Thanks for all the info in this thread. I just picked up a new-in-box Mdl 4566 for $450. Made in 2006. Pristine - never shot (except for proofing at the factory).

What strikes me about this pistol is 1) how heavy it is; 2) how intricate and busy the machining and assembly must have been; 3) how robust it appears to be; but 4) how certain parts appear less than robust (e.g., the side plate, that little fork on the trigger bar, etc.).

I don't know what it's value would be if it were marketed today - it would depend on demand. Based on the intricacy, I think the cost would be higher than a SIG or an H&K, which scare me away and make me think about the cost vs value you get compared to a M&P, a Glock, a Ruger, etc.

I think there might be a market for a 3d Gen pistol, but I'm not sure what niche S&W would be aiming for - that doesn't already have a competitor in it, offering at lower cost.

Oh, I've expressed my desire to see some limited 3rd gen guns brought back, and some further changes while they're at it. I'd like to see an all-stainless 3913, which would probably be a 3916, I suppose. No accessory rail, either.

How about a scandium 3913TSW, while they're at it? Might as well maximize the strength of the alloy frame and wring the maximum inherent accuracy out of it by using the box-type rails and the slightly delayed unlocking.

The CS9 & CS45 need to come back around, again, too. Unless they've a rabbit up their sleeve in the form or a slimmer, really short single column 9 & .45 in the M&P lineup, there isn't anything being offered that "replaces" them.

How about another 4506 (I think a 4506-3 variation is the most current they made in limited numbers for LAPD officers), or a 4503? Might as well make it a 5" gun, and try an alloy frame in the 5" version to lighten things up a bit. If I had to carrya 3rd gen S&W .45 again, and I had a choice between a 4.25" 4566TSW or a 4503, I'd opt for the lightweight 5" model to gain the longer barrel and yet a lighter gun than the original 4506. Then again, might as well up the cost of materials and make it a Scandium aluminum frame, while we're at it ...

Maybe if they ran the standard TSW "tapes" for some PC releases (not as tightly toleranced as the PC versions, and lacking the spherical bushing, limited in short production runs and obviously pricier, of course ... but everyone here wouldn't balk at springing for a NIB 3rd gen TSW for $1200-$1500, right?

Personally, I'd not like to see them bring back the lesser refined & less well finished budget models (the Value Line, and then the American Heritage line for a short time). Might as well make it worth the effort, since it's really only the enthusiasts that would probably buy them, anyway.

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

I also have a 4566 I bought in 1996 (when I lived in Illinois). Sent it out to Novak's for night sights and a "tune up" around 1998. I personally would never give it up. My guess is that you could get good money if it's in good condition. My 4566 now rides in my car - an advantage of living in Texas versus my birth state of Illinois!

I don't think you'd find many people willing to pay that for a 3rd Gen S&W. JMO, but they'd have to be comparable to Sigs to be competitive. ($800 - $1000 range)

Having used both 3rd gen TSW's & Sig's, and having been trained as an armorer for both, I'd consider the current TSW's to be equivalent to a good quality Sig classic pistol. (Especially now that they've been offering their integral machined frame accessory rails to their LE customers for a few years. The riveted rails could break, or at least work themselves loose upon occasion.)

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Ret LE Firearms inst & armorer

I would pay whatever they were asking for a 4506 with an integral rail and all the other TSW upgrades, especially the loaded chamber witness hole. You know, I'm notbthe only one that would. Matter of fact, I would probably shell out for more than one. This kind of reminds me of Colt all over again. Customers are asking for it, telling a company that they will pay just about any price for it, but yet they still aren't producing it.

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Un-Reconstructed Southerner

I'm just going to keep hoping for some factory spillover that makes it to a distributor. Crazier things have happened. Like already said, S&W is making 1911's after how long???

I agree. In my above post, I didn't mean quality wise, but price. My issued 4566TSW was as well built as any pistol on the market. What I meant however, was that for new 4566's to sell well, the price would have to be kept under $1k, IMO. (comparable to Sig's)

Just my two cents of course.

I don't see a market for the 3rd generation pistols, besides perhaps the .45 caliber metal frame compacts and full size models. Ninety percent of new shooters will compare such a gun to a Glock and immediately choose the Austrian pistol due to its light weight and 'pedigree', such as it is.

Sig has a specialized niche in that it is capitalizing on its German name and history, but most of its lineup save for two models are metal framed. Whether it is a good thing or not the marketplace wants light , polymer frame high capacity pistols with double action only striker fired triggers.As such one day even Sig's offerings will become an irrelevant luxury;why spend $800 on a heavy, low capacity gun with two trigger pulls when you can have a lightweight high capacity gun at a $200 savings?

S&W is doing the wise thing marketing the M&P, and should continue in that direction. 90% of shooters would write off a 3rd generation pistol as a heavy anachronism and move on, which is a satisfactory condition. Those of us who know better choose differently.

am looking for a IDPA compliant belt holster for stainless 4566 with pinned on rail perferably kydex, have found several custom makers but they want my gun, not sure I trust anyone that much, let alone an internet holster maker.

We should encourage those beliefs so as to keep the prices on used 3rd gen guns low. More for us!

I do not know if the rail makes a difference or not, but here's a kydex holster for my 4566. Its a Blackhawk rig made for a Taurus 24/7 but it retains a 4566 rather well.

Fastbolt,I'd like to see them ALL come back. It's definetely time for a change for the better.

I've owned a 4506 that was an absolute tack driver,but would love to have a 4566 in even the plain "untactical" version.It would probably be the last pistol I would buy.

THANKS, helpful

I'm bringing this thread back from the dead since I'm going to write an article about the WVSP 4566.

As of 1st Qtr 2018, WVSP adopted the Gen 5 Glock 17.

“The WV State Police has always prided itself in providing the best available equipment to its members and that is why we have chosen Glock,” Lt. Robert Perry said in a statement.

Miami_JBT, I work at the West Virginia State Museum. Currently, we have an exhibit up for the 100th anniversary of the WVSP. We have nearly every historic and commemorative weapon, uniform, and various history of the WVSP in our possession. PM me, I'd like to ask and answer a few questions.

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Heavily armed old man.

And what he didn't say should have been the last sentence.
" providing the best available equipment to its members as long as they're the lowest bidder "

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2 Cor 5:17
John3:16

Lowest RESPONSIVE bidder. Meaning the one that meets the specifications and has the lowest price.

Not the one providing the BEST product and meeting the lowest price.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

Dang. You had my hopes up this was a new turn of events... Until I opened it and finally noticed the date, after reading a few posts.

Wyman

Wow... bringing back the dead from the grave .. thanks for the Like 18 ...

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Jack C

And now you're down to your four years!