I think I know but would appreciate clarification. Is the 457 a 2nd or 3rd generation pistol?

For the record, I think it’s a 3rd.

Sam

It's a 3rd Gen "Value Line" gun. 3rd Gen guts, but with less machining to smooth the edges, some plastic parts, and not as good a finish.

Most, but not all, 3rd Gen parts will fit. The sights, recoil guide rod, and magazine release mechanism are plastic.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

The 3rd Gen "Value Line" guns have been confusing the gun buying public since the day they were put on the market. Here's a quick rundown of what they are:

First released were the 915 and 411. These pistols were closely related to the 5904 and the 4004. Smith & Wesson wanted to produce a line of 3rd Gen pistols with lowered MSRP's to compete with the onslaught of polymer frame pistols in the early 1990's.

So they took their flagship duty pistols (the 5906 and 4006) and instead of stainless with stainless frame, they made them black and with a black anodized alloy frame. They did not use the trademarked and expensive Novak sights, they used a cheaper plastic copy. They did not have ambi thumb decocker. The finish on each pistol is low cost and not exactly durable. On the 915, they revised the frame and eliminated the stepped side. And they lowered the price to the buying public.

These pistols sold very well but someone at S&W, probably an accountant must have decided that S&W simply hadn't cut ENOUGH costs in manufacturing with these two models. They were only produced for 2 or 3 years... but at least in the case of the 915, a zillion were made. (the 411 seems a bit more scarce)

So S&W took a second swipe at "Value Line" pistols and they made the 908, the 909, the 910, the 410 and the 457. And as a side note -- the 910 and 410 were marketed after the Clinton Crime Bill went live, so they also shipped with 10-round limit magazines. And that is a side-clue as to what you are looking at. A 915 is a "9mm" with "15 rounds", a 411 is a ".40" with "11 rounds." And the 910 is a "9mm with 10rds" and a 410 is a ".40cal with 10rds." And the 908 (8rds) and the 909 (9 rounds) and the 457 (7rds) and now... if you aren't confused, you can figure out exactly which gun is being discussed by the model name/number.

These guns are cheaper versions of the 3914, the 3904, the 4004 and the 4516 respectively. And with this next group of "Value Line", S&W succeeded in lowering their costs even more. The most obvious difference in all of these are the much more blocky looking slides that have less machining done to them. A number of small parts inside went from metal to plastic.

But both stages of Value Line guns were given three digit model numbers and it makes you wonder if this was some kind of psychological marketing scheme -- trying to make the buying public believe they were spending a little less to get some "older models", I don't know. I personally think it was an ignorant idea to give them 3-digit model names, but then again... I also think it was ignorant to cheap them down as much as they chose to do with the second wave of Value Line.

Hahaha, just want to say for the record that it took me a WHILE to figure this out a couple years ago. I definitely wasn't paying attention to these guns in the mid-1990's. I was shooting a 1006 back then, but I didn't mess with S&W 9mm and .40cal pistols at that time.

The disconnector is plastic too (at least in the 908). Guess how I know.

Thank you all for the replies. In searching the forum, it seems like the ‘value line’ 457’s are very well regarded...can those less-expensive parts (disconnector, guide rod, mag. release, etc.) be easily replaced (availability?) by Standard metal parts?

Sam

Here is a guide to some of the more popular S&W semi-automatics. I bookmarked it for quick reference.

https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/g...omatic-models/

I don't know where I found this page; it's been sitting on my laptop a long time. I like the 909 because of the curved backstrap, reminiscent of the model 39. Just can't seem to find one.

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SHOOT1SAM Yes, the nylon/plastic parts can be replaced. All except the mag release button.

The 457 uses a different mag catch than the non value line 45s. And the plastic button on it is a one time use part. Once you pull it off, you meed a new one to replace it.

As a long time user/admirer of the 457 I will opine that other than the plastic sights - of which I am on my 2nd rear sight due to banging i to things like car doors and counter corners, I would not bother to replace any other parts.

I have experienced no problems or breakages in many thousands of rounds. The tip of the nylon guide rod occasionally gets a little "string" coming off it from wear. I simply take an emory board to it and lightly file it off. No issues with the gun to date.

Enjoy that fine 45! Probably the most underated 45 compact.....although it really isnt all that compact out there. Mas Ayoob said in his review of the 457 that; "...it is a lot of bang for your buck!". I agree. Strongly! Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

I have two 457s, and I like them both. Never a problem of any kind with either of them.

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Thanks, URIT; I had seen that before-I think what threw me was the 3 digit model number.

Sam