Hey guys, my buddy just picked up a 645 at a gun shoe yesterday and was curious as to what year it was born. The serial starts with TBB57***. Any idea what year this beauty left the factory?
Smith 645
- Thread starter Michaelp57
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Yendor357
Member
Tell your buddy to load some 185 grain Nosler JHP at 1000 fps. Very accurate in my gun. Great old gun.
Cue the Miami Vice theme song.
Cue the Miami Vice theme song.
I hope your buddy reloads!
The 645 was one of the most versatile and reliable 45 ACP autos.
It'll shoot great with everything from 185 gr target loads to loads using the Lyman 452454 255 gr SWC (designed for 45 Colt!).
When I had one, it would even manually cycle a magazine full of empty cases!
The 645 was one of the most versatile and reliable 45 ACP autos.
It'll shoot great with everything from 185 gr target loads to loads using the Lyman 452454 255 gr SWC (designed for 45 Colt!).
When I had one, it would even manually cycle a magazine full of empty cases!
OP
I'm pretty sure that he does. I just asked him to send me a couple of pictures of it, so hopefully I'll have them on here soon.
Venom6
Member
Magnificent guns. In 1986 the Portland (OR) Police Bureau authorized their first semi-autos; we could choose between the 645 or the SIG P220 (the chief said that if the guys wanted 9mm ballistics they could continue to carry their .38s). We had to buy our own guns, mags, and leather gear; agency provided ammo and a one-week transition course. My S&W was totally reliable; the only time it malfunctioned was when I pulled it back in close to my chest and fired and the slide smacked my armor and short-stroked; my fault. It, too, would feed anything, even empty cases. Knew Craig Spegal and he made a set of grips for it; looked like chocolate and caramel swirled together. Wish I still had it.
OP
JohnHL
Member
You end label displays a "shipped date" of July 15 1987 in "Julian Form" as the "Spec. Ord." number: 7196 (196th day of 1987).
John
John
The 645 is a "Great old gun"? Darn, Im old or as my son says, vintage.
squidsix
Member
Not that big and heavy.
People seem to say that a lot.
My 4506 weighs the just a little less than a full sized 1911.
Would be basically equal, but good old Guzzitaco took about an ounce off. Less maybe
People seem to say that a lot.
My 4506 weighs the just a little less than a full sized 1911.
Would be basically equal, but good old Guzzitaco took about an ounce off. Less maybe
- Joined
- May 9, 2025
- Messages
- 11
- Reaction score
- 17
I just picked one up (wasn't cheap) but...it was totally worth every penny! It came in the original box will all papers, plastic, cleaning kit, etc in the original box. A literal time capsule! Oh, and the serial # on mine is TAZ5*86... Sonny Crockett's screen used was TAS7586 (one letter and one number difference is pretty cool). The Standard Catalog, 5th ed., shows both TAZ and TBB prefixes to be 1987. The product registration card with mine has a date of "060187" stamped on it and the "Full One-Year Warranty" card has a handwritten date of "8-22-1987" which I am guessing was the date of purchase and thus the date from which the one-year full warranty started. I am sending in a letter request for this soon and will update.
Attachments
Frank Black
Member
The M645 is a great gun. Mine's got a 'TBR' prefix - so towards the end of the run, I think.
It's never bobbled once and is quite accurate.
It's never bobbled once and is quite accurate.
- Joined
- May 9, 2025
- Messages
- 11
- Reaction score
- 17
What defensive ammo brand/grain/+P does the 645 seem to like best? I run HST, Gold dot, critical duty, and Winchester Ranger T (when I can find it!) in my other caliber Smiths but I am fairly new to the .45 acp. Anything the 645 does not do well with? Thanks in advance!
Every firearm is a rule unto itself, so you may need to try several brands to find what your particular Model 645 likes best. I do think that modern JHP ammo is far better than the stuff of the 1970's to early 2000's. With bullets like the HST, Gold Dot, Ranger T and Remington's Golden Saber, +P velocity is not necessary for reliable expansion, especially when fired through a 5 inch barrel.
Frank Black
Member
I haven't really shot any ammo in mine that displayed horrible accuracy. That includes handloads with 230grn coated HC bullets through the various generic 230grn factory ammo.
I haven't tried the lighter 185grn or 200grn loads. I did run a box of 230grn JHPs through it a couple of months back that felt more like a +P load, and the accuracy from 30-ft was pretty impressive.
Exchipy
Member
Well, at least it started out as a Smith & Wesson Model 645:
doubleclaw
Member
Oh, man...all these pics and anecdotes have me itching to get home so I can pick up the 645 and 4506 I just bought. I haven't owned either model since the 1990s, and I found an offer I couldn't refuse. Range time is gonna be LIT!
Frank Black
Member
The M645s were always underrated guns. The 4506s may have been a product "improvement" by way of the sights and the decocking lever, but I still prefer the 645's grip and frame to the 3rd Gens. The checkering on the front & back straps is a plus, as is the ability to swap out the grip panels easily.
On my guns, I've found that while both are equally accurate, the 645 has the smoother DA trigger and a better-feeling transition into SA mode. It also imparts an edgy sorta 'no-frills' military look to it.
Young dudes at the range shooting their polymer wut-evers have no idea what it is. They might know it's not a 1911 but otherwise …… clueless.
Last edited:
doubleclaw
Member
@Frank Black
Agreed on all counts.
I can see the S&W craftsmanship and attention to detail from your photos. The revolver style integral front sight with the colored insert is something you never see on a production automatic these days, and the lines are classic "1980s cop gun."
I have less than a month left on my rotation, and I am really, really looking forward to putting the 4506 and 645 through their paces at the range! I've been wanting to shoot the DS Qual with a single stack, just to see what results I get, and these might just be the guns with which to do it.
There's a guy named Ryan Grizzle who makes some of the best leather holsters I've ever worn, and he has the 4506-1 in his tool kit, but not the 645 or 4506, so I'm looking for a holster forming tool so I can send it his way to get a couple of IWB rigs made. His City Slicker 2 holster is a masterpiece, and I've been carrying a Colt Rail Gun in mine for the last four years in total comfort. I have no doubt that a similar rig for one of these heavy hitters would work just as well.
Agreed on all counts.
I can see the S&W craftsmanship and attention to detail from your photos. The revolver style integral front sight with the colored insert is something you never see on a production automatic these days, and the lines are classic "1980s cop gun."
I have less than a month left on my rotation, and I am really, really looking forward to putting the 4506 and 645 through their paces at the range! I've been wanting to shoot the DS Qual with a single stack, just to see what results I get, and these might just be the guns with which to do it.
There's a guy named Ryan Grizzle who makes some of the best leather holsters I've ever worn, and he has the 4506-1 in his tool kit, but not the 645 or 4506, so I'm looking for a holster forming tool so I can send it his way to get a couple of IWB rigs made. His City Slicker 2 holster is a masterpiece, and I've been carrying a Colt Rail Gun in mine for the last four years in total comfort. I have no doubt that a similar rig for one of these heavy hitters would work just as well.
