4513TSW and 457 and CS45 are Alloy Frames with steel slides. The 4516 (3? versions) are stainless steel frames.
Early 4513TSW (1997-1999) without rail were 6rd magazines with shorter notched grip to accommodate short magazine. These are relatively rare. Magazines are also rare.
Late 4513TSW (2000-2004) were 7rd magazines and most (but not all) had attached rails via 2 rivets. The frames were different in that the grips match the longer 7rd magazines and the geometry where the rails mount was reconfigured to accommodate the rail. Those without rail may have no holes drilled or may have holes plugged with plastic rivets. The rails may be removed for easier holstering but rivets are no longer available.
The 457 (1996-2006) is also a 7rd pistol with an alloy frame. Barrel is listed as 3.75 in. It is available in blue, silver (457S), two-tone Blue over silver, and a Double Action Only (DAO) variant the 457D (rare). The 457 was part of the later Economy line which detractors argue is more square with plastic sights and poorer quality blueing.
The 4516 was made in at least 3 variants all 7rd with Stainless frame and slide. The initial 4516 (no dash) (1988-89) reportedly had feed issues in some (but not all) pistols.
As a result the 4516-1 (1989-92) changed overall geometry and both internal features (feed ramp?) and the magazine geometry (changes at top of metal tube and change to yellow follower - mags were generally marked "for 4516-1 only")
The 4516-1 changes apparently did not address all feed issues (operator issues??) and the 4516-2 (1993-1997) made further changes including going to a dual recoil spring and further magazine geometry changes (magazines with black follower used in all later 7rd versions including 4513TSW and 457).
A 4th version (potentially the same as the 4516-2 but not marked with any dash number on frame) referred to as "-3" was sold after 1997. The pistols are not marked with dash but have "03" on box end label. They are distinguishable from the early 4516 no dash by exterior geometry and dual recoil spring.
It appears many of the earlier 4516 and some of the 4516-1 pistols were retrofitted with the smaller diameter recoil guide rod and dual recoil spring setup using a hat shaped bushing added at the front of the slide to accommodate the smaller guide rod. I can only account for 2 4516 no dash with single recoil spring compared to 4 with the adapter and dual recoil spring vs 1 4516-1 mod for dual spring and 12 with original single spring.
All of the above appear to have the 3.75 in barrel with steel slides. (Some of the earlier box ends show a 3.5 in barrel, but it is believed that the 4516 and 4513 barrels were always 3.75 in. - more on this in a separate thread).
The CS45 Chief's Special (1998-2006) is a 6rd 3.25in barrel Alloy frame pistol based on the Value Line pistols. It was made in Blue and Silver, with a carbon steel or stainless steel slide respectively. It was also made in a Double Action Only (DAO) CS45D version (rare).
Potentially the 457 and CS45 and variations of the 4516 are most readily found but the 4513TSW 7rd with rail are also out there.
The 7rd magazines exist in 3 variations - the original 4516 with Orange follower, the 4516-1 with Yellow follower, and the 4516-2 (and later 4513TSW 7rd and 457) with Black follower. Theoretically the black follower mags are backwards compatible but the Orange and Yellow follower mags should only be used as marked - but others report using all 3 mag variants interchangeably with no problems.
https://smith-wessonforum.com/smith...-magazines.html?highlight=4516+mag+variations
As I recall the CS45 6rd mags are slightly different from the early 4513TSW 6rd magazines.
