Model 46 .22lr....value?

The 46's are much more rare to find then the m41 as there was only around 4000 made I believe. To me they are just as good as the 41 and the mags are the same as well. The main difference is the weighting system on them in comparison to a 41. They shoot just as well and usually have the same sights also. They are a very fine pistol for sport shooting.
I went and gave it another looksy. Does not have afpg on it. Its quite a piece. Can't wait to get it
 
If you get it - DO NOT shoot anything but std. velocity in it. The slide rails are less strong and can crack at the slide body juncture. Also, due to age, a VERY complete cleaning including the extractor/firing pin area and the mags. Adding a 7" bbl. would be an easy find, but the 5.5" bull bbl. is hard to find. Might be good to replace the slide spring also.
 
If you get it - DO NOT shoot anything but std. velocity in it. The slide rails are less strong and can crack at the slide body juncture. Also, due to age, a VERY complete cleaning including the extractor/firing pin area and the mags. Adding a 7" bbl. would be an easy find, but the 5.5" bull bbl. is hard to find. Might be good to replace the slide spring also.
Oh im getting it. I'm glad you told me that about the standard velocity ammo. I wouldn't have thought about it. I won't be shooting it much anyhow
 
Try to use CCI SV ammo in this gun if you can. You and it will be both Happy shooters with it. You will have many good years out of it and never lose a dime on value while owning it as well.
 
If you get it - DO NOT shoot anything but std. velocity in it. The slide rails are less strong and can crack at the slide body juncture. Also, due to age, a VERY complete cleaning including the extractor/firing pin area and the mags. Adding a 7" bbl. would be an easy find, but the 5.5" bull bbl. is hard to find. Might be good to replace the slide spring also.
I quoted you guys cause I wanted to let you know I got more pics. Notice on the left hand side where the slide meets barrel had a really uneven cut.
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No its not serrated. Its flat then the sides are curved at like 10+2 oclock
 
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Neither of my 2 have an uneven cut at the top of the slide, but both have the bottom radius on the slide. From what I've read the radius was machined to prevent the slide from continually hammering the barrel which caused slides to crack. I'm not sure at what point in production this change occurred.

You hit a home run acquiring that pistol! It's very nice and the first 46 field barrel that I've seen. I know that the 5" barrel is VERY uncommon. I believe in that serial# range it should have the plastic stocks though. Both of mine are later and both have the brown plastic stocks.
 
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Neither of my 2 have an uneven cut at the top of the slide, but both have the bottom radius on the slide. From what I've read the radius was machined to prevent the slide from continually hammering the barrel which caused slides to crack. I'm not sure at what point in production this change occurred.

You hit a home run acquiring that pistol! It's very nice and the first 46 field barrel that I've seen. I know that the 5" barrel is very uncommon. I believe in that serial# range it should have the plastic stocks though. Both of mine are later and both have the brown plastic stocks.
I should have gotten a better pic but the slide has contacted the barrel. Its flattened on both sides on both corners. Should i be worried?
 
You can't fix what has already been done. If it were mine I would replace the recoil spring and just use CCI SV. Maybe Tom Beckwith can tell you where to look for cracks in the slide. I have read that they can crack, but I have never seen one that had.
If you are worried, I'll take that off your hands to put your mind at ease. :)
 
You can't fix what has already been done. If it were mine I would replace the recoil spring and just use CCI SV. Maybe Tom Beckwith can tell you where to look for cracks in the slide. I have read that they can crack, but I have never seen one that had.
If you are worried, I'll take that off your hands to put your mind at ease. :)
That's the plan 824. Thanks for all the help you have been great. I'll let you know when I get it and I'll probably be after those grips [emoji2]
 
A few comments:
Grips are probably switched out later - ??LOOKS??
Radius started in the 15-16000 range (prior were 90% cut)
Have seen some variation in cut radius from smooth to rough (bbl. was also radiused to??match??
SN in line with 5" bbl coming out - should letter as such?
Cracks occur at juncture of slide rail at bolt body. Got a couple of them. Not hard to see. Welding has been tried, but not very successful.
 
A few comments:
Grips are probably switched out later - ??LOOKS??
Radius started in the 15-16000 range (prior were 90% cut)
Have seen some variation in cut radius from smooth to rough (bbl. was also radiused to??match??
SN in line with 5" bbl coming out - should letter as such?
Cracks occur at juncture of slide rail at bolt body. Got a couple of them. Not hard to see. Welding has been tried, but not very successful.
Is there anyway you could show me a pic or point out where the crack occurs? And would you still suggest me purchasing it?
 
I wouldn't hesitate on buying that one. Very worst case scenario is you wait for a 46 slide to appear for sale on eBay or Gunbroker which I have seen recently.
 
perfectcircle1 - please understand - I am not referring to the 46 shown - APPEARS to be FINE. Cracks are visible when they occur. As noted before, the cracks are at the point where the rails join the main bolt body - basically in the area of the curve, but most are seen on early slides where the joint is at 90% . By radiusing at that point, generally eliminated the cracks if Std. Velocity ammo is used.

Hope this clears up the point.
 
perfectcircle1 - please understand - I am not referring to the 46 shown - APPEARS to be FINE. Cracks are visible when they occur. As noted before, the cracks are at the point where the rails join the main bolt body - basically in the area of the curve, but most are seen on early slides where the joint is at 90% . By radiusing at that point, generally eliminated the cracks if Std. Velocity ammo is used.

Hope this clears up the point.
Yes tom it does. Thanks for your help owe you guys a beer[emoji6] I have already purchased a few thousand rounds of CCI standard velocity just for this firearm.
 
Those grips appear to be from a model 41.
The 46 came with dark plastic grips (ugly).
The one on this gun are much nicer.
I'd say buy it for $650.
 
This particular 46 has NO problems and will never have if you just shoot the CCI SV ammo thru it. We would have seen any problems with it if there was any as your pics showed us what we needed to see quite well. Buy it and enjoy it for many years to come. You did get a good bargain for sure, You have a real nice piece there which only go up in value over time.:)
 
This particular 46 has NO problems and will never have if you just shoot the CCI SV ammo thru it. We would have seen any problems with it if there was any as your pics showed us what we needed to see quite well. Buy it and enjoy it for many years to come. You did get a good bargain for sure, You have a real nice piece there which only go up in value over time.:)
Thank you barrie
 
I sold my 41s in lieu of keeping the 46s ,which are more scare and would ultimately always be worth more than an equal model 41. It mystifies me that the 46 was produced solely in an attempt to be price competitive with other manufacturers. It was a 41 with a lesser / matte finish and plastic grips. It walks like a 41 it talks like a 41, it shoots likes a 41. 41 parts will fit it yet 46 parts will not fit a 41 (well, barrels for sure) . yet every one of the 4, model 46s I ever found had the plastic grips replaced with the walnut 41 grips. In the early 90s I need to purchase a set of new 41 grips directly from S$W at a price of $75.00. Perhaps in the 60s and 70s the 41 grips cost less, but I'd presume they were proportionally as expensive so WHY would someone buy a 46 then spend the $$ for the 41 stocks ? I subsequently searched high and low for many years (pre-interenet) to find the standard 46 grips to make the Model 46s "correct". Finally, in 1998 I finally found a dealer in Tulsa with 4 original sets of 46 grips which I quickly purchased.
 
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