Seven For Sure
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Difference in 4506 and 4506-1
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The big difference is that the 4506-1 used the 10mm frame, with the MUCH thicker dust cover. The original 4506 frame did not need the reinforcement as the .45 ACP operates at lower pressures and is far less punishing.
The 1006 was designed around the FBI specifications calling for a 10mm that could fire at least 40,000 rounds of FULL POWER 10mm ammo (not the reduced 10mm finally adopted by the Bureau) without any problems. The 1006 easily accomplished this goal. The FBI ended up asking S&W for a smaller 10mm with a SIG-style decocking lever (ultimately the 1076).
Thus, the 4506-1 will be more durable (far more durable), but it is also heavier, and not as "nimble" in your hands.
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Seven For Sure
Member
So I guess I need to ask what kind of abomination do I have? TEU**** serial # 4506 no lightening cut/thick dustcover, square trigger guard. I'm also confused because I thought the lightening cut and round TG came with the -1's? I've done endless image searches on google for 4506 and 4506-1 and it appears my version of thick dustcover and square TG is pretty rare or there just happen to be less pics on the internet of this version.
I'm personally very happy with it because these pistols are known to be giant beasts. My version would likely weigh more than the other versions. To me, that's a good thing. Especially for some mild 45 Super. I have upped the strength of hammer spring, recoil spring and +10% mag springs.
I'm personally very happy with it because these pistols are known to be giant beasts. My version would likely weigh more than the other versions. To me, that's a good thing. Especially for some mild 45 Super. I have upped the strength of hammer spring, recoil spring and +10% mag springs.
Seven For Sure
Member
That looks like a square trigger guard 4506-1, most likely a transition model using up older frames. Need a picture of top of slide showing the barrel hood to be sure. Look at the photo of a 4506 in this post and note how the frame is stepped in front of the trigger:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-semi-auto-pistols/104162-pic-my-early-4506-a.html
And here are photos of the barrel hood difference notice the -1 is quite a bit wider:
Being our serial # prefix's are the same and we both have 'T' stamped on the left side of the trigger guard but in different places, mine is a 4506 and his a -1....... I'm guessing the T is stamped for transition. I'm sure our pistols were made within a month or less of eachother. Maybe within a week?
Another Transitional 4506-1
I just received this 4506-1. As you can see, it's another TEU transitional pistol. I wonder how many of these were made? After many hours of digging, I've found 3, including mine. Notice the very lightly struck "-1". Also, for some reason mine has the "T" proof mark right above the mag release button instead of on the trigger guard. Also, mine has a polished slide. If it is an aftermarket polish job, they did an excellent job in not polishing the top rail of the slide. I have seen some factory 645 with polish to this level..not mirror...but a shiny satin look.
I have a few of these in 10mm, and wasn't really looking to purchase a 45 cal, but this one was just too cool. I love that square trigger guard. And, of course it can just as easily be used for a club if ammo runs out!
I just received this 4506-1. As you can see, it's another TEU transitional pistol. I wonder how many of these were made? After many hours of digging, I've found 3, including mine. Notice the very lightly struck "-1". Also, for some reason mine has the "T" proof mark right above the mag release button instead of on the trigger guard. Also, mine has a polished slide. If it is an aftermarket polish job, they did an excellent job in not polishing the top rail of the slide. I have seen some factory 645 with polish to this level..not mirror...but a shiny satin look.
I have a few of these in 10mm, and wasn't really looking to purchase a 45 cal, but this one was just too cool. I love that square trigger guard. And, of course it can just as easily be used for a club if ammo runs out!
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Jon651
Member
New to the 4506 (and the forum), just purchased one two weeks ago. Love the pistol! My question, however is why my pistol is stamped 4506-1 but has a square trigger guard. I'm not seeing things, and have googled this to the point of a migraine. Can anyone help me out? The "-1" looks a little wonky, so I'm wondering if a previous owner decided to "Mall ninja" the frame and stamp the -1 on it, or if it is in fact a "-1" with a square trigger guard.
Either way, it shoots like a dream and is built like a tank.
Thanks in advance!
S
Your picture is positively a 4506-1. The "no dash" models have an angled step cut on the side just above the finger hole for the trigger and the slides between the 4506 and 4506-1 are NOT interchangeable. What you have is a very early run of the 4506-1 where they still used the combat style trigger guard before they decided to round it off.
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Not necessarily so. That gun above appears to me to have been electro-penned with the 'dash 1' after the OEM rollmark. Other than some bench assembly numbers on a few PC guns I don't recall ever seeing anything electro-penned on a production gun coming out of Springfield. As evidence I present my NoDash 4506 which is configured exactly the same as an early Dash1 gun before the R1 & R3 revisions except for the 'first' triggerguard... serial# TEU20XX.
Cheers
Bill
Hi Bill,
Not sure if you were talking about my gun, but I do not believe my "-1" was electro penciled. The lines are extremely straight. It looks to me like S&W used an old 4506 rough frame, machined it for the new slide (left out the machining for the step down), and simply hand stamped the "-1", that's why it's lighter and less pronouned. Just my $.02. Any other guesses? My pictures were posted yesterday. This is an old thread, but I thought it might be a good idea to keep these transitional pieces together.
Not sure if you were talking about my gun, but I do not believe my "-1" was electro penciled. The lines are extremely straight. It looks to me like S&W used an old 4506 rough frame, machined it for the new slide (left out the machining for the step down), and simply hand stamped the "-1", that's why it's lighter and less pronouned. Just my $.02. Any other guesses? My pictures were posted yesterday. This is an old thread, but I thought it might be a good idea to keep these transitional pieces together.
Nope, I was referring to that gun picture up there in post #7 and #27. I can't really see the rollmarks clearly on your gun however it does look familiar... Did I not see that one listed on Gunbroker by some dealer in NM. a few weeks ago?
Cheers
Bill
Cheers
Bill
Jon651
Member
Not necessarily so. That gun above appears to me to have been electro-penned with the 'dash 1' after the OEM rollmark. Other than some bench assembly numbers on a few PC guns I don't recall ever seeing anything electro-penned on a production gun coming out of Springfield. As evidence I present my NoDash 4506 which is configured exactly the same as an early Dash1 gun before the R1 & R3 revisions except for the 'first' triggerguard... serial# TEU20XX.
Cheers
Bill
But the squared trigger guard was not the only differentiator between the 4506 and the 4506-1. The "no dash" versions also had a machined step on the side of the receiver just above the trigger and all of the other versions (-1, -2, etc.) had a smooth side like the pistol in the original photo. I've added two pics of my 4506 (no dash) to show the step (although it has a 4516 slide mounted). While it has been stated in other threads that there have been early run -1 models of certain 3rd gen semi-autos with the combat style trigger guard, there are no "no dash" 4506 models that do not have the machined step in the side - that I know of, of course.
But naturally since this is Smith and Wesson virtually ANYTHING is possible...
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Hi Jon,
I'll let Bill correct me of course, but it looks like his example does indeed have the newer "-1" machining to the slide which accepts the newer non-ridge top "-1" slide. That's the reason why these guns are scarce., they are transitional pieces They possess characteristics of both the "-1" and no dash models.
Tony
I'll let Bill correct me of course, but it looks like his example does indeed have the newer "-1" machining to the slide which accepts the newer non-ridge top "-1" slide. That's the reason why these guns are scarce., they are transitional pieces They possess characteristics of both the "-1" and no dash models.
Tony
And a raised rib atop the slide, and no partial rails on the dust cover, and sharp milled cuts instead of a blended radii where the trigger guard meets the frame, and a barrel that is significantly wider across the camming lugs & feedramp.
Here's one
By far my absolute favorite 4506 variant right there. Took me a few years and several missed auction bids to finally score one of these transitional guns. There are also some M4566 pistols out there in like configuration with the 'first trigger guard', I'm after one of those now.
Cheers
Bill
Nope, I took that picture on my desk about oh, perhaps four years ago.
From what I've read, back in the day...There were some reports of frame cracks on some 4506 nodash guns right at the step in the frame. That step is coincidentally right where the camming lugs are located which pull the barrel down and unlock the breech during recoil.
My sense of things is the dash1 engineering changes addressed this cracking issue by doing away with the frame step along with a slight narrowing of the barrels camming lugs & feedramp to permit strengthening/thickening the walls of the frame at the camming lug area.
That's merely my guess of course. If I'm offbase here hopefully someone more knowledgeable than I will chime in.
Cheers
Bill
Here's one
By far my absolute favorite 4506 variant right there. Took me a few years and several missed auction bids to finally score one of these transitional guns. There are also some M4566 pistols out there in like configuration with the 'first trigger guard', I'm after one of those now.
Cheers
Bill
Here is another one...with a standard rear sight. TEP prefix.
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My 4506-1 R1 is identical to the one in jughed440s picture. Serial prefix is TYN.
It is my one "pawnshop rescue" pistol. I stole it too!
It was a Mendotta IL police duty gun before I got it. How it made it to NC is a mystery. Although Robertsons Trading post had a lot of them, from the same department around the time I got mine.
It shoots like a laser. Today I carry it at my part-time job in the LGS. The shop is located about 100 yards from a large encampment of miscreants.
Great pistols! Regards 18DAI
It is my one "pawnshop rescue" pistol. I stole it too!
It was a Mendotta IL police duty gun before I got it. How it made it to NC is a mystery. Although Robertsons Trading post had a lot of them, from the same department around the time I got mine.It shoots like a laser. Today I carry it at my part-time job in the LGS. The shop is located about 100 yards from a large encampment of miscreants.
Great pistols! Regards 18DAI
Jon651
Member
I have a question for Bill in reference to Post #33 of this thread. I didn't want to quote it because it is quite long, but I am only referring to the final photo where he shows his 4506 No Dash without the step in the side of the frame.
I noticed a thinner black trigger, different surface on the front of the grip (textured instead of machined grooves or checks), and possibly a different hammer (the picture doesn't show it well enough). Are these all from the factory or something that was performed after-market?
I'm learning a lot about these pistols in this and other threads, so I figured it doesn't hurt to ask questions!
I noticed a thinner black trigger, different surface on the front of the grip (textured instead of machined grooves or checks), and possibly a different hammer (the picture doesn't show it well enough). Are these all from the factory or something that was performed after-market?
I'm learning a lot about these pistols in this and other threads, so I figured it doesn't hurt to ask questions!
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