Since you guys are among the best arbiters of value of the Third Generation S&W semi-autos, I invite your opinions as to the value of one of the exceptional non-PC models of the breed: the West Virginia State Police Model 4566TSW with the Melonite finish.

As you might know, around 750 of these (plus an overrun of possibly about 30) were produced for the agency and used from 2011 to 2018 until they were replaced by a polymer gun from a maker that shall not be named. They are decock-only with integral rail, night sights, and the durable Melonite finish, and were of course marked on both sides with "West Virginia State Police" and the agency's crest. I have also seen references made to a stainless steel barrel bushing on this TSW model, and would be interested to know what that's all about.

A rare few have sold with box, papers, and typically three magazines, including a very small number that were NIB. From what I've been able to tell, the complete sets sold from $1,200 to $1,600 depending on condition. Another small group of used pistols came on the market within the past year, reportedly selling in the $700 to $900 range based on word-of-mouth accounts.

So, Third Gen gurus, what say you about the price of, say, a used example and the typical three magazines? Is $700 to $900 about right, or did those folks get a screaming deal on this highly-sought-after gun? Lucky owners of these, what are your thoughts? And what criteria are any of you using in evaluating a gun like this? As always, photos are most welcome!

Of course, it goes without saying that I ask all this "for a friend of mine."

EDITED TO ADD: Here are some photos of a NIB example. I found these because Google is my friend. I think they were originally posted in a pictorial back in 2013 by member sawman, but the photo host later stopped supporting them. For some reason, though, they showed up on the search I did.

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Ukraine -- now more than ever

The few WVSP Melonite 4566TSWs that have sold on the auction boards have brought $900 to $1100.

The one that went for least was not LNIB. The others were. All were marked as you have described. With 3 mags. So, if the example your friend is looking at is LNIB with mags, docs ect - I'd say anything around $1K is a fair price and anything under $1K is a fair deal.

Good luck! Hope this helps. Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

Thanks, 18. No box and docs, just the pistol and three mags.

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Ukraine -- now more than ever

Here's one of the 750, never issued, never fired. It resides in the WV State Museum, where I work.

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	WVSP_S&W_4566_2.jpg (90.0 KB, 4 views)
	WVSP_S&W_4566_5.jpg (79.7 KB, 5 views)

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Heavily armed old man.

vigil617, with no box and 3 mags I'd expect to pay in the $800 to $900 range.

Unless I really wanted it........which I do! Regards 18DAI

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7 +1 Rounds of hope & change

What a beautiful looking pistol. It’s such a shame that S&W doesn’t make these anymore. I know that S&W can barely turn a profit selling inexpensive polymer M&Ps with presumably strong market penetration, but there’s just something so cool about these late model TSWs, with all the years of improvements and their integrated rails. Just gorgeous in stainless or black...

Didn't even know these existed until very recently, always thought CHP was the only agency large and stubborn enough to even leverage S&W into making these late TSWs. Pity they never made a 5906 variant, I always wondered if S&W would be able to sustain a production line continuing to sell a few modernized variants of their 3rd Gens, but clearly they don't seem to think so.

I'm still kicking myself for not picking one of these up when they were on the market earlier this year. Around $800 for a used specimen seems pretty reasonable to me, especially in retrospect...


S&W did make a 5906TSW variant with the integral rail, though they are rare and I don't believe any agencies adopted them for issue. I've seen a few stainless finished examples online, but only one melonited integral rail 5906TSW.

Attached Images

5906TSW Int Rail Melonite.jpg (196.8 KB, 67 views)

Looks like I'll never run out of 3rd gens to try and collect. Pity I live in one of the worst states for it.

One of the coolest S&W autos ever. A shame this wasn’t really made as a commercial gun in large numbers. Awesome configuration. Sadly, a type of gun we aren’t going to be seeing from the likes of S&W ever again.

Seems like today if it doesn’t have a striker dingus or is shot out of a plastic injection machine, people aren’t interested. Sad!

Hello all. I know this is a old thread. However I thought it would be cool to share a explanation on the two black Melonite 4566TSW. As we all know. One was West Virginia State Police Duty side arms. It's well known by now that S&W produced 300 not 750 for the Department. There was indeed a overun of the WVSP Melonite 4566TSW. 30 units were done for the West Virginia Public Service Commission.

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Anybody have this serial numbered 4566TSW?

Excellent and very complete discussion of the West Va 4566TSWs
S&W 4566TSW West Virginia State Police & Public Service Commission Pistol Information

The West Virginia State Museum 45466TSW box. Shown in another thread, but needs to also be here.
Also a note to 1950wizkids. What are your sources that only 300 were purchased/made? I've seen paperwork/purchase order copies here, and in person, plus contact with WVSP Armory personnel that the agency was nearly completely equipped with these, and that many more than 300 officers had them. The 1826 UKC serial number separation from the museum box and the earlier post by vigil617 show that these were spread out across several purchase and production periods.

Attached Images

UCK5824-label.jpg (77.6 KB, 8 views)

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Heavily armed old man.

Observed WVSP marked pistols span from UCK5824 (3/2011 per SW) to UCK7694 plus at least 1 UCU8681 (1/3/2014 per SW).

That is not to say that S/N group was exclusively 4566TSW for WVSP, but the only other UCK prefix pistols I have observed are three 5946 pistols between UCK8857 and UCK9213 and a subset of the 4566TSW ordered for WVPSC.

As to the WVPSC pistols, the observed set of those range from UCU8647 (3/2013 per SW) to UCU8856 plus at least two UCK prefix - UCK7166 (3/2013 per SW) and UCK7683.

The next earliest UCU prefix are 3914DAO ending with UCU7184 and the next highest UCU prefix are again 5946 at UCU9711.

It would appear that once the facility in Houlton ME got up to speed they were cranking out lots of Police Special Orders in the UCF, UCK, and UCS-UCW prefix range in the 2010-2016 time frame. Lots of 5946 and several 3914DAO and 3953TSW as well as the 4566TSW.

So I would have to agree the number 300 is suspicious and as to the idea that the WVPSC pistols were an overrun, the contracts and timing would appear to indicate they were NOT an overrun of 30 pistols, but were a Special Order of 83 4566TSW pistols specifically for WVPSC.