A local has a Chiefs Special 45acp for sale. I haven't seen it yet. The seller is asking $400. No box or accessories. I currently own a Shield45 but would prefer DA. I don't know much (anything) about them though. Anyone here have any experience?

I don't own one, but there are a lot of posts on them. All 3rd Gen guns are reliable and accurate.

One issue you will likely have is finding magazines. Does the one for sale come with any?

__________________
Can open, worms everywhere.

I'm pretty sure it comes with at least one but that's something I'll find out about.

I mention it only because the magazines are specific to the CS45 and can be hard to find and expensive.

__________________
Can open, worms everywhere.

I've had one for a while and like it. It's a bit larger and heavier than the 9mm and 40 S&W.

IMG_1053 (1).jpg

Not sure what grips it carries from the factory. IIRC I had the delrins modified as they are much better for a concealed carry pistol.

So far as magazines are concerned, never really had an issue. Then again, I also have the Steyr GB, Walther P88 and a Coonan by comparison.

For $400.00 I'd drive from Grants Pass and back. That's a very good price.

In case the photo hasn't done enough "enabling" -

Smith & Wesson CS45 .45 ACP 6-Round Magazine | DF GUN STORE

$37.00 for factory mags is very good price.

That is a good price but if they are like the one pictured they are technically for the pre-rail 4513TSW’s. The CS45 magazines have the extra “dimple/depression.”

Either a Black or Stainless CS45 for $400.00 is a good price depending on condition of course. Read up here on CS45, (CS40 and 3.25” 945,) recoil springs. Factory ones are no longer readily available.

Jim

Attached Images

	IMG_1527.jpg (28.1 KB, 50 views)
	IMG_0235.jpg (56.3 KB, 51 views)

I've had one for about 8 years or so, really like it. It is a little on the heavy side but every bit bullet proof just like others have said.
Never had any problems, always goes bang. Real nice compact
size.

The OEM grips have the S&W logo and are wrap around, not sure who made them. They work well. Mine is all black. They only
produced that finish for about the first 5 months or so before
going to the stainless finish.

I my part of the woods $400 would be a very good price.

A nice EDC pistol, I have had mine for 20 years no problems. I carry the CS9 more often out of preference, but it is a well-designed firearm, and more accurate than you would think for a short-barreled gun. Holds up well. Last indefinitely if reasonably maintained. Magazines are not common but not rare yet either. $400 would be a very good price here assuming good condition.

Attached Images

CS9 & CS45 (5).jpg (36.1 KB, 54 views)

Adding to the already many virtues of the CS45’s, (that others may continue to mention,) is that they can be multi caliber. Got the idea from JohnHL, and ran with it eventually with getting an excellent complete CS40 top end cheap for my CS45. Running it was/is flawless w/CS40 magazines.

Some have converted their CS40’s, (and magazines,) to 10mm. Conceivably with sourcing two complete CS40 top ends or just another excellent .40 barrel, one single original CS45 could be three different calibers. Not unusual but not the norm with 3rd Gen S&W semi’s.

Jim

Attached Images

	IMG_0654.jpg (48.9 KB, 54 views)
	IMG_0305.jpg (32.1 KB, 33 views)

I was pretty anxious to go see this pistol but sadly I had to walk away. It was the black but the amount of finish that was missing was pretty obvious. It was just kind of rough for something to buy on a whim.

Agree $37 for Factory mags would be a good deal, but as pointed out elsewhere the ones pictures are for early 6rd 4513TSW, not CS45.

They are very similar and probably would work, but I would have to wonder about seller - partly because of the miss identification, but price is almost "too good to be true" and I got burned on a similar listing for CS45 mags a couple of years back. Never received the mags and Company "did not exist" - Paypal unable to recover $.

Has anyone actually bought anything from this source?

I just did a quick look at the DF Gun Store site. My Webroot blocked it, saying it was a phishing site. Deeper look via search engine finally found a phone number and a location, Brooklyn NYC, NY. BBB tags the business a scammers.

1sailor, sorry to read that it was too beat up.

__________________
Heavily armed old man.

I had the hots for one a few years ago. Found one from a FFL I know. Took it to the range, but only had 230 GR hollow points. The gun would not feed them, so I sold the gun right away since it would be useless to carry. Took the $ & bought a 45 Springfield XDS which loves the same hollow points. The gun was really clean, but useless. GARY

I purchased a CS45D from another forum member last year (the "D" indicating double-action only) and it quickly became my preferred EDC. With the right holster I can wear it all day IWB on my hip without complaint. The size, ergonomics and general "feel" of the pistol work well for me, and without opening up that particular can of worms I prefer the .45ACP even though it does limit my available number of rounds. But since the mags are small I can easily pocket carry a second one without issue.

I'm a bigger guy and it took me a while to find the right combination of pistol, holster and etc. to comfortably carry - but now that I've got it all sorted I don't think I'll be letting go of my CS45 anytime soon.

Plus I simply love the 3rd Gen semi-autos!

I wish all of the CS guns would have used the proper metal mag release button and the correct slide contours.

There's on locally priced at 700.$$ Looks pretty nice not sure on Mags or box. Right now gun fund is low after PU of 4506-1.

I have had that CS-45 since 2000. I used to carry it frequently. I scored 246 out of 250 on a Texas concealed carry test back when they made us routinely re-qualify. I took the test with different guns every time.

Recoil is stout, as you might imagine, but manageable. I think those factory goodyear stocks help with that.

I've been thinking about carrying it again, actually. We'll see.....

__________________
Come and take it!!

Thanks for the research - I was afraid of that. Scarce firearm items at "too good" price seem to be like that.

Re "too good a price" the thought crossed my mind too. Setting aside poor service or knowledge by a seller, I've run into copycat websites of mainstream manufacturers, vendors wherein if I didn't know the "for real" version I'd have been 100% scammed.

Not saying that's the case here. And if they're the more common mags I suppose that makes sense.

I got one a couple of years ago for about the same price, also black finish, with a little wear, and two magazines.
The only thing I don't like about it is the bulkiness of the original Hogue grips. I want a set of the modified Delrin grips for it, but I'm hesitant to modify a set. I'm pretty good with metal, but not so much so with wood - and working in plastic seems a lot more like woodworking than metalworking to me.

From the picture above it looks like the CS45 and 4513TSW magazines are compatible. I've always wondered about how much the 4513TSW grips would have to be modified to fit the CS45.

Anybody know?

__________________
Send lawyers, guns & money...

Based on my attempt to convert an non rail 3913TSW for use on my CS9, I'd say a lot of work is necessary. Also, I seem to remember either Big Dog or TercGen saying it was easier to convert the regular 3913 grips than trying with the 3913TSW.

You might be able to find that thread if you search long enough.

__________________
Can open, worms everywhere.

Have had one for a while, used to carry it but it's in the safe now. I decided to go the "Shield" route and did .380 and 9mm EZs and then found a Shield .45 M2.0, ported, Performance Center that I carry when I carry .45. Great size, I can shoot it okay and so far no problems.

As noted, mags can be hard (and/or expensive) to get; I've got one with the dimple that I carried and used other, non-CS45 specific ones for range use.

They sure look like a desirable compact gun for carry in .45. Can easily see them going for $600 in good condition. Am happy with mine in 9mm since 1999.

The 4513TSW 6rd grips are totally different. They are essentially full length (or near 7rd length) at the back and notched (indented) at front so than mag base fits into the notch. (You may be able to use the more common 7rd 4513TSW/4516 grips since you have to cut the bottom anyway). Assuming the top geometry relative to safeties and mag release cut geometries are compatible, you would still have to shorten the bottom of the grip to match the CS45.

Also they would mount with the conventional pin rather than the CS45's block and screws making them more narrow front to back (which may be what you are trying to achieve). So assuming the CS45 frame's grip geometry uses the same pin hole setup to secure the block with screws used to attach the factory CS45 grips, you would need to precision drill holes in the delrin grips to match the holes in the frame.

Yeah, I realize the 4513TSW grips are longer in the backstrap area than the stock CS45 grips, and that means that it will be necessary to drill a new grip-pin hole and swap out the standard CS45 block for another one with a grip pin.

I have seen other versions of the modified Delrin grips on a CS45 with the longer backstrap - were the the bottom of the grip has the longer backstrap that extends low enough to line up with the base of the magazine, and is "notched" around the base of the magazine.

FWIW, I like that style of modified grips better than the style that have been cut off flush with the bottom of the grip frame - and leave the mag base as the only thing extending below the frame of the pistol (just like the original CS45 grips).

As I understand it the Delrin grips are going to have to be re-drilled to fit the location of the pin and block assembly on the CS45, no matter what version of the grips you start with.

So, that is what lead to my question. It seems to me that modifying a set of Delrin 4513TSW grips with the longer backstrap "extension" might be easier than modifying another version of the Delrin grips that would have to be either cut off straight to match the length of the grip frame (which isn't what I really want) OR "notching" the grips around the mag base to leave a longer backstrap that is flush with the bottom of the magazine - instead of cut straight to match the bottom of the grip frame.

I like the looks of the longer backstrap grips, and so I am wondering/asking if starting with a set of 4513TSW grips would be an easier way to achieve that result. Basically I'm wondering if starting with the 4513TSW grips might eliminate a few steps in the modification process to end up with the style I like.

FWIW, my hands have wide palms, and short, fat fingers. So the shape of the original CS45 grips are pretty much the opposite of what works for me. Longer, slimmer grips fit my hand MUCH better.

So that is why I asked my question. Would it be easier to start with a set of the 4513TSW grips to make a modified set of slimmer Delrin grips to replace the fat, short, ugly stock Hogue grips on my CS45 with something slimmer, and longer in the backstrap?

Hopefully that all makes sense.

__________________
Send lawyers, guns & money...

I have a PDF document put together by someone (I don't recall who) who documented how he made grips. He detailed how he located the hole for the grip pin. This includes pictures of some of what he did.

PM me if you want a copy. I was going to give this a try, but just bought a set from TerGen.

__________________
Can open, worms everywhere.

I think I may already have the .PDF document you are referring to, somewhere.

You say you bought a set from TercGen, how recently? Is he still making the grips?

__________________
Send lawyers, guns & money...

I made mine from a set of 4513TSW grips.
Although I made mine flat along the bottom I found that the TSW grip already gave me the correct length at the mag well making trimming the grip really easy.

Attached Images

small base.jpg (87.3 KB, 39 views)

I'm going to guess at least three years ago. I don't think he's still doing them, unfortunately. I haven't seen his name here in a while, which always concerns me.

__________________
Can open, worms everywhere.

His last post and appearance here were in 2021. 🙁

Thanks! Just the kind of info/feedback I was looking for!

FWIW, Numrich is still selling the 4513TSW grips for $16, so I think I will go ahead with ordering a set for my CS45.

__________________
Send lawyers, guns & money...

Yikes. I guess I should add, given my initials, that DF Gun Store isn't me!

BC38,
For $16 you might want to order 2.
I started with my CS9 and it took me 2 to get it right.

Just go slow... Good luck.

I picked one up when they first came out. Had the Performance Center convert it to DAO. Carried it as a back-up in an ankle holster for several years. Rubber grips suck. Get the wood or make your own polymer.

Another item that's hard to find, or non-existent, are factory recoil springs for these 3" bbl. pistols, unlike the 3-3/4" bbl. 4513's which are still available.

While the CS45 does use the same flat wire recoil spring (S&W# 263310000) as the CS40 that's no help unfortunately.

.

__________________
Waiting for the break of day

"..read up here..." Where? I expected a link to a source for the springs. Where are we supposed to "read up"? If by "here", you mean on this forum, in general, I can't find any useful information on purchasing recoil springs for either the CS9 or CS45. If someone knows where they can be purchased, please provide a link.

Post you reference is old. I think it was referencing a concurrent thread or possibly an earlier thread on potential replacements for CS40/CS45 springs which are no longer available.

As i recall there are no good replacements - best option was to cut coils off a totally different spring for the CS40/45. Last i checked i think the CS9 springs were available.

Your best option would be to use the search function here for CS45 springs

Midway had CS9 recoil springs in stock recently - Access Denied

Agreed if it wasn’t so difficult, (at least for me.)

With whatever search engine you use, enter S&W CS45 recoil springs, and you will find that most if not all informative info was generated here. Yes THIS Forum. There is no link/source for factory new CS45/40 springs. There is not currently a source for CS45/40 or 3.25” 945 recoil springs as was previously stated.

Our great friend 18DAI, (who is greatly missed,) started the nonexistent availability question here, (this Forum,) so look for that. Someone more tech smart will probably post the link to his original post.

I was lucky in that another Forum member here gave me a heads up on the availability of a three NIP springs plus a guide rod offering. I thank him again but won’t mention him due to the “why didn’t he tell me” thing.

As was mentioned Midway currently has CS9 recoil springs so stock up now. Not that long ago so were the CS45 ones.

Jim

https://smith-wessonforum.com/141257944-post76.html

Numrich shows CS9 recoil springs in stock.

__________________
Can open, worms everywhere.

3 pages of results searching "CS45 recoil spring" (or try CS40 - same recoil spring) - go to top of Forum Smith & Wesson Semi-Auto Pistols - right corner search block. Old problem. Good info below link, but lots of others I did not examine.


CS40 Recoil Spring Question

Noodling around on the internet this morning and ended up finding a company called ISMI Springs that manufactures flat wire recoil springs.
Has anyone ever reached out to see if they’ll make a batch of CS45 springs?
mailto:[email protected]

After I purchased a CS40 I did some testing & came up with a few alternative recoil springs that are detailed in the thread below, posts #17 & #19.

Since the CS40 & CS45 use the same recoil spring from the factory I don't see why these alternatives wouldn't work interchangeably.
.
CS40 added to the collection (last content added: alternate recoil springs tested)

.

__________________
Waiting for the break of day