Model 645 confusion

[izoom2]

Picked up a model stamped 645 with fixed rear sight and searched the serial number. Couldn't find anything on it but my brother had an older S&W model and serial number reference book. It had it listed as a 4506?
Serial number TBB 0974 when I do a Google search shows it belongs to 4506 but the frame is stamped 645 and it has black one piece grips, fixed rear sight and solid front sight.
Thanks

 

[ACEd]

Photos would get more info.

Wrap around grips make it more likely a 3rd Gen 4506 circa 1988. 645 had 2 grip panels. 4506 would have pinned right side safety lever, 645 would have screwed on right safety lever.

Maybe a transition piece. I can account for 2 x 645 TBB5721 Product Code 103712 Date Code 7196 (1987) and TBB6441 Product Code 103712 Date Code 7195 (1987).

I've never seen a general cross reference of specific serial number to model number. What reference are you referring to?

 

[izoom2]

Photos would get more info.

Wrap around grips make it more likely a 3rd Gen 4506 circa 1988. 645 had 2 grip panels. 4506 would have pinned right side safety lever, 645 would have screwed on right safety lever.

Maybe a transition piece. I can account for 2 x 645 TBB5721 Product Code 103712 Date Code 7196 (1987) and TBB6441 Product Code 103712 Date Code 7195 (1987).

I've never seen a general cross reference of specific serial number to model number. What reference are you referring to?

 

[izoom2]

Photos would get more info.

Wrap around grips make it more likely a 3rd Gen 4506 circa 1988. 645 had 2 grip panels. 4506 would have pinned right side safety lever, 645 would have screwed on right safety lever.

Maybe a transition piece. I can account for 2 x 645 TBB5721 Product Code 103712 Date Code 7196 (1987) and TBB6441 Product Code 103712 Date Code 7195 (1987).

I've never seen a general cross reference of specific serial number to model number. What reference are you referring to?

Thanks for the reply, I still need to clean it and take pictures, I'll get that done tomorrow. Not sure if the title of the reference book he has but will ask. He said it listed serial number ranges by date.
Searched the serial number on Google as a 645 with no information but found it with a 4506 in the search.

 

[Venom6]

ACEd is right, of course. While I am certainly no expert I carried a 645 as a Portland Police officer when that agency authorized limited semi-auto's in the late 80's. It had two grip panels; I put cocobolo Craig Spegels on mine. The 4506 was a significantly different redesign, and utilized a one-piece plastic wrap-around grip in place of the 645's metal backstrap IIRC.

 

[jhicks]

For a time rather a long time back I had a pistol just as you described. The gentleman who provided me the pistol advised that he had received it from S&W for preproduction evaluation of the 4506 as as a gunwriter. I no longer have it, nor do I recall its serial number. Hope this helps.

 

[izoom2]

ACEd is right, of course. While I am certainly no expert I carried a 645 as a Portland Police officer when that agency authorized limited semi-auto's in the late 80's. It had two grip panels; I put cocobolo Craig Spegels on mine. The 4506 was a significantly different redesign, and utilized a one-piece plastic wrap-around grip in place of the 645's metal backstrap IIRC.

I bought it because it was a 645 but was looking to get a dat
e of manufacture from the serial numbers and couldn't find anything specific. Do you contact S&W on specifics?
The reference my brother used is "the standard catalog of Smith and Wesson" by jim supica and Richard Nahas

 

[ACEd]

It appears you have a transitional 2nd-3rd generation 6450 circa 1988. There appear to be 2 variations both with frames marked 645 but boxend marked 6450 both with s/n starting TBx.

The first version was a modified 2nd generation frame with frame marked 645 and Box marked 6450.

The 2nd version was considered an early production (pilot) 4506 Product code 10371x adding to the confusion of 1 pistol with 3 model designations - Box end marked 6450, Pistol marked 645, Listed as 4506 (pilot).

It appears yours is one of the first 2 variants.

To add to the confusion there was a 3rd 6450 model made from transitional parts in 1991 for RSR with s/n RSR0001-0092

Information extracted from skjos table of 3rd production models - see link in later post

 

[Venom6]

Standard Catalog (3rd Ed.) states the 645 was produced from 1985-1988 (p. 293). The 4506 in 1988, with serial numbers commencing at DVM0001 (p.309). Your serial number suggests a production date in 1987 (p.401), and would seem to predate the 4506 block, but S&W serial numbering began to get a bit wonky in that era. Please do keep us posted.

 

[Exchipy]

Wanna talk about transitioning? I popped 3rd Gen. guts and a Wolff 3 pound trigger return spring into my 645 for a vastly improved trigger pull, installed a Bar-Sto barrel and a modified Model 745 one sided safety, gnawed off the finger hook from the front of the trigger guard, dovetailed the front for a Wilson Combat white dot sight, and Novak cut the rear for an MMC adjustable. So, I had transitioned it into something entirely different, which sorta looks like a 645. Worked out swell:

 

[izoom2]

It appears you have a transitional 2nd-3rd generation 6450 circa 1988. There appear to be 2 variations both with frames marked 645 but boxend marked 6450 both with s/n starting TBx.

The first version was a modified 2nd generation frame with frame marked 645 and Box marked 6450.

The 2nd version was considered an early production (pilot) 4506 Product code 10371x adding to the confusion of 1 pistol with 3 model designations - Box end marked 6450, Pistol marked 645, Listed as 4506 (pilot).

It appears yours is one of the first 2 variants.

To add to the confusion there was a 3rd 6450 model made from transitional parts in 1991 for RSR with s/n RSR0001-0092

Information extracted from skjos table of 3rd production models

Thank you very much, I'm going to have to start picking up reference books when I find them.

 

[izoom2]

Standard Catalog (3rd Ed.) states the 645 was produced from 1985-1988 (p. 293). The 4506 in 1988, with serial numbers commencing at DVM0001 (p.309). Your serial number suggests a production date in 1987 (p.401), and would seem to predate the 4506 block, but S&W serial numbering began to get a bit wonky in that era. Please do keep us posted.

Thanks and will do. I don't collect Smiths, but that's all I've owned. (Okay, maybe a couple others)

 

[ACEd]

See 6450 entry in 3rd Gen https://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-semi-auto-pistols/350215-complete-3rd-gen-model-list.html

 

[izoom2]

Wish people would clean their weapons, this one was filthy but cleaned up okay

 

[izoom2]

Wish people would clean their weapons, this one was filthy but cleaned up okay

 

[izoom2]

Last ones

 

[Sevens]

Wish people would clean their weapons, this one was filthy but cleaned up okay

I say careful what you wish for.

I believe more firearms get damaged from reckless and overzealous cleaning than from guns that are ignored.

Far too many ham-fisted Fudds using the wrong tools and going great gonzo on guns who believe they are doing God’s work.

 

[ACEd]

Nice looking pistol all cleaned up. Definitely an early frame - 2 piece (2 panel) grips - the later 4506 one piece are wrap around. The screw on right side of safety is "2nd Generation". Third gen was pinned. The trigger guard is not quite D shape but not curved either. I would still say one of the 6450 (Interim or possibly 4506 Pilot) pistols marked 645 per the table in the skjos attachment in my earlier link. A unique pistol worth keeping.

6450 (Interim)	.45ACP	TDA	5	Stainless	Stainless	Single	08rd	1988	Modified 2nd gen frame marked 645, box marked 6450 (10371x), "TBx"
6450 (Pilot)	.45ACP	TDA	5	Stainless	Stainless	Single	08rd	1988	Early prod. 4506, frame marked 645, box marked 6450 (10371x), "TBx"

 

[izoom2]

Nice looking pistol all cleaned up. Definitely an early frame - 2 piece (2 panel) grips - the later 4506 one piece are wrap around. The screw on right side of safety is "2nd Generation". Third gen was pinned. The trigger guard is not quite D shape but not curved either. I would still say one of the 6450 (Interim or possibly 4506 Pilot) pistols marked 645 per the table in the skjos attachment in my earlier link. A unique pistol worth keeping.

6450 (Interim)	.45ACP	TDA	5	Stainless	Stainless	Single	08rd	1988	Modified 2nd gen frame marked 645, box marked 6450 (10371x), "TBx"
6450 (Pilot)	.45ACP	TDA	5	Stainless	Stainless	Single	08rd	1988	Early prod. 4506, frame marked 645, box marked 6450 (10371x), "TBx"

Thanks for all the information and I don't plan on getting rid of it anytime soon.
Question, in the future, if I want to sell or trade, what model do I value it at? What's it worth without box or papers?
George

 

[stansdds]

That is a nice looking Model 645 you have and it still has it's original grips. Many owners would ditch the nylon grips and replace them with Pachmayr rubber grips, which did make the pistol less slippery in sweaty hands.