I'm considering purchasing a bare 4513 slide to use with my 457, will my 457 barrel work in the 4513 slide ?

Yes.

John

Thanks for the input, I appreciate it. Have you attempted this, I'd like to hear that someone has done it before I purchase.

Yes, as a matter of fact I just did, to jog my memory (although I've done it before).

1st, you say you are buying a 4513 slide to fit on your 457 frame.
If I may assume, you are referring to the 4513TSW model.
I am not aware of a non-TSW 4513.
A 4513 TSW slide will fit on your 457 frame.
The converse is not true.
A 457 slide will not fit on a 4513TSW frame because the TSW frame and slide are machined with front rails and the 457 is not.

2nd, the TSW models came in 2 versions: pre-rail and rail.
The S&W barrel part number for the pre-rail 4513TSW and the 457 is the same (236950000).
The rail version of the 4513TSW (like I have) uses a different part number barrel (because of the loaded chamber indicator) but is identical to the 457 barrel in every other dimension.

BTW, if you are just buying the 4513TSW slide without seeing the rest of the pistol, the way to tell if it is a pre-rail slide versus a rail slide is to look at the "billboard" laser etching on the side of the slide.
If it says "45 Tactical", it is the railed version.
If it just says "Tactical", it is the pre-rail version.
As an added bonus, the railed version will be machined for the spring loaded, decocker-only safety assembly although not necessarily installed.

I took the barrel out of my 457 slide and dropped it into my railed 4513TSW slide and mounted it back on the frame.
It cycled perfectly as it did before.

Thanks for the opportunity to let me play with my toys!

John

Thank you John, the information is fantastic and appreciated very much.

It's entirely possible that the 4513TSW slide will not fit on the 457 frame.

My experience is with my 3913 and pre rail 3913TSW. I tried to swap the slide of the TSW onto the 3913 while diagnosing a sight problem on the TSW.

The TSW slide would not fit on the frame and when I looked the TSW slide had thicker frame rails than the standard 3913.

My experience is not definitive proof, but it's certainly something to consider.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

Just out of pure curiosity: how come you're trying the 4513TSW slide on your 457? Just for fun, for a different look, for some functional reason, or what? I ask only because I have one of both flavors and they're both great just like they are, not that that's a reason not to play with 'em.

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Ukraine -- now more than ever

I can't speak for lolaralph, but if I'm carrying in "rusty" weather, I prefer to install a stainless slide on whatever alloy frame I'm planning to pack.

John

I'm relying on JohnHL's first hand experience in completing th exact swap I'm planning.

I'm not 100% sold on the blocky value series slide, I don't see much difference in the frame when comparing it to a traditional 3rd gen, but that slide is kinda "meh". The night sights on the 4513 are a bonus as is the stainless. Plus, I don't think any of my 2nd and 3rd gens are exactly stock anymore, LOL.

Probably my biggest factor in the swap as well.

I'm inclined to agree with you.
But the 457 slide on the 4516-1 frame looks kinda cool.


Tell me about it.
It's hard not to enjoy "customizing" these pistols while still being able to return them back to stock just by interchanging parts.

John

Sorry I am late to this---
John, mine says "45 Tactical" and is a never railed version.

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Marty 4513TSW 13-1 642 60-10

I know better than to never say never with Smith & Wesson.
Yours may not have a rail.
Yours may have never had a rail.
However, I have never seen a 6 round magazine, pre-rail 4513TSW with the cut-away grip with "45 TACTICAL" on the slide.
They all just say "TACTICAL".
And that holds true for all the pre-rail TSW models (9mm, .40s&w, and .45acp) produced between 1997 and 1999 with the identifying "MSE" and "MSF" serial number prefixes.

John

and never say "always" either!

My frame has a straight cut grip 7+1 with "TDU" prefix shipped 2001. So yeah, mine is outside of your qualifiers.
Should still fit lolaralph's needs?

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Marty 4513TSW 13-1 642 60-10

MartyA, isn't this that very unusual gun that is maybe a one-of-a-kind and mentioned here on the Forum before? I remember because I am intrigued by them and always look on auctions to see if I can spot one myself, and in three years of looking, I've never seen one.

For all intents and purposes, I think the 6-round "Tactical" marked 4513TSW is the only non-railed model anyone is likely to ever see, so John is at least 99.9 percent correct.

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Ukraine -- now more than ever

My experience matches John's. I have both a rail and non rail 3913TSW.

A picture would help us understand what you have. Besides WHO doesn't like pictures of 3rd Gen gun?

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Can open, worms everywhere.

Maybe this is a hijack and I apologize if it is. I have posted this photo a while ago.
Short version - my baby brother - who was just promoted to Captain last month btw - was issued a 4513TSW around 2001. He is a NJ cop so not a fan of guns, when he told me he was carrying one I flipped out. From what I understand in 2001 the boys were issued either new 4513TSW or new 4566. They just got in line and took the next one from the box and recorded which they had.
Then in 2010 he told me they were swapping for new M&P45, and I convinced him to get me one. There were two guns on the shelf, an NIB CS45 which the Chief claimed, and a used 4513TSW that was issued to a recruit who left after about 2 years. I got that gun. I understand there were a few others turned in to the wholesaler. Ask 18DAI

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Marty 4513TSW 13-1 642 60-10

Beautiful gun. From the picture, that is a "rail" version that was built without having the rail added on.

Some sort of special order, with a "rail delete" option. As JohnHL said, "Never say never when it comes to 3rd Gens."

I wonder how many of these ended up being turned into the wholesaler and where they went from there?

Nice find.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

Came with 5 mags, a Gunskin Cobra forward cant OWB, blue box with correct label, and I promised to say all that went for $350, and not to tell what it actually went for.

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Marty 4513TSW 13-1 642 60-10

Thanks to my good friend Martya I have one of those rail free 7-shot 4513TSWs in my safe as well.

Thank you again Martya!! I prize that particular 4513TSW in my collection MORE than I do my PC Shorty 45 MKII. Much appreciated my friend!

Someday I hope to find one of the elusive rail free 4563TSWs to go with it! Best regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

Well, that's two.

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Marty 4513TSW 13-1 642 60-10