Pictures of my new 645

Center Villian · #1 10-23-2009, 02:21 PM

Here she is with the home made wood grips. They don't look too bad , but they are not factory. Thanks for all the info on factory grips. I did find some and I am waiting for them to arrive in the mail. She's a good shooter and the frame to slide fit is pretty tight. There are 1 or 2 minor little scratches on the frame and slide, but I would rate her 97%. The serial # is TBE88XX. Does anyone know what year model that would be?

Thanks
Sammy

3rd Gen Neal · #2 10-23-2009, 03:47 PM

Congrads Villian. And I'm glad you found some orig grips. I have some really pretty wood ones for mine, but there's something about the originals that complete the look of the gun. I don't want to turn your thread into "which S-W .45 is best" but to me the 645 was S-W's best .45, they really hit a homerun w-it.

Center Villian · #3 10-23-2009, 03:54 PM

Is there any thing I can do about this screw. I would like to find a hex screw to replace it with. I feel like this would still be 645 correct, but better looking. I might even consider a modern ambi safety if it would fit. Any thoughts?

Sammy

Nframe357 · #4 10-23-2009, 09:58 PM

Congrats! I also agree about the 645, I had one and let it go in a moment of weakness, since replaced by a pair of 4506's. But i'd still love to have a 645, enjoy it!

625smith · #5 10-23-2009, 10:24 PM

The SCSW dates your 645 at 1987. I like my 645 here is a pic.

Retired in 2001 · #6 10-23-2009, 10:36 PM

That Phillip screw gotta go.
That thing is built like a TANK

BSkerj · #7 10-23-2009, 11:04 PM

I lucked out on mine...I usually only shoot wheel guns and ran across a 645 LNIB from my local gun pusher. He told me there was none better IHO and he knew the previous owner who only ran a box of shells through it. (Previous owner decided he wanted a semi-auto .22 instead so they traded). I bought it on a whim and never regretted it....I now feel guilty because I love shooting it so much..some of my wheel guns are feeling left out !

flagman1776 · #8 11-07-2009, 11:57 PM

I bought mine as a personal weapon from Dept armorer... made great duty weapon & better qualification scores. Not as slick as a 39 but still smooth.
Mine has factory wood grips & RR / WO fixed sights... mine came to me with ambi-safety (perhaps added by previous owner as he had access to the parts)...
It's one of those keepers.
Russ

Superflywimpy · #9 11-08-2009, 02:07 AM

The 645 is a great pistol to shoot and will chamber anything, Use mothers mag polish and it will really shine like new. Any scratches in the slide as long as they are not too deep can be buffed out with jewelers polish and a dremel with a buffing wheel and the polish it to remove oxidation. I Love mine and will never part with it. Make sure you lock tight that hammer drop lever on the right side or it will shoot loose and fall off. Hard to find old smith parts.

dogsoldier · #10 11-08-2009, 09:12 AM

Re: the right side safety screw: IIRC you can replace it with a 3rd Generation safety assembly and do away with the screw altogether.

BTW...anyone recall HOW the 645 'came to be'? It was an interesting story......

TSQUARED · #11 11-08-2009, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dogsoldier

Re: the right side safety screw: IIRC you can replace it with a 3rd Generation safety assembly and do away with the screw altogether.

BTW...anyone recall HOW the 645 'came to be'? It was an interesting story......

Is that an easy replacement or a factory job? I appreciate the reliability of the 645 but had to put some loctite on the Phillips head screw since it loosened once during use.

dogsoldier · #12 11-08-2009, 09:58 AM

I believe it's an easy swap. Why not post a question in the 'Gunsmithing' section? I loved my 1987-era 645. I hunted Florida hogs with it using a 255 LSWC and .45 Auto Rim load data. Good luck!

Gary1911A1 · #13 11-08-2009, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dogsoldier

Re: the right side safety screw: IIRC you can replace it with a 3rd Generation safety assembly and do away with the screw altogether.

BTW...anyone recall HOW the 645 'came to be'? It was an interesting story......

If I have, I've forgotten it so please relate the story.

Center Villian · #14 11-08-2009, 02:01 PM

Thanks to everyone for the advice on the safety. I have decided to keep my 645 all original. I just put the loctite on it and I feel like it will do the job. I too would like to hear the story about how this gun came about as it has become one of my favorites.

Sammy

Retired in 2001 · #15 11-08-2009, 08:35 PM

That screw is butt ugly on a sweet looking pistol

3rd Gen Neal · #16 11-08-2009, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retired in 2001

That screw is butt ugly on a sweet looking pistol

They really are. At some point they were using hex head polished stainless ones, looked a lot better. That little trick of using the common philips screw to hold the lever on is just almost funny, such a band-aid fix...shame on you S-W for that one!

dogsoldier · #17 11-14-2009, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary1911A1

If I have, I've forgotten it so please relate the story.

In the mid-80s, S&W's exhibition shooter (???) was BIG into IPSC. He had S&W's 'smiths assemble a .45 auto by cutting and welding (2) S&W M659 frames together. The rest is 'history'.