First off, I am a S&W revolver fan from way back and own several I,J,K and N frames. I enjoy learning about them, shooting them, and am always on the lookout for more. I can hold my own in a conversation on S&W revolvers without looking like too much of an idiot, but I have entered into a whole new area, S&W semi autos. I am now at square one again and needing to learn about a whole new line of S&W handguns. Those of you who eat drink and sleep S&W semis please get me started.

What I have: S&W 4506 serial no. TDD09XX Adjustable sights. Very good condition, with 2 mags, tools, SAT, box and papers. $429 out the door this morning at a local gun show

I am sure that was a no brainer buy. What can you all tell me about this handsome firearm? I assume from my very limited knowledge this is a 3rd generation model.
Thanks

I would say that price is a steal - unless there is something wrong with it!! First thing is to verify that the trigger doesn't "flop" - it should always have enough spring pressure on it to make it stay in place. If it is loose - then it needs a new trigger play spring. I have handled two in the last couple of years (one from GB - which I returned) that have had a floppy trigger. Magazines are getting trickier to find - but they show up on Classifieds here on occasion. As long as it's broken in - which I assume yours is - it should feed empty brass from the magazine. I have never encountered a feeding problem with a 3rd Gen auto - 4506, 4516, 5906 or 6906. It's a keeper - especially at that price!!

Thanks GeoJelly, I assume you mean there is no "flop" in the trigger when the hammer is not cocked? No flop at al. lThe gun seems in excellent operating condition to my uneducated eye.
As luck would have it I was given a 4506 mag with a yellow follower a year or so ago by a friend who found it while cleaning out a house.Having this mag meant I just had to find a gun for it. Ha Ha! So with the 2 mags that came with the gun I now have 3, a good start I think.

Congrats on the 4506! Fine 45!

The 4506 followed the 2nd generation 645 and preceded the later 4506-1 which shared frames with the 10XX series guns. The 645 was the first DA/SA pistol made by S&W. It was a great pistol.

But the 4506 no dash, which is what you have, benefitted from over 28 modifications to the 645 by Wayne Novak. The passage of time has dulled my recollection of what all those modifications entailed, but I can tell you they involved the sights, barrel, grip frame, trigger and a general upgrade of form and function. Your 4506 is a 3rd generation gun. And an early example devoid of MIM parts.

The 4506 no dash is thinner and lighter than the later 4506-1. But it is just as strong, accurate and reliable. A former member here who now posts on another board ran 28,000 rounds through his 4506 no dash. Including a few thousand 45+p and a few hundred 45 Super. With no ill affects. He did keep his 4506 cleaned and lubed and he did change his recoil spring every 3000 rounds and used a +20% recoil spring to run the 45 Super,IIRC.

You got a fine, relible, accurate 45 that looks good doing all that. Enjoy it! Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

Since "18" is our resident expert on all things 4506 I can't add much except around my parts with everything you got with yours it would be at least a $600 gun all day every day...you can also look for a straight back strap grip that will almost give it the feel of a 1911

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A bent/broken trigger play spring will cause a noticeable click when the trigger is pulled in single action (only). It does not affect function but is annoying. It is a common issue in the 45XX line of S&Ws.

Nice one there. Here's a demo of mine eating empty brass.

Will It Cycle? - S&W 4506-1 - YouTube

The 4506 is my favorite 45 ACP firearm. Some consider it the most fun gun to shoot in my collection. I will not be voluntarily parting from mine. I think it is a better firearm than the 1911, although 1911'a are good too of course and have the history. The 4506 is one of the few handguns heavy enough to use as a club if you run out of ammo. It is a nice gun and you are right at that price it is a no brainer. SCSW 4th Edition says it is a traditional double action , 5" barrel, 8 shot magazine , stainless steel slide and frame with stainless steel finish, post with white dot front sight, Novak Lo-Mount fixed sights or adjustable rear sights with two white dots, straight backstrap with wrap araound grips or Xenoy one piece wrap around grip with curved backstrap. 260" serrated hammer, 304"smooth trigger, side mounted ambidextrous safety. 41 ounces. Great gun, good buy. Take care of it and enjoy it.

..........a shameless pic of more 4506 goodness......my best pawn shop find...........

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Thank you all for tour replies, I enjoyed reading all of your comments. I have not had a chance to shot it yet, but I did field strip it and found it to be extremely clean and showing little wear.

When the hammer is cocked there is a slight front and back play in the trigger (about 1/4 of an inch) Is this what was referred to as "flop"? There is no "click" however, when the trigger is pulled. Is this 1/4 inch play in spec? should I concern myself with it? I can't say I would normally notice it.

It is an impressive piece of craftsmanship at any rate and now I will be watching for more of it's kind, perhaps a 5906 or 4006 or by a long shot a 1006, which I am sure would be out of my price range.

I would say that what you describe is 100% normal and expected. If/when you experience the dreaded "click", you will feel resistance in the single action trigger pull and then it will push through (click) and then you can pull further and discharge the handgun.

Typically... you will only let the trigger out until it resets -- and you will not feel the "click" for subsequent shots until/unless you take your finger completely off the trigger.

The trigger click and spring failure is, IMO, extremely annoying, and bothers me even a bit more because we all know how great these guns are.

I have one like it-and as others have said, I am very fond of it. You have a square trigger guard, so it is probably a no dash like mine. It appears to have what's called an "idiot scratch" by the slide lock. I suggest that you polish it out and learn how not to put it there again! Enjoy.

I think you meant to say was first 45 ACP auto that Smith made. The pre-39 9 mm model predates the 645 by about 30 years. I carried one model or another for 20 + years; privately owned 4506, 4516, 457, Dept issued 645, 4506, 4506-1, 4566. A couple of noticeable differences between the 4506 and the -1 is Smith rounded out the Pennsylvania State shaped 4506 trigger guard (I took a file to my pp 4506 to round it out). With the introduction of the 1006, Smith increased the slide mass on the 4506-1 to match. One stone, or slide for two birds. Smith simply put a lighter poundage recoil spring in the 4506-1 than the 1006.

The department issued 4506-1 shot amazingly well and I regret not buying it. The others, not so much so. Except for the 645, the ones I shot were reliable, but no where near as accurate as a modern stock 1911, Sig or H&K.

I found them to be over sized for the intended cartridge, too many sharp edges, too heavy and made during one of the worst eras of quality control. The "floppy" trigger issue is caused by the previously mentioned spring. That spring has two ears the stick up above the frame, in front of the magazine well when the weapon is field stripped for cleaning. Jug headed deputies (speaking for myself) would sometimes break one or both of the ears off when cleaning too aggressively with a wire cleaning brush.

That being said, the 645 and 4506 models did put a .45 acp in the hands of many appreciative cops, myself included (think 9 mm ammo tactical failures of the early 1980s). Sure there were a few 45 ACP BDA's or H&K USPS out there toward the end of it's run as well but a lot of LE administrators had trouble with any thing not D/A S/A and anything not US made. Also remember that cops are harder on equipment than normal people. "Hey I didn't buy it. If it breaks, they'll issue me another. I just read in the latest gun rag, that we should be carrying the next new crunch n ticker thing."

A new Sheriff in town that was a progressive thinker threw off a lot of illogical policies and we were allowed privately purchased whatever makes sense. So a private purchased 1911 migrated from my pack on the front seat to my on-duty detective handgun. When M&Ps first came out I pp one of those as well. Later on the Sheriff listened to her training unit and started issuing M&P .45's to us all.

Faults aside , mine served me well as a duty guns and I purchased the last Dept issued one, the 4566, when we transitioned to M&Ps. I think what killed all the guns we lump as 3rd generation guns, was Glock and all the guns it inspired. You can buy plastic fantastic cheaper (Your weapon and vehicle was supplied by the lowest bidder), it has a lower bore access to grip, holds more cartridges, is lighter, and easier to train cops with. L.E. line troops aren't trained to the best shooters, the training is dumbed down to the worst shooters. When the government buyers went away, so did the third generations.

I recently flushed out the safe and the 4566 along with about 15 magazines was one of several guns I donated to my favorite charity, my adult sons. Why wait for me to die to enjoy some of my guns. I've droned on too long. If you're interested I can give you the magazine evolution and upgrades for your gun. Be very happy with your new to you pistol!

About a year ago my beloved 4506 developed the dreaded click. I'm convinced my overzealous cleaning with a toothbrush was the reason. I found some great pics and instructions here on the forum on what to do to eliminate the click. It worked perfectly. Be gentle with your toothbrush while cleaning around the trigger play spring and you will probably never hear the dreaded click.

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Nice 4506 you got there RalphK22. I didn't see it mentioned anywhere, so I'll put in my 2 cents and recommend replacing the recoil spring before you shoot it. You can get them from Wolff Gunsprings, along with magazine springs.

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Ban lunatics and criminals

HEYYY, WAIT A MINUTE!...... I'm not the slack jawed, knuckle dragging, mouth breather, that put that "idiot scratch" in there. HE HE HE!

Why do you recommend replacing the recoil spring?

Call Wolfe, tell them what you want, they'll take care of you.

Because you don't know what condition the spring is in since it's a used gun, a worn spring will batter/damage the gun, and S&W recommends changing them every 5 years or 5000 rounds IIRC.

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Ban lunatics and criminals

Congrats on the great deal. You won't be disappointed. The perfect balance and great looks make the 4506 my favorite of all S&W semi-autos.

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