JohnHL
Member
You might still be able to find the parts, but you would still need to machine the slide(s).
John
4506-1 for duty
- Thread starter DanRod_LA
- Start date
You might still be able to find the parts, but you would still need to machine the slide(s).
John
Denver Dick
US Veteran
Can you post a few photos of the pistol. Does it have factory adjustable night sights? Thanks.
DanRod_LA the Aker Flatsider paddle with thumb break is what you seek if you are searching for Mackey's holster.
A few years back, Alphonso's in Hollywood was making something similar for the 4506. Good luck with the search! And should you come across a Left hand example, Please advise!!!
Regards 18DAI
A few years back, Alphonso's in Hollywood was making something similar for the 4506. Good luck with the search! And should you come across a Left hand example, Please advise!!!
Regards 18DAI
Denver Dick
US Veteran
4506-1
Here is my LAPD 4506 also photo of 4506-1 Fresno Sheriff. The LAPD gun is not marked as a -1 but is a very late birth date. I understand that they dropped the -1 on the late models. The Fresno Sheriff gun was issued to a court bailiff. He only shot the minimum rounds to stay qualified. A friend was the range deputy for Fresno Sheriff and researched the gun for me..
Here is my LAPD 4506 also photo of 4506-1 Fresno Sheriff. The LAPD gun is not marked as a -1 but is a very late birth date. I understand that they dropped the -1 on the late models. The Fresno Sheriff gun was issued to a court bailiff. He only shot the minimum rounds to stay qualified. A friend was the range deputy for Fresno Sheriff and researched the gun for me..
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nocents
Member
.....reading this thread again gave me an itch..............so tomorrow I decided to scratch it at my ranges geezer discount monday
akguy1985
Member
Nice 4506-1.I got one a few months ago, it has the regular sights, not the adjustable ones. Denzel approves
kbm6893
Member
You might be interested in this 4506-1 that I purchased on consignment from Greta's Guns in Simi Valley in 2008. The owner of the shop is a retired LAPD detective and many of his customers are current or former LAPD guys.
What struck me about it was that it had what appeared to be factory adjustable night sights. In addition, the wear pattern on the pistol appeared to be from a duty holster. Frankly, I collect S&W 3rd Gens I had not seen one with factory adjustable night sights. Then I saw the '97 date on the night sights and I felt that the pistol may have been one of those ordered by LAPD officers after the February 1997 North Hollywood shootout (aka the Battle of North Hollywood). Many officers who felt they were sorely out gunned in that shootout, sought approval to start carrying .45 ACP autos. The 4506-1 was one of the .45s approved.
So, I purchased the pistol and immediately requested a factory letter from S&W. You will note in the factory letter from Roy Jinks that he states my 4506-1 is a "Special Order Los Angeles Police, caliber .45 ACP" and was shipped in May of 1997.
I note that yours seems to have what appear to be factory night sights. I'm wondering if the serial number is close to mine and if the night sights are dated '97?
It's a great pistol.
I am aware that the 4506 was authorized after the North Hollywood incident, but .45's wouldn't have done any better against full auto AK's and body armor wearing bad guys. I'd rather have 15 rounds of 9MM over 8 .45's in that case. Once you're through your 3 duty mags, you're out, and 46 rounds sounds better to me than 25.
Denver Dick
US Veteran
I get that. However, some LAPD officers already desired to carry .45 autos and the North Hollywood shootout gave them a platform from which to argue in favor of the .45. There was also a push to have assault weapons in the patrol cars. The guys who had been arguing for the .45 simply did not let a crisis go to waste . . . how very political.
kbm6893
Member
I get that. However, some LAPD officers already desired to carry .45 autos and the North Hollywood shootout gave them a platform from which to argue in favor of the .45. There was also a push to have assault weapons in the patrol cars. The guys who had been arguing for the .45 simply did not let a crisis go to waste . . . how very political.
Oh, I'm sure. What surprises me is how the LAPD, which used to modify their revolvers to fire DAO, not only allowed TDA semi auto's at all, but continues to let officers choose their own weapons. Surprised they haven't gone to Glock with a 12 pound NY trigger. They could have just as easily only offered Beretta 92D's or DAO .45's.
its_Dale
Member
Just finished Decocker Trans School. My hands are dead lol
Stargater
Member
I'm glad to hear this, and I'm a huge fan of the 2nd AND 3rd generation S&W autos (I have a 645 I love). It's heavy, accurate and exceptionally reliable. I'm not sold on the .45 ACP round, but the 645 is incredibly intimidating and fun to shoot.
I'm curious about why your department's de-cocker school is offering the transition course. Does it stem from anyone's unhappiness with the striker-fire pistols?
From a reliability standpoint, the 2nd generation Smiths seem to be equal to the third generation. The third generation tends to be aimed at ergonomic improvements, but in many cases I prefer the second generation over the third.
The 659 is still my favorite 9mm pistol, though my 5906 is just as good and just as reliable. I'd love to have some beautiful wood grips for it. (With the 5906, it's almost impossible to find replacement grips because of how the grips are worked into the design of the gun. The 659 has regular grips that can be removed and replaced.
its_Dale
Member
It is offered for those who came on with glock and m&p to have more options for already approved guns. I made it through the school with a 5903. There were 2 Baretta 9mm and the rest 4506. I can also carry the 4506 if I just can find one for sale that is reasonable.
It was scaled down from 4 days to 3 days. Just repeated then test on manipulations (reloads, unloads, chamber checks, 5 types of malfunctions, and proven ability to shoot a certain score 3 times in a row in our bi-monthly qualification course.
HOUSTON RICK
Member
mscampbell2734
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Been following this post with some interest considering I was one of the transition school instructors this past week.
One of the things I noticed was the variations in the guns. Some guys had 4506s, but most had -1s. BUT even the -1s had some variations.
I was comparing my gun to another instructors. His had the blackened roll marks and Smith logo on the slide. Mine had non-blackened roll marks and the logo on the frame. His gun however was NOT marked-1 but clearly was. It had the round trigger guard, no step in the frame and blocky slide.
So that being said it almost looks like Smith went from 4506 to 4506-1 and some time later back to calling them just 4506? My gun was bought new in mid 1998, the other instructor bought his new in late 1999.
Also regarding those special order LAPD 4506s. Some were flat out lemons. It was pretty clear to use the special orders guns were made on overtime Saturday morning. On some guns the machining was so bad you could look down the side of the slide and see it was wavy and uneven. To their credit Smith made it right and repaired or replaced whatever needed it to make the guns work.
One of the things I noticed was the variations in the guns. Some guys had 4506s, but most had -1s. BUT even the -1s had some variations.
I was comparing my gun to another instructors. His had the blackened roll marks and Smith logo on the slide. Mine had non-blackened roll marks and the logo on the frame. His gun however was NOT marked-1 but clearly was. It had the round trigger guard, no step in the frame and blocky slide.
So that being said it almost looks like Smith went from 4506 to 4506-1 and some time later back to calling them just 4506? My gun was bought new in mid 1998, the other instructor bought his new in late 1999.
Also regarding those special order LAPD 4506s. Some were flat out lemons. It was pretty clear to use the special orders guns were made on overtime Saturday morning. On some guns the machining was so bad you could look down the side of the slide and see it was wavy and uneven. To their credit Smith made it right and repaired or replaced whatever needed it to make the guns work.
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The very late 4506's they dropped the -1.. Mine is serial VJC01XX LAPD special order as I recall around 2001..
... and I am still trying to buy one from out-of-state as we speak, although the effort is not going very well.
But I have a question: The one I am pursuing does not have its original factory box. How does it read on the factory box for these late-produced guns? Should the selling dealer and my in-state FFL write that gun up as a "4506" or as a "4506-1" or something else?
I'm not that worried about it as long as the two of them are consistent with each other but it would be kind of nice if it matched what it would have said on the original factory box.
I live in moonbat MA after all and you never want to give nanny government any reason, no matter how small, to zing you.
FFL should list it just as it is marked on the gun, if the gun is stamped as a -1 or without the dash, nothing to be concerned about.
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