I was checking GunBroker and found this...
It looks like a 5946 with a blackened finish. Does anyone know anything about these?

I think it is called "melanite" or somesuch. They put it on several stainless guns, 686's etc. It shows scratches quickly and holster wear is exaggerated so it got DC'd pretty quick. I'm sure the more knowledgeable here can supply more info. Joe

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Yep, the guns in question are Melonite coated 5946's. They are RCMP or other Canadian law enforcement guns imported back into the US. The Canadians love their DAO Smiths (and you can't blame them!). Otherwise they are simply tried and true Smith & Wessons. The price is reasonable for the amount of holster wear.

Those guns look pre-melonite. They appear to have a shake-n-bake coating on them. Maybe Black-T or something similar. Melonite doesn't usually wear like that.

Touche.

I know the RCMP has ordered T&E Melonite guns in the past. I wonder if this was done at S&W or by the original buyer / wholesaler / department?

Those pistols were made before 1998. Smith (or anybody else) wasn't using melonite back then. The factory had some kind of coating back then called "Midnight Black" that had poor wear qualities. That might be what is on them. Otherwise, it could be something by Robar or Birdsong.

They look like a good deal, I may try and get one.

The guns listed on GB have what I believe is the RCMP bar code sticker on the left side of the slide. I've seen it before on standard 5946's.

The first time I saw melonite on a 3rd gen smith was in 98 or 99, when they made some samples of leftover 4566's (the 4566TSW had just come out). Since the RCMP has had a standing contract, it is quite possible that S&W continued to supply older style 5946's to them well after the introduction of the 5946TSW. If that is the case, they may have sent some in melonite for use by detectives (or just for evaluation).

If that is the case, some of these seem to have been heavily evaluated. One is in fairly good condition, another has had the trigger replaced with a silver one.

Hope this helps.

Not to bring back the dead, but I asked this question this week, and although it got quite a few views, it only got one answer. I just acquired a 5946TSW that is blackened. I carry an M&P 45 fullsize at work so I know what melonite® looks like, and I don't think this is melonite®. Overall the gun looks good, but does have some wear. Anyone have any concrete information on these?

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Looks like this is one of those obscure S&W products that not many people know much about. I'm curious myself.

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