I thought you might be interested in seeing a very early Model 645. This gun was purchased new by me in January, 1987, so it was probably made in 1986. The 645 was the very first commercial S&W semiauto chambered for the .45 ACP, and was made famous by actor Don Johnson as Sonny Crocket in the TV series Miami Vice. This was a state-of-the-art .45 auto pistol at the time I bought it. It has been unfailingly reliable, and will even hand-feed empty cases. As a stainless steel pistol, it was big and heavy, but a joy to shoot. I favor the Federal Hydra-Shok 230-grain defense loads, which are shown in the photo. They don't make S&W pistols like this any more, and that's a pity.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

Thanks for the picture. That was indeed a milestone gun. I remember lusting after one, but I was too late and they had started making the 4506. I managed to get a 4506, but didn't know what I had and sold it.

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Freedom isn't free.

Love those early mags. I have an early 645 as well, built like a tank, shoots like a dream. It is fired, but unfired, which is a story for another day...

John, nice pic. Keep it up, and I'll have to start looking for another 45. (I think Rastoff needs to start his search tomorrow.) TACC1

I bought this one new about the same time as you got yours...

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"Shall not be infringed"

Mine has Pachmayrs like Blak Sheep's.

A long time ago I put high profile adjustable Millet sights on it. I had the 'smith silver solder a Millet front sight on.

Very reliable gun. Has never failed to feed or eject. The only problem I've had was sometimes in double action the trigger doesn't engage the hammer and pulls all the way back without doing anything.

You are probably right.

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Freedom isn't free.

Nice 645's!!

I had been shopping for one without much luck, but today came across a 4505 locally. If it turns out as nice in-person as it is described...

...I guess I will still be looking for a 645, but while carrying a 4505.

I feel the same about mine ..... TAT29xx.
J.Solo

Here's a picture of my 645, which I purchased new in March of 1987, while stationed in West Germany. It's a bit on the unique side, as it has the additional West German import stamps on the frame/slide and barrel (purchased at the post Rod & Gun Club). The original grips are safely tucked away, and it's been wearing the Pachmayr grips since shortly after I bought it. Mine has a TAR18## serial number.

Thanks to forum member CALREB and a kind gunsmith at S&W, I'll have mine 'whole' in a few weeks!

669 042.jpg

I bought my 645 from a guy walking around a gun show with it. I was sitting at a table filling out a 4473 on another gun just bought from a dealer when he passed by and I asked about it. We made trade (cash for gun) and I got it and two of the early mags. I have since aquired several more mags and an "IPSC" marked 745 to keep it company and share mags. Now I just need an 845 and I will be happy. It is easily one of my favorite guns.

I want one so bad.

I keep missing the few the show up out here in Cali.

where was that place located in germany? The reason why I'm asking is because it might be the very place my german mother met my father back in the 60's as she was working at a rod and gun club of some sort there when she met him.

and also if its not too much trouble could you post some shots of the german proofmarks, I'm kinda curious of how a 645 would look with them.

Here is a later one TAU94XX.I read some place they have a recall on the 645 mags,

Dick

I thought this one was first, then the Model 645, and then the Model 4506. Just kidding. This gives me a chance to post this on the forum

I have one Model 645 that has been customized. I got this when they first came out. Great gun(s).

Model 39 you wouldnt happen to have a more modern photo of your custom 645 there would you and what kind of finish does it have on it and do they still make it?

and this is the first I've heard of a recal for the 645 mags, maybe they were talking about with the buttplates as takjr mentioned that when the gun was in a hip holster the bottom of the mags would cut into the leather of the patrol car seats.

hence why for the most part people are using the 4506 mags in them which dont have any sharp edges on the buttplates of the mag.

The mdl.645 mags. with the plastic buttplates are the ones on the recall list. The metal buttplates are not on the recall list.
Dick

The custom Model 645 has a matte black teflon finish. The mag bases were trimmed to fit flush on the grip frame. The extra slide is from a Model 4516 which was specially fitted to the Model 645 frame. I have had this gun over two decades. I'm sure somebody still offers the special finish. My guy is long since retired. I will have to take different new pictures and post them. Thank you for the interest.

I have two 645 Magazines with the plastic buttplates.
Why are they on recall and how do I go about exchanging them?

Thanks - J.Solo

thanks and I look forward to seeing a new photo of that gun.

M39,
I have a 645 modified just like yours, mine is still SS finish. Wayne Novak did mine, who did yours?
Great gun, will never wear out.

I bought my first Model 645 s/n TAK2138 from the first batch the Salt Lake City S&W distributor received, on January 2, 1986. The magazines had stainless steel sheet metal floorplates that, when you did a hard mag insert, with your mag hand slapping the mag into place with the palm of the hand, and then quickly moved the support hand forward and then down, to join the off hand over the strong hand, sometimes the floorplate's cut and swaged tab was unable to retain the floorplate in place. The floorplate slid forward, off of the magazine bottom, which then would lead to the mag spring, mag follower and any cartridges in that magazine, being enthusiastically ejected out of the bottom of the mag and gun. Not desired performance, especially in a big-time match!

There was another problem involving the sheet metal magazine followers and the magazine safety/disconnect. Upon discovery of both flaws, S&W issued a recall for the first few hundred 645 pistols.

I got the recall notice mailed to my house (I always filled out and mailed in the warranty cards.). S&W wanted me to return the pistol at their expense. I replied that mine was working fine and that, as a police officer I was not allowed to carry the new .45 by my department regulations, and so my 645 was probably going to be a range toy. I said I was still interested in having the new parts sent out, and if my original parts appeared to cause problems, I would have my local S&W warranty station install the new parts.

Surprisingly, S&W agreed to do this and mailed me four new magazine followers, four new springs, and a few other bits I can't now recall. They are still around here somewhere in S&W's little clear plastic bag.

I never had any problems with the 645 malfunctioning, so never used the parts; they are around here somewhere.

My new .45 ran flawlessly. The big, brawny pistol cycled perfectly, and the heavy, robust stainless steel construction and many sharp edges and corners combined to make a highly effective cudgel of the pistol should cudgle become a better option in a particular moment than shooting, with the corrosion resistant stainless steel keeping cosmetic values high.

I used my M-645 as my house gun after myself and friend Dennis Tueller spent an afternoon feeding the pistol every single cartridge loading of .45 ACP we could access, mostly factory but also many handloads. We fired over 1,600 rounds through the gun in a single afternoon with only one failure; one of my handloads done on my progressive Hornaday outfit had smashed the replacement primer into the primer pocket sideways. The pistol just flat worked.

Good pistols, that lead to a diverse family of likewise excellent huckers of 230 grain punkin balls. Good pistols indeed.

I bought one in 1987 along with a used 469 in the box at a little gun shop in Clarksville TN when I was with the 101 kept them both till the early 90s after I got out of military and went back to school.Sold them to my brother with the caveat that I could by them back ,but he sold them not even a year later.Still have reciept for them 700.00 for both no tax or anything.

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The Lord cometh and right soon

My Model 645 was done by a company called Final Option Enterprises. The company is long out of business. I had this done a long time ago. The finish was done by another company in Texas after the gun was customized, as I wanted a truly unique look similar to the Model 39 ASPS that I own. I know that company is out of business too.

Here are more recent pictures of my custom Model 645. The presentation case was made for me last year by another forum member who I can't remember (I'm sorry). He did a great job for me. I didn't bother to show the extra 4516 slide with it. I have also replaced the factory grips with finely checkered Rosewood grips, which give a better grip surface. Again, please excuse my poor photography skills.

Ok, I am not an expert in metalurgy, but I wasn't aware you could blue stainless steel? I thought only carbon steel was capable of being blued. Can someone clue me in here?

I'll have to get a picture of mine but it is just like the rest of these (stainless) but has adjustable rear sights. I still have the original box, cleaning kit, wrapping paper etc. I got it from my dad about 15 years and he had never taken it out of the box. I think I have about 200 rounds through it. Like someone else said, it is built like a tank!

The finish on the Model 645 is a black teflon finish, not a standard blue finish. The gun after it was customized, was sand blasted then the teflon was applied. This particular finish is as tough as nails. If I remember correctly it cost me about $225 with both slides and 7 magazines to be done back then.

Here is my 645 with adjustable sights. It is a I think it is an 1988 vintage.

Thanks.

My 645 has a serial #of TAK1220. Could anyone provide a "birthday" for it?

I bought the first 645 to show up in our area. I didn't like the trigger, and sent it to Novak's, where they converted it to single action, changed the sights and safety.
The result is basically an all-stainless version of the 745. Like everyone says, 100% reliable. I have even run 250gr SWCs through it without problems.

thanks again for taking the time out to take some new photos of your gun for posting here, its a beaute and very unique.

so you based this sort of off of the ASP then huh? (if I'm getting the acronymn right?)

I have 2 Model 39 ASPS which are black teflon coated. They look very good, and when I heard I could get the same type of finish applied to my Model 645, I did. The custom design on the Model 645 is not similar to the ASP, just the finish. Pictured below is one of my ASPS tp show the finish.

I got TAK1473. Hi Cuz!

ah I see, actually if I remember correctly that was the gun that James Garner (if I got his name right) had bond cary past the Browning 1903 in the continuation books in the 80's

so how well does that gutter sight work on it and have you ever thought of maybe trying this kind of modification with a 669 double stack?

Most of the TAK-prefix 645's were made in 1985, and were the first production run for the pistol.

what of the ones made past that? say 87 - 88 before the 645 transitional model came out?

and was the 86 run TAS by any chance? as the serial on Crockett's 645 for S3 is TAS7586

The sight takes a little while to get use to. I wouldn't try it on any other gun. I have a Model 669 and a Model 6906 and the factory sights are just fine. Both my ASPS are retired. Thanks for the interest.

I bought one when they first came out but ended up selling it. I picked this one up last year. I haven't seen many with wood grips.

Attached Images

645 wood grips.jpg (54.4 KB, 206 views)

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Pray for Gridlock

Mine has wings! (adj. sights)

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Memory of Randy Freas-Rimfired

One of my all time favorite Smith pistols!

I traded my shop teacher in high school, hard to believe in this day and age, a Ruger 10/22 and $150.00 for one NIB back in 1989. Of course being young and dumb, I sold it about a year later.

I would love to come across another!

I had the IPSC two tone single action 745 version but foolishly sold it to a friend for $250.
Recently saw a SS 645 at a pawn shop for $450 and it was a temptation but I sold off all my 45 acp handguns a few years back.

Seeing these makes me want to jump back in.

Gents,

I remember the 645 when she first came out. If I recall from the depths of my foggy memory, Guns an Ammo had one on the cover of the magazine in 1985. It was against a black background if I recall.

When I was a Police Explorer in the late 80's, many of the Sheriff's Deputies carried them. They all liked them. If I'm correct, the ONLY two DA pistols chambered for the .45 were the 645 and the Browning BDA (later SIG P220).

It took me many years to fully realize the excellence of the S&W 3rd Gens. When I was visiting one of the few guns shops near Camp Pendleton, I spied my future 645 in the used gun case. None of the patrons knew what it was, other than it wasn't a polymer-framed pistol.

Upon closer examination, I found it was a 1988-vintage 645 (it was next to a mint 639) with import markings. German and Belgian. It may be a PX pistol from Mons?

At any rate, I brought it home after a 1-1/2 month stay for the lay-away (unbeknownst to 'Mama Bear') to be paid. When I got it home, she was given a bath in the sink with HOT H20 and Dial Anti-Bacterial soap. Her flats were revived with some 2400 grit sandpaper.

She'll be headed to Karl Sokol at Chestnut Mountain Sports for a re-fitting. I will replace the hammer and trigger with a new (4006 CHP) trigger and a used 6906 bobbed hammer. The parts will stay with me. It'll also have his 'high grip' modification. I purchased a NIB set of the S&W Nylon 645 grips and sent them off to ROBAR for stippling.

When finished, the 645 will be 'modernized' and will sport a soft bead blast with a Novak front Tritium sight dovetailed into the slide. I fitted one of my Ed Brown extended slide safeties to her. The 5-minute operation does much to increase the speed of taking the gun off-safe.

Compared next to my 4566s, the 645 is BIG, but the slide/frame are a little more 'svelte' than those of her older brothers. I consider it a DA 1911. GREAT GUNS!

As I recall there was a recall (no pun intended) on 645 mags with metal followers. The replacements for mine were orange plastic followers. It had nothing to do with the butt plate in my case. I carried one as soon as they were approved for my PD and put my Model 25-5 on the shelf. I also didn't like the trigger, especially the long double action pull, but then again I didn't buy the thing for target shooting.

John, do you have any problems feeding the TC ammo? I am having problems with my 645 and 200 gr. Montana Gold TC bullet. It sets the bullet back into the case quite a bit as it chambers. I have put a good crimp on them and the COAL is good. They feed fine in my buddy's Glock 45. Any thoughts or suggestions?

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Kurt

I'm not familiar with the particular bullet you are using. The 230-grain HydraShok is a form of truncated cone bullet, and it feeds with no problem at all. As I said, I can even feed empty cases in this gun - probably due to the ramped barrel. I would suggest that you polish the feed ramp, the point where it meets the chamber, and the chamber itself. This is an old reliability trick I've used on many pistols. I'd use Flitz, and get that ramp to a mirror finish. You can use your finger on a Flitz-smeared cloth on the ramp, and a tight patch in and out of the chamber. The 645 shouldn't need much help; I'm surprised that any bullet would not feed well, even SWCs designed for revolvers. Let me know how the polishing works out for you.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I know I'm late on posting this but my 645 is within about 100 numbers of yours. TAR 19XX.