Hello fellow S&W 45 Enthusiasts!

Just picked up a 4513 TSW listed as new old stock, and upon inspection, the gun is as described. It is one of the later manufactured 7rd versions with rail, but could not believe the find. I have read that the 4513s are getting harder to find. Got this one for a steal, so feels like Christmas!

The only problem is there is not a single gun in my safe that does not get shot. This may be the first. I need some convincing not to lock her away. There can't be many left in this unmolested condition, and it is tearing at me, but can't decide if I should leave her be, or start enjoying.

I have a 457, so I hoping some of the gurus can explain, and quantify, the step up from the 457 to 4513 TSW, how far of a leap is it?

Thanks for any feedback

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I’ll gladly store it for you, removing any temptation.

Pictures are welcome here.

Here are a couple

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Sorry the pics aren't great from phone.

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Well, I suggest shoot it, shoot it, and shoot it more. How in the heck would you know if you even like it? Or if eventually you did sell it maybe it did not even work. I mean think about the next person that may possess it.

I don’t know what you paid for it but if you figured getting it as an investment and not a viable choice to shoot, that makes a difference I suppose. (?)

I got my Pre-Rail 4513 to replace my 4516 for carry. It was carried and shot but not too much and always taken care of. I think I could sell it now for what I originally bought it for. New back then. (But I had an FFL.)

Jim

That's a beauty, would be hard to resist the temptation.

I have the same choice to make with a BNIB 3913, the majority here will tell you to shoot it and enjoy it.
I cleaned and lubed up my 3913 and put it back in the safe, my mind may change someday but they are only new once and I have other options to shoot right now.

If you have shot the 457, then you have shot the 4513TSW.

These two pistols are so similar in design that nearly EVERY piece will interchange.

Slides, barrels, frames, grips, magazines all interchange.

IIRC the only parts that are different are the front sights and the magazine release assemblies. (The mag release parts from the 457 WILL work of the 4513TSW but not the other way around.)

Identical twins other than shape.

John

Well......I would respectfully beg to differ with my friend JohnHL. While everything he said is technically true, the 4513TSW is superior to the 457 in durability, performance and build quality.

I have over 9K rounds through an early production 457. And who knows how many through an original rail free 4513TSW. The 4513TSW and 457 have recieved identical maintenance - lubed frames and regular changing of recoil springs.

And the 457 is VERY worn and no longer as accurate as it was when new. The 4513TSW, an LE trade in with unknown round count and thousands of rounds through it, by me, is still tight and extremely accurate. Because it was built to stay that way.

The 457 was built as a "carry a lot shoot it a little" value line gun. Yes, they are both aluminum framed, compact 45s which share many parts. But one was made to be an affordable carry 45 and the other was marketed to LE as a service pistol, expected to hold up through at least 10 years of service.

Don't get me wrong, I like my 457 and carry it A LOT. I still stake my life on it going bang when I may need it to. But one reason I carry it is because of its reliability. Not its durability or accuracy after heavy use.

Shoot that 4513TSW. There is no reason not to. There does not appear to be any collector interest or added value to these fine pistols. And while I have shot MANY different models and makes of 45 compact carry gun, I have yet to come across one - for any price - that equals, let alone exceeds a 4513TSW. My 0.02 Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

While I must agree with Brother 18 that the TSW is a more finely finished pistol and with its mated frame and slide may actually be a more finely fitted pistol, I don't think you will appreciate a great deal of difference between the two unless you shot them both, A LOT!

Lacking long term use, and if you are still on the fence between shooter or safe queen, try this little experiment:

Close you eyes and have someone hand you each pistol, so that you only close your hand on the grip and put your finger in the trigger guard.

Keep your eyes closed and don't let your helper tell you which pistol they are handing you and don't feel around for the rail.

Compare weight, grip, trigger pull.

I don't think you will be able to discern much of a difference.

Personally, it's your decision to save or shoot.

John

And then open your eyes, rest both on range bags and see which one you can shoot a 3 inch group with @ 25 yards, using the same ammo!

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

The TSWs had the slides hand fitted to the frames, the 457 was part of the value line. Rock the slides on both. The TSW will have very little movement, while you will be able to rock the slide side to side. The TSWs had much tighter tolerances, while the value line was mass produced. I have owned both and sold the 457 because it didn't shoot as well as my other 3rd gens. But I understand the want to keep the TSW as a safe queen, I am having the same problem with a 5946 NOS that I picked up. It is a hard call.

Thanks Jim, I kinda buy them all as investments....if you get my drift.

I could probably shoot it and still get more than I have in it, just was thinking about preserving it....who I am kidding I will probably have it to the next range session.

I have not found a single 3rd Gen that I didn't like so I am sure the 4513TSW will be no different.

Thanks for the feedback 18DAI, I know they are getting harder to find and you don't see them as often on the Auctions, but you may be right on the collector interest. The earlier production models are definitely in more demand.

Funny you mention that SWOOP01, I was comparing the two last night and that was one of the main differences I noticed in quality. The slide to frame fit is much tighter and there are far tighter tolerances on the 4513TSW.

Yes, the early version, no rail - 6 round mag, brings more money on the auction boards. It was made for the shortest period of time. 1997 to 1999 IIRC. That particular variant is my favorite carry gun. Actually my favorite handgun extant. And I have some nice ones.

With the aquisition of a Recon 45 recently, I have owned all the variants of the 4513. I still think the 1st one was the best of the bunch. Enjoy yours! Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

I carry my 4513TSW a lot and I shoot it better than I shoot almost any other gun I own. It's a sweetheart. (And I gotta confess, I never thought of putting it in the safe, I got it for carry because of it's finer fitting and I had a 457 I think I sold to pay for the 4513.)

Shoot it, enjoy it, buy some Amazon stock if you want to invest. Well, maybe not, it's just hit another record high. Microsoft anyone?

I blame 18DAI for my addiction to 3rd gens and even more so for the early xx13 models. Since I read about his love of the weapons, I researched them and fell for them myself. I started with a single 3913 and then got a 4513 and it was a few months before I found a 3913TSW pre-rail. It had a slight mark on it and I can’t unsee that mark. So I found a new 3913 pre and then the hunt was on. Sometimes I swear I’m only here to track down more pre-rails. I have a couple of the 4513TSW pre and one has a scuff so I carry it. The pristine ones just sit. The 4013TSW’s are the only ones I have that have matching numbered slide/frame/barrels. Any idea why that is?

And please, if there are any guns more fun than the TSW pre-rails DO NOT tell me about them! 😂

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Kirk / Spock 2020

Oddly enough, my 457S has about the least slide rock of any of my 3rd Gens. It's a 2002 built gun, so maybe that's part of the explanation. My 457 has far more rock, and it was built in 2004

My 3913TSW w/rail has more rock, while my pre rail 3953TSW has less. My pre rail 3913TSW has even less rock than that, although it's the 3rd Gen that gets show the most.

From all of that, I can draw no conclusions.

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Can open, worms everywhere.

Bravo, Gary.

The real world sure has a way of playing heck with internet "theories".

That is MY conclusion.

John

Had similar experience with a 4516-1 I picked up a few years back nib in used case for 400 All cards everything in tact. Thought about it for a week. Decided if I could hold off shooting it when I took it for a range day. Couldn’t. Still I’ll never lose a nickel on it. The nib value doesn’t really kick in for a while. 3GS haven’t been out of production that long. I have a 1952 new in box Savage 99 with everything. Factory sling, checkering brush, everything. They made probably 80,000 99’s in 300 in the early 50’s. Mine is a nothing special EG model. But new in box with all that other original stuff probably takes it from a 550$ rifle to around a grand? If your kid isn’t going to shoot it either, it will be worth double a similar condition that’s been shot.

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#DE4L

I buy all my guns new. The 4513 TSW reposes on the night stand. I have carried the CS 45 for over 20 years. I like them both, but the CS45 is a tad bit lighter and I enjoy shooting it more. The 4506 has had 50 rounds through it, it was my uniform carry gun, and it was given to me when I retired. Many more just fill up space in the safe, there will be a day when they are all needed I expect.

For those of you carrying the 4513TSW concealed, what holsters are you using? I just picked up a pre-rail and am trying to decide (like the original poster) what to do with it. I imagine if it had a nice holster it would help persuade me to shoot it more like I want to. Amazing how accurate such a little gun can be, and with a nicer trigger than my duty P226 with SRT.

I have a Cobra GUNSKIN. It's a very heavy black OWB but easily concealed under shirts. It was my brother's duty holster when I nabbed it and the gun from his department when they traded all their Gen III for S&W plastic M&P and new holsters.

I can't tell you the exact model holster, however.

Attached Images

	4513 with holster (med).jpg (122.9 KB, 30 views)
	4513TSW inside holster.jpg (63.7 KB, 24 views)

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Marty 4513TSW 13-1 642 60-10

I have 3 457's and I had a pre-rail 4513 that I sold to another member . I can't really talk about them , but I can about safe queens . I bought a NIB 845 a while back . Every time someone talked about how great they were , it talked to me from the safe . One day I pulled it out and looked at it and said enough is enough . I took it to the range and have never regretted it . Now I do have a Recon9 that has never been shot , and it never will . Some were made to be shot and I bet when you think about it , you're going to shoot it .

So what did you decide on the 5946 - I have same 5946 (2009 mfg well out of known mfg dates but verified twice by SW) problem plus a 3914DAO NIB (2017 mfg).

I have a 4513TSW pre-rail that I found one day while browsing the Cabela's used gun case. It was also in very good condition and cost me less than $400. I shoot and and carry it occasionally.

Guns are made to be shot, rare or not IMO. Like others have said you'd have to try to wear one out.

For IWB carry, I use a Bianchi Professional model 100. Very comfortable, durable and it hides my 4513TSW under a Golf shirt or loose T-shirt.

For OWB my preference is for an open top holster. I like the Don Hume JIT slide for a 4516 the best. It fits the 4513 as if made for it.

I have, probably like many here, a box full of holsters. Many work with the 3rd gen 45s. But the two I listed, work best. For me. Hope this helps. Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

Thanks for the holster ideas, guys.

I too had an 845, bought it used in excellent condition. Shot it in PPC matches for three years and sold it for $100 more than I bought it for.... thought I did good. 10 years later I see it listed on Gunbroker for almost $2k more, sigh.


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