457 build opinions

Heymatt · Jun 2, 2021

Well, it started out simply enough. I found a good deal on a 457 blued slide, wanted the barrel. So, naturally I bought it.
So, what pops up next? A pretty good deal on a 457 bare frame.
Hmmm, what to do? Buy it of course!
To my surprise up pops a 457 parts kit! Holy cow! Are you kidding me!
What's a S&W junkie in the making to do?
Buy it at a stupid low price of course!
But wait, that slide in the 457 kit is awful shiny and it's got round shoulders and Trijicons on it? Uh, that's a 4516 slide! And a set of Hogues too.
Now comes the question.
Blued slide or stainless slide? Frame will be refinished in some fashion and it will be more of carry pistol.
Will use the thinner S&W grips.
What do you all think?
The slides are slipped on the bare frame for pics.

JohnHL · Jun 2, 2021

Very nice!

As a carry pistol, and living in a "sweaty" climate, stainless 4516 slide, hands down.

But mix and match as you see fit and enjoy your good fortune.

John

Zarr · Jun 2, 2021

That's a nice project to have. Congrats on your good fortune! I concur with John, go with the stainless slide.

cherrypointmarine · Jun 3, 2021

If you want some ideas on what to do with your 457 , do a search . Look for the one Quizztaco did for me earlier this year . It's not exactly a carry gun , more like a BBQ gun , but you might get some ideas .

Definitely the ss slide . Speaking from experience , the black finish does NOT stand up . Thankfully the one I wrote about above he blued the slide . It originally was a sad looking Zander special so the frame wasn't done in the black finish .

18DAI · Jun 3, 2021

Don't you live near guzzitaco? He does some amazing customizing work.

If it were me, I would take a case of his favorite beer, a tray of Filets, maybe a pound of shrimp and a box with those parts in it and go visit him.

I betcha he could come up with some nice ideas for you. Might even be able to throw something spectacular together. Dunno.

Regards 18DAI

Ben-Kenobi · Jun 3, 2021

cherrypointmarine said:
Look for the one Quizztaco did for me earlier this year . It's not exactly a carry gun , more like a BBQ gun , but you might get some ideas.

Is Quizztaco someone new? Also I thought BBQ gun was a term just used in Texas? It's made its way to Florida now?

18DAI · Jun 3, 2021

guzzitaco is an incredibly talented member here who makes custom 3rd gen pistols. He "takes us along" as he crafts them, in VERY interesting and entertaining threads. Check them out if you get a chance.

If he ever puts out a shingle, the wait will be as long as that of well known custom shops. But the work will be better.

Regards 18DAI

ISCS Yoda · Jun 3, 2021

Everyone likes "duo-tone" pistols, aka "pintos" in some quarters. Factor in better wear from the stainless slide and the choice is easy.

Also I thought BBQ gun was a term just used in Texas? It's made its way to Florida now?

Actually, I thought it was just a western term, not used only here in Texas, but making its way to Florida is a good thing!!!

Heymatt · Jun 3, 2021

18DAI said:
Don't you live near guzzitaco? He does some amazing customizing work.
Regards 18DAI

Yes, I'm not far from the temple of Guizzitaco and have seen the work that he does. Truly amazing!
He's going to freshen some parts up and share his wisdom.
We've batted some ideas around. Just looking for some other ideas or opinions.

cherrypointmarine · Jun 3, 2021

I thought it was a Texas term also . But after he did that 457 for me , that was the only term that did it justice . Now I just need to get a cowboy rig and I can visit my brother in Dallas and show them Texans up .

Ben-Kenobi · Jun 3, 2021

I see everyone missed why I wrote what I did. His name was totally off and this by someone who'd had work done by him. I'm quite familiar with his work, I enjoy watching his custom creations.

18DAI · Jun 4, 2021

I would keep the 457 slide and have it refinished in a durable black like Melonite or Nitrided. The carbon steel slide will be slightly lighter in weight than the stainless 4516 top end.

Then I would get either a Big Dot front sight (the smaller Big Dot) or a Trijicon SA26 front night sight and a Novak blacked out rear sight. The one with the slightly larger aperature notch cut.

Last, I would get a set of TercGen curved backstrap Delrin grips. They really keep the muzzle up when the 457 sits in the hand. Done. That would be it, for me.

The real beauty of the 457 is its reliability. Accuracy is good enough for Government work out to 10 yards with quality defensive ammo. And it will eat anything. But it is designed for in close defensive use. And in that mission it excells. As the m&p crowd often chants "...its not a target pistol!".

Anyways thats what I would do. The 457s only weak spot is the cheap plastic OEM sights. And after much use - +8K rounds, the nylon mag catch. Other than that, it isTHE MOST underated carry 45 out there. Good luck! Regards 18DAI

squidsix · Jun 4, 2021

Melonite is next for my 3913 slide, so I would say Melonite, just to make sure I agree with myself.
Seriously, cannot go wrong regardless of your choice. Great pistol!

Heymatt · Jun 8, 2021

First step, frame refinished.

Heymatt · Jun 9, 2021

Step 2:Clean up all the bits from the parts kit.
Watch bluebelly's assembly video several times

Many, many thanks for those videos!
Never gone farther than a field strip and clean, but hey, it's already in pieces. It can't possibly get any worse, right?
About 30 minutes later with nary a bad word said (out loud).
It's together and actually works! First frame assembled!
Still waiting on the mag disconnect parts and new grips.

Heymatt · Jun 10, 2021

Couple of 457 questions.
Is the mag well opening normally bevelled? Seems that would be an extra machining step on the value line series.I hadn't noticed it on any of my other third gens, all non value line.
18dai, can you share a pic of the curved back grips from tercgen?

18DAI · Jun 10, 2021

My 1996 457 with forged hammer/trigger and roll marks on the slide has a beveled magwell.

I just checked the pics on the late production LE Special order 457 I have inbound, 2006 production, MIM parts, cheesy laser etched markings and its magwell is beveled as well.

Heres some TercGen curved backstrap grips mounted on my early production 457. Regards 18DAI

GaryS · Jun 10, 2021

Does TercGen take 4506 grips and cut them down to fit the 457? That's pretty neat.

Both my 457S (BDK) and 457 (BAY) have beveled mag wells. In fact, other than my very early (1989) 5906 they all have some degree of bevel on them.

18DAI said:
My 1996 457 with forged hammer/trigger and roll marks on the slide has a beveled magwell.

I just checked the pics on the late production LE Special order 457 I have inbound, 2006 production, MIM parts, cheesy laser etched markings and its magwell is beveled as well.

Heres some TercGen curved backstrap grips mounted on my early production 457. Regards 18DAI

18DAI · Jun 10, 2021

Yes. Curved backstrap 45XX full size grip tailored to fit the compact frame.

The fit is PERFECT! Better than factory.

Makes the gun sit nicely in the hand. Curtails that muzzle heavy feel when the gun is running low on rounds. Great product that should have been a factory option. Regards 18DAI

GaryS · Jun 10, 2021

There are a lot of things that should have been options on the 3rd Gens.

Then again, we ae fortunate that the 457 is as good a firearm as it is.

18DAI said:
Yes. Curved backstrap 45XX full size grip tailored to fit the compact frame.

The fit is PERFECT! Better than factory. Makes the gun sit nicely in the hand. Curtails that muzzle heavy feel when the gun is running low on rounds. Great product that should have been a factory option. Regards 18DAI

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