4506 gets a few more "adjustments"

[BMCM]

I had a MIM spurless hammer and trigger installed in here as sort of a placeholder. What I really wanted on this pistol was some nice carbon steel goodies.

Well I managed to get hold of a couple NOS flash chrome spurless hammers

I figured I'll pop the hood this afternoon and check off a few items on the 'to do' list.

First order of business... set the new hammer up on the jig for a light stone & polish on the relief.


Then freehand stone & polish the rough area on the raduis above the relief so we have a nice smooth DA pull.


Pin the stirrup and a smear of Brownells action lube...


And in it goes along with that NOS 645 trigger I got hold of


The original guidrod was a bit crusty, flange a bit loose and not quite straight so..... I made a new one from a piece of hardened Project 70+ rod.


Here's what the business end looks like now.


Stuck some new Trijicon SA02 sights on there.


And... were done.

I wonder what the reasoning was behind narrowing the trigger design from gen2 to gen 3. I really like that wide gen2 trigger here. No sharp edges and nicely radiused everywhere my finger makes contact. I think it greatly improves the trigger feel.

I recognize some folks have some strong opinions about the first triggerguard and the factory adjustable sight but, as far as I'm concerned that right there is, in my opinion, the perfect 4506. Well, perfect for me of course Maybe some day I'll strip her down for a re-finish and perhaps a decocker mod but I'm in no hurry, I like her fine just as is and she ain't goin' anywhere anytime soon

Cheers
Bill

[gunhobbit]

Ah luvs me some messin' with those 3Gen hammer swaps.....

It was actually pretty easy once I got the hang of it - and the right tools.

[bill2000]

Real nice work. The trigger guard is screaming to be rounded off though.

[BAM-BAM]

Originally Posted by bill2000

Real nice work. The trigger guard is screaming to be rounded off though.

Ditto.......just continue the stippling to the checkering.

[BMCM]

Originally Posted by bill2000

The trigger guard is screaming to be rounded off though.

Nope... I like the 1st trigger guard just fine... Actually I prefer it. If I wanted a gun with the third trigger guard I'd have bought one. There's plenty of 'em out there. Instead it took me a few years to finally score one of these transitional guns in this exact configuration.

Cheers
Bill

[JohnHL]

Originally Posted by BMCM

I wonder what the reasoning was behind narrowing the trigger design from gen2 to gen 3. I really like that wide gen2 trigger here. No sharp edges and nicely radiused everywhere my finger makes contact. I think it greatly improves the trigger feel.

Cheers
Bill

I'm glad you asked that question.

(Nice work and write up, BTW. Although in your case it almost goes without saying...)

As one who followed the odyssey of the S&W metal framed, center fire, semi-automatic pistols through three generations (courtesy of the gun writers of the period), I recall the discussions concerning the transition of the wide trigger of the first and second generation pistols to the narrow trigger of the third.

At the time, the general consensus regarding the two trigger widths was that the wider trigger was favored by shooters who press with the tip pad of the trigger finger as opposed to those shooters who hooked the trigger with the first joint of the trigger finger and who consequently favored the narrow trigger.

Also, the wide trigger was preferred by those doing single action target work while the narrow trigger was a favorite of double action shooters.

A harbinger of things to come?

Not unlike the hooked versus round trigger guard, changes in the popularity of shooting styles was the initial reason for the change.

Both schools of thought have had adherents but unfortunately (much like the round versus hooked trigger guard debate) the practical reasons have devolved over time into a disagreement over aesthetics.

I have both styles of triggers in my collection and actually do prefer the wider trigger for SA target shooting, although these days, I have been trying to broaden my horizons and have been focusing on DAO shooting.

That particular journey has me convinced that (for me) the curved grip combined with the narrow trigger is the "cat's pajamas" when it comes to DAO pistol craft.

Keep up the great work!

John