun for CQB, and training with the IPSC shooters at my club, but I don't want to beat the crap out of it if it's a rare item. Does anyone know anything about these guns?
 
First, second & third generation pistols, aka, 39's, 59's, 639's, 659's, 5906's, 3913's, all are prohibited class firearms. So, only 12(6) class PAL holders can buy & sell them. Plus these pistols are all > 1946 made so they are not 12(7) eligible.

The rare & desirable guns in these 3 series are the 3913LS & 3914LS guns. Beat the crap out of your 5904. Really.
 
hatman1793 said:
First, second & third generation pistols, aka, 39's, 59's, 639's, 659's, 5906's, 3913's, all are prohibited class firearms. So, only 12(6) class PAL holders can buy & sell them. Plus these pistols are all > 1946 made so they are not 12(7) eligible.

The rare & desirable guns in these 3 series are the 3913LS & 3914LS guns. Beat the crap out of your 5904. Really.
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I'm aware of their status, I've had a few 1st/2nd gen S&W Autos.

An AIP prefix gun may not be desirable here in Canada, but from what I can find out about them is that the total number of AIP prefix guns is pretty low, maybe as high as a few thousand (that's for all AIP prefix guns). The prefix covers models 3904, 3906, 4506, 5904, 5906, and 6906. All were pre-production guns. There doesn't seem to be much information about them, but according to the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson AIP prefix 5904's may have been made in very small numbers.
 
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redshooter said:
...AIP prefix 5904's may have been made in very small numbers.
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Is it possible you're equating "rare" with "desireable" and/or "collectable"? IME, these are two very distinct concepts in the collector world. Search the internet for another rare handgun: a 3" barreled Colt Python, and you will see what I mean. Standard 5904's are a dime a dozen on Gunbroker. Though the "AIP" prefix may be rare, perhaps the demand for them is also so?
 
I hear you, in this case it looks like AIP prefix guns are potentially one of a kind as they aren't homogeneous. Mine is not, but it looks like there is only a few thousand in total across six models. Until I can find out the actual production figures I'll treat it like it's one of one hundred.
 
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I doubt if it means much to anyone. Someone was just selling a S&W 4014 (a blued 4013) for like $400 and there were only 500 of those made.
 
I'm not sure what some of you think is on my mind. I'm not looking for a pay day. All I was after was a good serviceable pistol that fits my existing gear, and I've ended up with something odd. Forgive me if I want to take a bit of time and do some research. I'm aware of the declining value of 12(6) guns...believe me I've sold more than a few. I'm also aware that most of us don't know #### (me included) about what is and isn't collectable. Also just because something sells cheap doesn't mean it couldn't have fetched much more money, regardless I'm not looking for cash, I'm looking for information...got any to add?
 
Thanks for posting, redshooter. I just checked, and I've got an AIP prefix 5906. I didn't know about its history prior to this.

Let us know what else you dig up!
 
Here's a reply from snw 19 357, a moderator on the Smith & Wesson Forum

The AIP prefix 3rd gen pistols were the preproduction prototype pistols from the Automatic Improvement Program. They are not transitional pistols, made up of 2nd and 3rd gen parts but are the pistols they made/worked on before the 3rd gens were announced. Even though they were made before the 3rd gens were released, some weren't assembled and most weren't added to their inventory or shipped until after the other 3rd gens were released. Don't know how many frames may have been destroyed in testing, if all the numbers were used consecutively, or how many were made in each model but have seen frames numbered well over AIP3000.
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