4506 History Question

[zenner22]

I traded in my 645 for a 4506 as soon as they were released, so mine is one of the early ones. It has the stepped frame and the same sights as the 645. When did the Novaks come about? Was it on the 4506-1, or did it happen during the 4506 model year? I think I've seen 4506's with Novaks. Wonder if mine has collector value??

I think the step in the frame was ditched with the 4506-1, is that right.

I've heard there was also a 500 or so unit "transition" model, all the features of the 4506, yet the frame was marked 645.

Just trying to see if anyone can help sort out the mystery of the introduction of the 4506.

[Texas Roots]

zenner, I know very little about the Novak sights, but I bought my 4506 (no dash) new in Sept. of 1990. It has an adjustable rear sight.

To answer your question about the stepped frame, I cannot find any information in the 3rd Edition, Standard Catalog of Smith and Wesson about when the stepped frame was dropped. Perhaps other, more advanced collectors can answer that question.

My 4506 does NOT have the stepped frame and is NOT a 4506-1. So, I suppose the "dash 1" had some other significance.

[zenner22]

That is interesting! My 4506 no-dash model has the stepped slide and does not have Novaks.

[handgunner356]

I can't tell you the dates right off the top of my head, but the Novaks and round trigger guards came about the same time '91-'93? The -1 came about soon after the 10mm. The ten had a slightly beefier frame/slide so instead of making two different ones they used the same base for both. Not sure when they drop the -1 but there were later -3 & -4 revisions and those guns are just marked 4506.

I've had several 4506/4566's ( no dash) with Squared Trigger guards and Novak rears, ie, Early 3rd generation pistols.....so the answer is typical of S&W...it depends...... Zebulon

[wilshire1412]

Over at GB there are usually an array of different 4506 to be seen. Recently I noticed a 4506 with the non stepped frame but it still had the squared trigger guard. Another 4506 was with the stepped frame and square guard and it had the Novak rear sights on what looked like the early slide with the raised rib. I once owned a 4506-1 that had the Novak rear and the round trigger guard and it had the flash chromed hammer and trigger, I think I bought it around 1994. Recently I found and purchased an early transitional gun marked as a 645 but it is a 3rd generation .45 with a set of Millett adjustable sights that I think may have been factory installed. I will post photos once I have it in possesion.