Jetpilot007
SWCA Member
Don't know much about this model. LGS has one for $699 in excellent condition. How many were produced? It has wood grips. Truly a beauty.
May consider a purchase.
May consider a purchase.
Thoughts on S&W 745
- Thread starter Jetpilot007
- Start date
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The S&W 745 was produced between 1986 and 1990 with about 5,000 being produced. It was a single-action target pistol with blued steel slide and stainless steel receiver. It came with factory wooden grips. One small fraction of the production run was marked, "IPSC 10th Anniversary Commemorative" and and another fraction was inscribed "ISPC 10th Anniversary 1976 to 1986."
Double-O-Dave
US Veteran
Big Boy did a good job of describing the piece - a SA target pistol that was used primarily for ISPC shooting. They are 2nd generation S&W semiauto handguns that were very pricey back in the day. As I recall, they don't sell well in the used market as buyers seem to prefer the Model 645, or the classic 1911. I don't think the price quoted is unreasonable, but I think you could probably get it at a better (lower) price. Personally, I'd offer something like $425.00 (cash, out the door) and see where the seller goes from there.
Best of luck,
Dave
Best of luck,
Dave
OP
Jetpilot007
SWCA Member
Thanks for the Intel gentlemen
There are nine different variations (product codes) of the 745. They were produced around 3 main configurations
As already mentioned this pistol was chosen as IPSC's 10th anniversary firearm. While 5,000 of those were ordered with a DVC serial number prefix, several numbered above 5,000 have shown up. This was offered as seen above as well as a very rare factory engraved version
Then there was the standard 745 with fixed Novak sights. Several runs of this firearm were produced over the years
I do not have a photo of the third main configuration. It is a standard 745 fitted with adjustable sights.
There is no known total quantity of all 9 product codes. However I have no doubt that it exceeds the 10,000 mark
These were a very good production offering from S&W for the action shooter.
Obviously version, condition and completeness of the package contribute greatly to value. Recent auctions have seen these sell from $450 for a shooter to over $1,000 for a pristine unfired version. One of the auction sites has one right now with the current bid (7 bids) sitting at $899
As already mentioned this pistol was chosen as IPSC's 10th anniversary firearm. While 5,000 of those were ordered with a DVC serial number prefix, several numbered above 5,000 have shown up. This was offered as seen above as well as a very rare factory engraved version
Then there was the standard 745 with fixed Novak sights. Several runs of this firearm were produced over the years
I do not have a photo of the third main configuration. It is a standard 745 fitted with adjustable sights.
There is no known total quantity of all 9 product codes. However I have no doubt that it exceeds the 10,000 mark
These were a very good production offering from S&W for the action shooter.
Obviously version, condition and completeness of the package contribute greatly to value. Recent auctions have seen these sell from $450 for a shooter to over $1,000 for a pristine unfired version. One of the auction sites has one right now with the current bid (7 bids) sitting at $899
I think a $425 estimate or offer is substantially lower than the market WILL bear at this time. I went chasing for my 745 more than two years ago and no way would $425 have gotten it done.
Today, I would say that even a far from mint example with wear (but fully functional and loveable) is going to run north of $500, and far north of $500 as the condition goes up.
These are fantastic pistols and expect to LOVE one if you get one, but please don't expect it to be fitted like a Performance Center pistol because it is not. It won't feel like a PC gun and it probably will not shoot quite to that level.
I love mine a whole heckuva lot.
Today, I would say that even a far from mint example with wear (but fully functional and loveable) is going to run north of $500, and far north of $500 as the condition goes up.
These are fantastic pistols and expect to LOVE one if you get one, but please don't expect it to be fitted like a Performance Center pistol because it is not. It won't feel like a PC gun and it probably will not shoot quite to that level.
I love mine a whole heckuva lot.
Aussie Collector
Member
I totally agree.
I did quite a bit of looking awhile back and concluded that there was at least 35000 made.
The DVC as you say run was just over 5000. The others appear in at least 4 different alpha prefix runs, my thinking being that 3 may have been completed (ran from XXX0001 ~ XXX9999).
My thoughts anyway.
shawn mccarver
SWCA Member
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I had one back in the day - the IPSC commemorative. I wish I still had it. It was very reliable. The 745 is combat accurate, not match accurate. In other words, it was NOT a .45 version of the Model 52. It was a "combat accurate" pistol designed for IPSC matches.
I agree the 745 was an IPSC gun.
The 45ACP heir to the model 52 throne is the model 845
gnappi
Member
I still have my IPSC model, they had serial numbers beginning with DVC but I've never heard of any serial numbers over 5000. Mine is DVC12xx.
What a lot of people do not know about the 745, is it will not jam, EVER period unless the reloader does something wrong (like reloading an unsized bulged case from a gun with an unsupported chamber) or you get a head separation, have a weak mag spring or severely limp wrist it.
The 745 will feed empty cases. Colt guys used to laugh at S&W's advertising and the things the gun rags were told to do to them to try and make them jam.
Well what happens if your case loses a crimp? The bullet sets back and EVERY OTHER .45 ever made wil choke on a bullet that's set back except the 745.
Hands down the 745 is the most reliable pistol I've owned.
I bought mine new in desperation because I was tired of throwing money at Colts and getting jams with them. The 745 stopped all that and I went up in standings significantly and I won enough money (when they still paid cash to winners) to pay for the 745!
What a lot of people do not know about the 745, is it will not jam, EVER period unless the reloader does something wrong (like reloading an unsized bulged case from a gun with an unsupported chamber) or you get a head separation, have a weak mag spring or severely limp wrist it.
The 745 will feed empty cases. Colt guys used to laugh at S&W's advertising and the things the gun rags were told to do to them to try and make them jam.
Well what happens if your case loses a crimp? The bullet sets back and EVERY OTHER .45 ever made wil choke on a bullet that's set back except the 745.
Hands down the 745 is the most reliable pistol I've owned.
I bought mine new in desperation because I was tired of throwing money at Colts and getting jams with them. The 745 stopped all that and I went up in standings significantly and I won enough money (when they still paid cash to winners) to pay for the 745!
