4506 magazine question

[RalphK22]

I picked up a S&W magazine that was stated to be for a 4506, it fits and seems to function fine, however it has a notch on both sides for the mag release. None of my other mags have this. It has an orange follower and a metal base plate. I assume this is for a reversible or ambidextrous mag release. What model?

[TTSH]

Originally Posted by RalphK22

I picked up a S&W magazine that was stated to be for a 4506, it fits and seems to function fine, however it has a notch on both sides for the mag release. None of my other mags have this. It has an orange follower and a metal base plate. I assume this is for a reversible or ambidextrous mag release. What model?

Sounds like a Model 645 magazine.

[RalphK22]

But that does not have a mag. catch cut out on the left side, but that is what it looks like.

[TTSH]

Originally Posted by RalphK22

But that does not have a mag. catch cut out on the left side.

Ahhh.... no. Not the ones I've seen.

[RalphK22]

Here you go, what is this?

[TTSH]

Originally Posted by RalphK22

Here you go, what is this?

Quite a mystery. Is it a factory cut for sure? Does it match the cut on the other side exactly?

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ETA: Just pulled my own Model 645 out of the safe. Standard single-cut, metal-base, 645 magazines with black followers. No help at all.

[Sevens]

That absolutely looks like a 645 magazine from the one angle we can see, but the other side catch hole would be odd.

Does the bottom of the metal floorplate have the " S&W " on it?

[RalphK22]

It certainly seems to be factory cut and yes it is dead on in line with the right hand cut. There are no markings other than the numbers and it appeared to have had a rubber pad on the base at one time. It looks exactly like a 645 mag I have except for the orange follower vs metal and of course, the left hand cut out.

Are any 2nd or 3rd gen S&Ws made to switch the mag release from left to right? 745 maybe?

[RalphK22]

Originally Posted by Sevens

That absolutely looks like a 645 magazine from the one angle we can see, but the other side catch hole would be odd.

Does the bottom of the metal floorplate have the " S&W " on it?

I do not recall my 645 mag having a S&W on the base, but I would have to look at it to be sure.

[TTSH]

Found another one that apparently came with an LAPD Model 4566...



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ETA: After a little more research, I'm gonna go out on a limb here and speculate that you got hold of a police contract 4500-series magazine from a department that ordered their pistols mag release reversible for lefties. That's my story and I'm sticking to it until someone comes up with a better story.

[RalphK22]

Originally Posted by TTSH

Found another one that apparently came with an LAPD Model 4566...



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ETA: After a little more research, I'm gonna go out on a limb here and speculate that you got hold of a police contract 4500-series magazine from a department that ordered their pistols mag release reversible for lefties. That's my story and I'm sticking to it until someone comes up with a better story.

That sounds like a very plausible explanation.I am glad you came across that picture, I was coming up dry on my Google searches.

I must correct myself and say that the magazine in question looks identical to the magazines that came with my 4506 no dash, with the exception of the metal base plate, and not the 645 magazine which does not have the "button" release base.

[RalphK22]

Originally Posted by Sevens

That absolutely looks like a 645 magazine from the one angle we can see, but the other side catch hole would be odd.

Does the bottom of the metal floorplate have the " S&W " on it?

OK , I must correct myself again an say that both of the mags with the metal plates are stamped 45 AUTO S&W.

[Sevens]

laughing at that picture...
That pistol was quite late in the life of 3rd Gens and the magazine is from the 1980's. They fit and work but they are separated by a couple decades of production if not more.

[TTSH]

Originally Posted by Sevens

laughing at that picture...
That pistol was quite late in the life of 3rd Gens and the magazine is from the 1980's. They fit and work but they are separated by a couple decades of production if not more.

I date the LAPD magazine at between 1988-1989 and possibly earlier. That is an earliest generation full-size 4500-series magazine or a late generation 645/745 magazine best as I can tell... like the ones that were recalled in December 1989. The orange follower magazine was replaced with a yellow follower magazine shortly thereafter.

Model 4566 production ran from 1991 to 1999, more or less. I can't date the LAPD 4566 because the serial number sequence appears to be special, but black MIM parts (trigger & hammer) are clearly visible. I'm guessing around 1994 or later for the 4566?

Conclusion: That magazine and that pistol probably weren't delivered to the LAPD on the same day.

[03Fatboy]

I have a couple guns that were previously LAPD owned. I'm going to check out the mags. Not that it matters to me but for fun with those that..........

[03Fatboy]

Okay, I checked the inventory. I have none with indents on both sides out of a dozen or more full size 45xx mags.

Now, out of the dozen or so of 10xx mags I have, all have the indent on both sides.

[85V65Sabre]

I found 4 of them in my stash.
I can't help with info on what model they originally came with.
Edit: I just found 3 more in the safe identical to the 3 on the right in the pic.