This post is two fold.

The first part is to assure that I’m not always making the best purchases for great prices.

The second part is about a 4505 I got. I paid way too much but I wanted one. I’ve done amazingly good on acquisitions lately and figured I could pay “a bit more” this time. It is as new with matching box, all paperwork and unopened tool kit. I plan on keeping it regardless.

The problem is it has a 4 1/2” barrel/top end. The slide is period correct and perfect as is EVERYTHING. I can’t figure out where this blued top end came from. There were no blued 4566’s, (4565’s ?,) right?

It’s obviously a very nicely balanced .45 in this combination, just like my 4566 but blued. (Real blueing not like my CQB45.)

Again thanks for any and all thoughts and/or replies.

Jim

Did SW ever offer a SSV version like in the 5900 series?

What codes are on the box label?

Actually, there were some 4566TSWs which which had a Melonite FNC treatment on the slide/frame, which is black. The West Virginia State Police issued a Melonited 4566TSW, for example.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

It may be the top end of a 4567.

Nope, not Melonite, and not whatever S&W started calling “blued.”
It is early ‘90’s beautiful S&W blued.

The original matching box says 5” barrel but it is 4 1/2”. Really.

Jim

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Yes, I think you got it.

I just looked the 4567 up and the night sights on my “4505” are marked exactly like the ones on the 4567. No year like my other Trijicon’s. Looks like the same top end for sure.

Maybe I just partially blew it on this one. I don’t care cause I think I’m gonna like it regardless of it not being a “real” 4505.

Thanks
Jim

The year is probably on the bottom of the sight - 4566 Trijicon How could I know?

Thanks all for not reminding me it is a 4 1/4” barrel NOT a 4 1/2” one.

I was pretty bummed when I saw it wasn’t a real 4505. Not much of an excuse for missing that 1/4”.

Jim

Congrats on a nice score!

I can't wait to see it. A polished blue "4566" would be a thing of beauty. Look at it this way, you paid less than you would have, back in the day, for a custom 4505. Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

I looked at the auction pics and that is probably the best Frankensmith I have ever seen! A sign something was amiss was the stainless guide rod - I would get it blackened and be happy to have such a unique pistol.

Thanks John.

I do NOT want to send it back but I really wanted a 4505 at some point.

I do like that family size for sure. Makes sense to me also.

Stupid, (real,) blued pistols are impossible to photo.

Jim

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Gorgeous! Too bad they didn't have those as a regular production item. Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

Of course you did, I say embarrassedly. That is EXACTLY why I didn’t really want to post the box label.

I still think the “best” Frankensmith is my Shorty 40. Poop into ice cream. (Well sort of.)

Jim

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I wonder who out there owns the 5 inch 4567?

Even though it is not a real Model 4505, it is a handsome pistol and would be a bit easier to carry.

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VCDL, GOA, NRA

Congrats, Jim on your very rare Model 4565.

John

I'm glad I originally posted all this. Now some can feel better about a bad pistol decision they may have made. If you were having a terrible day you could laugh or at least smile.

I want everyone to keep their eyes out for a 4567 that's missing its original top end. I know where it is.

Jim

Jim, what you have there is the barely-known, one-off salesman's sample 4505SSV that had eluded capture in the wild ever since it mysteriously disappeared from the factory safe sometime in the early 1990s after a still-questionable decision by management to not continue with production of the series. Be sure to pass the information and photo to Jim Supica for the next edition of the Standard Catalog.

Now that we've cleared that up, it's obvious that your only error, my friend, was in setting aside that old maxim about buying the gun, not the story, and plunking down your money for a pistol just for its very significant cool factor. No harm, no foul!

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Ukraine -- now more than ever

If it will save you some embarrassment I'll pay shipping to take it off your hands.

Don't know "how much too much" you paid... but I'd take it as a win. I had a 4505 for a short while......it was too nice and too big to be anything but a safe queen..... two trades later I got the "best in breed" a 4566...... which I still have and use.

I've also had early 4516,4513 six shot and a PC CQB.45 (hated the billboard)........

As to box labels IIRC the early Shorty-9s or SD-9s were labeled as 5906s

Back in the day, there were no "commander" length, all blue 45 S&Ws.

It looks like a very nice fitting.

Perhaps someone sent it to the factory to have it "correctly" modified.

I'm not advocating for a "letter", but I'd sure like to know the history of that pistol (IF the records are still available), before I'd write it off as "home built".

John

Of course I did not want to admit this, but I’ve already got the form filled out, pictures copied, and check written. I’ll get it in the mail tomorrow.

I just think it’s very weird that with @1200 4505’s and a handful more of 4567’s, (with factory Trijicons even less,) that “somehow“
these two got slides mixed up. Maybe but.... Everything that came with it originally is there and in new condition. Someone cared/valued it enough to keep everything together and new.

I actually got a very different PC example a while ago. Different from the “norm” that is if early PC’s are normal anyway. This one actually came with a S&W factory letter explaining its possession and progress. I’m not saying it’s one of a kind but at least it’s a valid and documented example as it is.

The only S&W factory letter I’ve ever got was kinda the same thing. I had a feeling and all things were VERY weird with this pistol. That was money well spent and validated authenticity and rarity.

Jim

When do we get to see and hear about the "...different PC gun..." ?

Is it a 45? Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

Well of course one is. I’ve posted about it including the PC number attached to it. It’s been pretty much pooh poohed here but with a “letter” from Earl AND a real S&W letter from Roy I can’t figure why there’s still doubts and/or no acceptance.

The other letter was copied and posted by someone here BEFORE I ever received the pistol from the auction so I didn’t feel the need to be redundant. It did help with an unknown total number of that offering so that’s good.

Jim

I dont care.

That is a waaaaay cool looking pistol.

I would have bought that.

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Un-Reconstructed Southerner

Great looking pistol, I like it better than a true 4505. Be happy with your purchase Jim, and let us know what S&W says about it.

Sorry for resurrecting this old post but…..

(As a reminder the factory Letter said it left as a “regular” 4505.)

I’m way over my disappointment in getting this pistol. I’m now actually really happy I got it and it handles and shoots easily and it’s accurate enough.

I’ve finally got a week or so off so I decided to do some research and find, (maybe hopefully,) the “original” factory blued guide rod. I’m thinking there never was such a thing. I actually found an original complete 4567 slide assembly for sale and it has a stainless guide rod. My two tone, (black over silver,) 45CQB has a stainless guide rod.

The best picture I could find was one listed by my friend and enabler “Jack the Dog” some years ago.

If anyone here has a 4567, (or 4567-NS,) what guide rod is in it? It may seem trivial but even a Frankensmith should be correct.

In my rambling I forgot to ask also if anyone has a 4505 to look at and what does the guide rod look like?

Jim

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You are correct based on the parts list. The 4566 and 4567 share the same rod - part #902970000.
The 4506 and 4505 have different rods with the 4506 using 103200000 and the 4505 using 206260000 (which is blue based on the pics here -
S&W 3rd Gen 4505 adj sights ).

Thanks “jsbethel” thats exactly what I wanted to know.

That answers my stupid question. So even if I got a 4505 guide rod, cut it to length I’d still have to get the whole thing “blued” for a 4505 that isn’t.

I suppose I just will move on to more important things.

Jim