Model 645

Hard to tell from the fuzzy pics on my end, but is the OP's 645 a clean one, or does it look like it was run hard?
 
Huge fan. Mine is a weird transition model. Somewhere between 645 and 4506. I don't know too much about it. I replaced the rear sight with an LPA and the plastic, 4506 style, grips with Hogue. If anyone has more information about this one, I'd love to be educated.

smith and wesson 645 - YouTube
 
The back strap on the Model 645, just as is that of the 39/x39/59/x59 pistols, is aluminum.

Some were plastic--or somebody made plastic
replacements, for them.

Got a big mess of 1st & 2d Gen parts, and there's a
plastic backstrap in there. Looks about the
width for a 39, feels like ABS.
 
Huge fan. Mine is a weird transition model. Somewhere between 645 and 4506. I don't know too much about it. I replaced the rear sight with an LPA and the plastic, 4506 style, grips with Hogue. If anyone has more information about this one, I'd love to be educated.

smith and wesson 645 - YouTube

Nothing particularly weird there. You have a gun that is an early "no dash" 4506 that S&W marked as a 645, from early in the production cycle. Most likely, someone on the production floor hadn't gotten word to change the rollmark. Just S&W being S&W. Your serial number indicates a production year of 1988, the first year of 4506 production. So, you've got an early example where the rollmarks haven't caught up to the other changes.

Two "no dash" 4506s, but just a bit later in the production cycle and correctly marked.......

171522482.g05IRNSn.jpg
 
Last edited:
Why does victor L, keep spreading that BS about the backstrap as being Plastic!? Lies!
I own three backstraps they are aluminum. Aluminum is non magnetic! I have worked a file on this Aluminum part before. It definitely not plastic for Pete’s sake.

Just stop posting this ignorance on every 645 thread that you can!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: KFW
Nothing particularly weird there. You have a gun that is an early "no dash" 4506 that S&W marked as a 645, from early in the production cycle. Most likely, someone on the production floor hadn't gotten word to change the rollmark. Just S&W being S&W. Your serial number indicates a production year of 1988, the first year of 4506 production. So, you've got an early example where the rollmarks haven't caught up to the other changes.

Two "no dash" 4506s, but just a bit later in the production cycle and correctly marked.......

171522482.g05IRNSn.jpg

Nice to see a pic of an adjustable sight model. Mines a 645 with the adjustable sights, just never see pics of these. I was told on here that mine was produced in 1988 with its TBW serial number.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: KFW
Nice to see a pic of an adjustable sight model. Mines a 645 with the adjustable sights, just never see pics of these.

The adjustable sight doesn't get a lot of love. In fact, there's at least one poster around here who seems to have an irrational hatred for it. The complaints are always about it being ugly. Okay, but if one's choosing their weapon based upon fashion appeal, we have nothing else to discuss. It is, in fact, probably the strongest and best protected adjustable sight ever put onto an auto pistol. The pistol with the fixed sights is my EDC, but that has nothing to do with the type of sight.

I was told on here that mine was produced in 1988 with its TBW serial number.

That is correct.
 
The adjustable sight doesn't get a lot of love. In fact, there's at least one poster around here who seems to have an irrational hatred for it. The complaints are always about it being ugly. Okay, but if one's choosing their weapon based upon fashion appeal, we have nothing else to discuss. It is, in fact, probably the strongest and best protected adjustable sight ever put onto an auto pistol. The pistol with the fixed sights is my EDC, but that has nothing to do with the type of sight.



That is correct.

It’s amazing the things people dislike.
I feel that the Phillips head screw on the safety is the watt on the 645. In fact I have a new 4506 safety in my parts bin for when the Phillips head annoys me too much. Just can’t get myself to swap out that wart lol.
 
It’s amazing the things people dislike.
I feel that the Phillips head screw on the safety is the watt on the 645. In fact I have a new 4506 safety in my parts bin for when the Phillips head annoys me too much. Just can’t get myself to swap out that wart lol.

That screw is the one thing on that design that always makes me wonder, "What were you thinking?"
 
I had one traded for a few other guns. I still have some mags and a belt left hand holster I believe, I just would use the holster when out shooting, a giveaway if interested, same with mags old and used think one or two a yellow and orange followers. Still have a 669 and cs645 that I carry.
 
Some were plastic--or somebody made plastic
replacements, for them.

Got a big mess of 1st & 2d Gen parts, and there's a
plastic backstrap in there. Looks about the
width for a 39, feels like ABS.


You sure that plastic main spring housing/back strap is not one of those hard to find S&W Model 59/x59 arched housings?
 
Nice to see a pic of an adjustable sight model. Mines a 645 with the adjustable sights, just never see pics of these.
That's because the adjustable sight models were always the less desired models by L.E. and civies for EDC. Never big sellers.

A 645 with adjustable sights sounds horrific. Pic of a proper, non-horrific 645 is attached.

Plus these 2nd & 3rd Gen guns were always intended to be 'street fighters' first, not lazy Sunday afternoon target or Match guns, despite the fact that they're typically very accurate outta da box.

All my S&W autos run fixed sights. No snaggy, hedge trimmer adjustables for this dude.

Just sayin'. ;)
 

Attachments

  • photo.jpg
    photo.jpg
    69.5 KB · Views: 36
Last edited:
That's because the adjustable sight models were always the less desired models by L.E. and civies for EDC. Never big sellers.

A 645 with adjustable sights sounds horrific. Pic of a proper, non-horrific 645 is attached.

Plus these 2nd & 3rd Gen guns were always intended to be 'street fighters' first, not lazy Sunday afternoon target or Match guns, despite the fact that they're typically very accurate outta da box.

All my S&W autos run fixed sights. No snaggy, hedge trimmer adjustables for this dude.

Just sayin'. ;)

Lol
From what I remember the 645’s came about because S&W’s shooter needed a S&W pistol to shoot, eventually leading to the 745.
 
You sure that plastic main spring housing/back strap is not one of those hard to find S&W Model 59/x59 arched housings?

Nope, it's too short. Just compared it to what I have
handy, and it's an exact "length match" to a 4513TSW
backstrap.

And confirmed it's plastic...took a single edge
razor blade and shaved a smidget from it.

I'll take a pic tomorrow, if it's an item of interest.
 
Nope, it's too short. Just compared it to what I have
handy, and it's an exact "length match" to a 4513TSW
backstrap.

And confirmed it's plastic...took a single edge
razor blade and shaved a smidget from it.

I'll take a pic tomorrow, if it's an item of interest.


I'd be interested to see it.
 
Lol
From what I remember the 645’s came about because S&W’s shooter needed a S&W pistol to shoot, eventually leading to the 745.
That's exactly right. ... DA/SA M645 -----> SAO M745. I had one of those, a non-IPSC model.

The 745s, from the factory, sported a large fixed Novak-style 'ski jump' rear sight that was adjustable for windage only in the dovetail. Mine hit to POA right outta da box, and it shot very tight groups. I shot it in a few local IDPA-type matches.

It also had an oversized slide-mounted safety with no decocking ability. After checking to make the chamber was empty, you engaged the safety, pointed the muzzle in a safe direction, and then either thumbed the hammer down while pulling the trigger OR just pulled the trigger and the hammer hit the hammer block which the safety had engaged.

I watched a few RSOs, even after showing them a clear chamber, get all excited when I pulled the trigger on the M745 to drop the hammer once the slide was forward and that humongous safety was swiped on.

"Why didn't you decock it!", they'd scream. ... "I did," I'd reply with a sly grin. :)

"See, pulling the trigger is S&W's way of 'decocking' a single-action gun." ;)
 
Last edited:
Back
Top