Have read many good things about the M-745

[Yendor357]

Mine shoots really well. What’s weird is that I never could shoot very good groups from a rest with any of my S&W 45 autos. But offhand, they’re awesome. Go figure.

I’ve never seen a 745 with black screws, other than mine. I’ve never seen grip panels that light either. The grip panels are as light as my oak veneer desk top. Maybe it was one of the last ones, and they were using whatever parts they had laying around.
The magazines that came with it look incorrect. It’s a mutt. lol

I had one bck when they first came out, and shot it a lot. I moved on to 1911s. A few years back, I got into the gen 3 Smith autos, which are very fine guns, so a “new” 745 seemed appropriate.

 

[gnappi]

My 745 is THE most reliable feeding .45 I ever had. It will even feed empties.

 

[smitholdtimer]

Tntwcg3

I was hoping for an explanation concerning the difference in the Box Marking, is there any significance to the difference? Please explain if you will and thanks to all who have contributed to my learning experience with regard to the S&W Semi-Automatics.

 

[Sevens]

If he has the box, I bet ya a dollar to a donut that it will indeed say 7450 on it.

I actually read this wrong.

The late production adjustable sight 745's (all that I have seen) say "7450" on the box end label. The fixed sight 745's and IPSC 745's don't say 7450 on them.

 

[Sevens]

I’ve never seen a 745 with black screws, other than mine. I’ve never seen grip panels that light either. Maybe it was one of the last ones, and they were using whatever parts they had laying around.

I'll agree with both things you said here and add that you show very fine shootin' on that target at 18 yards.

 

[henry1089]

I have the 645 4506 and a 745. I like them all They all have nuances to them that I enjoy. I shoot them all they are great guns made with care by old school craftsman, not to be seen often these days on the wall at the LGS
I think $1350 is High, in my mind, but that all depends on how bad a person wants one. I have overpaid more than once for guns I wanted but I was willing to pay for it, and I plan on using it and keeping it and enjoying it
As mentioned, the trigger adjustments are unique to this gun.... other than the M52
I have a 52 no dash (large extractor) with the internal pre travel screw and the over travel adjustment on it. Just shot it the other day. Amazing gun, very fun and super accurate VERY light trigger!!
I'll be pulling out the 745 this coming week for a spin around the block

 

[Tntcwg3]

I was hoping for an explanation concerning the difference in the Box Marking, is there any significance to the difference?

Sam, according to the 4th edition SCSW, there were two product numbers for the 745s w/ adjustable sights; 103727 & 103906. I've got one of the latter product numbers, it is marked as a 7450 on the box label and was produced around 1990. this is also listed as a "special" run, which is supposed to denote a run of 100 or less examples. This run was within the right timeframe for many of the transitional pistols, even though a single action 3rd gen version of 745 never materialized. It may have been the case of S&W exhausting it's inventory of 745 frames.

 

[4T5GUY]

I have one of the 15 adjustable rear with the product code 170101. It can be found on page 434 of the SCSW 4th Ed.. They were put together in 1998.

I’m about sure these were the last 745’s to leave S&W and apparently some of the original 745 parts were long gone/sold off. Mine has a black PC safety lever not the normal 745 one. It seems they didn’t have any grip inserts either and converted a 659 to fit, (mostly.) It’s not a perfect replacement and has a LANYARD LOOP.

The rear sight looks wonky in the picture but it’s an optical delusion.

Jim

 

[dsf]

I would like to know - my 745 (in post #14) is serial # T884548 with the adjustable sight. Anything special?

It's been altered, so in a way am hoping for "not so much".

 

[Sevens]

I would like to know - my 745 (in post #14) is serial # T884548 with the adjustable sight. Anything special?

I think if you look again you may find that your serial prefix is TBB and not T88.

You can e-mail your serial number to S&W and ask for a ship date — and ask them for the product code also and that will give you the clear answer as to whether or not you somehow got a hold of something odd. (I think it’s unlikely)

Great looking work on your, though!

 

[vijonesjr]

Seems a little much

I purchased the same pistol on 7/21/24 on gunbroker.com for $800 with the original box, papers and tools. So that price seems a little high.

 

[Yendor357]

Obviously, a couple of them got away from me. At least they’re centered. I’m not a machine rest. lol! 5 of 8 hit a two inch square at 27 yards, sitting/ braced Elmer Kieth style. The 745 is one of the coolest old guns S&W ever made. Gotta love em!

I have this one for just a few months as of 10/22/24. I paid $575 plus all the fees that go with buying from Gun Broker. No box. 3 mags. It appeared to have been fired very little. Nice trigger! Good sights.

 

[Yendor357]

I shot the 645 just because. Like the 745, the first shot went a bit wide right. I could overlay these 2 targets, and the composite target wouldn’t be any bigger than the 745’s target.

The 645 has a later safety, a 745 mag release, Hogue wood grips with a bit of skateboard tape for looks and texture.

The rear sight is a Jack First replica. The notch isn’t as deep as the S&W rear sight. The Jack First rear sight simply isn’t as nice as the factory S&W 745 rear sight. But they’re attainable, and they work. Most people wouldn’t notice the difference unless you pointed it out.

 

[Brian Parrish]

MSRP

The MSRP was $699 in 1988.
That inflates to $1,863 today.
Nobody paid MSRP for any gun back then, so bear that in mind.
Also bear in mind that you may be talking to Boomer agers who cannot or will not adjust their price expectations for inflation. This is a phenomenon observed across the market and will depress prices well below inflation calculators.

 

[dsf]

I think if you look again you may find that your serial prefix is TBB and not T88.

You can e-mail your serial number to S&W and ask for a ship date — and ask them for the product code also and that will give you the clear answer as to whether or not you somehow got a hold of something odd. (I think it’s unlikely)

Great looking work on your, though!

You may be right, I thought "triple alpha" but those first two looked so much like the 8. Got to keep the :cheaters" on when reading serial numbers.

 

[rhythmint]

The M745 is ******* nice! That is definitely one of my grail guns.