4556 help

[younggun456]

I recently acquired a smith and wesson model 4556 to add to my 3rd gen 45acp collection. While I wasn't very familiar with the model once I got home I googled it and found that it's a pretty rare model. Here is my issue, my 4556 is blue and I can't seem to find any info on any blue 4556 being made. So either is gun was aftermarket blued or this is an extremely rare gun. Your input is greatly appreciated

 

[Heymatt]

Do you the box with the end label?

 

[URIT]

The 4556 is a DAO version of the 4516 which were stainless. I suspect your pistol was blued by a previous owner.

 

[mikerjf]

Mine was stainless (shoulda kept it if course…)

Never heard of a blue one before. Is your frame steel or alloy?

 

[Yendor357]

I have the 4566 TSW. Wow, is that thing accurate.

 

[ACEd]

According to most sources, the 4556 was only made in stainless - according to a SW letter there were 548 made TFS1562-TFS2039. A blued pistol with steel frame should have been a 4555 (no known examples). Most likely blued by prev owner as previously stated. That said, there were examples of the 4566 and 4566TSW in Melonite coated (black) stainless as well as the standard stainless.

 

[skjos]

I bought a stainless "blued/coated" 2206 once, it didn't take too long to fix it.

I'm not aware of S&W bluing stainless steel 3rd gen autos, they are usually finished with Melonite, which would hold up way better than the finish shown on your 4556.

I'm sure you can strip the blue/paint/or whatever it is, and then do a quick bead blast to return it to its original glory.

Is your serial number inside the range posed by ACEd?

BTW, I used "Jasco Premium Paint & Epoxy Remover" to strip the coating from the 2206. If it is bluing than "Birchwood Casey Blue & Rust Remover" should do the trick.

 

[Aegis]

I have a 4556 also, stainless..I agree none were produced in blue.

 

[LVSteve]

That 'bluing' almost looks like British Enfield Suncorite paint.

 

[younggun456]

Do you the box with the end label?

Nope no box.

 

[younggun456]

Is your serial number in the range posed by ACEd?

No the serial number is TFS

 

[gunbarrel]

Are you 100% sure it's not a 4566 with the black finish...?

 

[4T5GUY]

That 'bluing' almost looks like British Enfield Suncorite paint.

Exactly what I thought but of course it isn’t since that finish has been banned for some time now.

Jim

 

[mikerjf]

Mine was TFS 17xx.

 

[younggun456]

Are you 100% sure it's not a 4566 with the black finish...?

Nope the frame says model 4556

 

[stansdds]

My guess is that it has been given a spray-on refinish, maybe Cerakote or Gunkote.

 

[URIT]

Do a forum search for "S&W 4556: A Rare 3rd Gen piece". This thread has some good info that you might find interesting. The thread starts in 2009 and is picked up again in 2021.

 

[SmithNut]

Never heard of a blued/blackened version of the M4556.
As noted above, prolly something a previous owned had done.

Here's mine

Also in this pic along with some of it's siblings...

Enjoy.............

(Click on the pics for a larger view)

 

[skjos]

No the serial number is TFS

Thread "S&W 4556: A Rare 3rd Gen piece" post #14 notes a production letter quantity (548), but it does not indicate the range. Based on observed pistols, the range is somewhere around "TFS1562-TFS2039", but that is only 477 pistols. Your serial number appears to be TFS207x, which brings the range closer to the total number produced.

I edited my earlier post to include stripping information, if you should choose to undertake the task.
A "4556 Rescue" thread would be awesome.

 

[ACEd]

No the serial number is TFS

Group was TFS1562-2039 so question is whether your TFS falls within that numerical range The reason for the question comes from my discovery of additional build groups of 6944 not previously known after I bought one not in published range.