How does the first gen trigger stack up against a third generation?

I know the S&W third generation carries a lot of clout but I don't like the 3906's trigger. Does the first generation feel much better due to the lack of magazine disconnect and firing pin safety?

The 3906 I shot had a mushy DA trigger and a lot of take up on SA.

I'd be possibly interested in a cheap 59, but the prices on them are creeping towards M&Ps..

A 3906 would probably be harder to find than a 39 or 59.  They only made them for three years.  

I found the later 3rd gen pistols with MIM triggers had better trigger pulls.

Sorry for the confusion. I've shot a 3906 and did not like it. I'm trying to compare it to a 59 to see if I might like it.

Top left m59, third row far right m3906.
The 59 has a smoother trigger, but that's just due to age/use.
The 3906 has a better reset, but both are lights out shooters.

I own all three generations.   I find no significant difference in triggers.

The 59 has a magazine disconnect.

Removing it doesn't change the trigger pull at all.

In my limited experience the first gen 59 has a slightly smoother pull than a third gen 915.  Very slightly.

I own a model 39, a 439 and a 3906 (I like the single stacks). The 39 has the best trigger, followed by the 3906.

I’ve also owned several 3913 pistols and at least one 3953. I could never shoot the compact models well. They always shot low for me. I know it’s operator error, but i never could control them consistently.

I don’t care for the double stack S&W pistols. They are too fat for me.

The first gen guns have a mag disconnect safety. The triggers are excellent though.

All three generations have mag disconnects.

I'd say the triggers are very similar.  Not great but not bad.

I'd go for a 6906 personally, but that's just me. Let's talk about what you want, OP.

5906 is pretty good and it's a straight shooter. Everyone I've known who's had a 5906 has said that the trigger is great. Even my neighbor, who hates the 5906 (and other metal-framed S&W semi-autos) as a whole, said the trigger was amazing for him.

As another poster here has said, the 3906 is pretty rare and was only manufactured for three years. As far as I know, the only metal-framed S&W semi-auto that's rarer than the 3906 is the 5905. Therefore, I'd get the 5906 because you're likely to find one in good condition for less.

Unless you're a very serious collector of older S&W semi-autos, the 3906 isn't really going to matter at all.