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10-08-2008, 11:59 PM
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Eleven days ago I posted about a 4506-1 that I just purchased with what appear to be factory adjustable night sights ( Link to My 4506-1). One of the reasons that I purchased it was because it had what appeared to be factory adjustable night sights and I hadn't seen them on a 3rd generation pistol before.
From the wear pattern and such, it looks to be a law enforcement service pistol. Given that the shop where I bought it on consignment is owned and operated by a retired LAPD detective and the fact the LAPD first authorized the 4506 for its officers in 1997, I'm thinking Los Angeles Police Revolver & Athletic Club at the academy.
Based on the serial number is looks to be a late 1997 pistol. Now that I've disassembled, cleaned (the internals were very dirty), lubricated and reassembled the pistol, I've posted some photos below (note the 97 date on the night sights). It now wears a new factory grip; the one that was on it was typical for a LE duty weapon.
So, have any of you guys seen factory adjustable night sights on 3rd generation pistols before.
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10-08-2008, 11:59 PM
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Eleven days ago I posted about a 4506-1 that I just purchased with what appear to be factory adjustable night sights ( Link to My 4506-1). One of the reasons that I purchased it was because it had what appeared to be factory adjustable night sights and I hadn't seen them on a 3rd generation pistol before.
From the wear pattern and such, it looks to be a law enforcement service pistol. Given that the shop where I bought it on consignment is owned and operated by a retired LAPD detective and the fact the LAPD first authorized the 4506 for its officers in 1997, I'm thinking Los Angeles Police Revolver & Athletic Club at the academy.
Based on the serial number is looks to be a late 1997 pistol. Now that I've disassembled, cleaned (the internals were very dirty), lubricated and reassembled the pistol, I've posted some photos below (note the 97 date on the night sights). It now wears a new factory grip; the one that was on it was typical for a LE duty weapon.
So, have any of you guys seen factory adjustable night sights on 3rd generation pistols before.
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10-09-2008, 11:00 AM
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I've heard factory adjustable night sights were put on some guns, but I've never seen one before myself...
I wouldn't mind having them on my two 1006s.
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10-11-2008, 09:51 AM
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If the LAPD wanted such sights on their guns, I'm sure S&W would have had no problem doing it. Best way to know for sure is to get a factory letter. Anyways, nice gun.
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10-11-2008, 08:13 PM
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WE have purchased 4506 with adj. nite sights A few times
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02-27-2011, 07:04 PM
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Sorry to pull this post from the dead, but where can I find sights like this for my adjustable sighted 4506. I've googled like crazy and can't locate them anywhere.
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02-27-2011, 08:00 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brushy bill
Sorry to pull this post from the dead, but where can I find sights like this for my adjustable sighted 4506. I've googled like crazy and can't locate them anywhere.
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Try Trijicon.
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02-28-2011, 09:09 AM
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I originally searched for the Trijicons as thats what was on my gun when i bought it 20 years ago new. No luck, called Trijicon and they said none in stock and it would be a special order and a 60+ wait time. my peepers dont like em these days anyway so i found the XS Big dots and love em.
I posted pics of mine here somewhere on the forum they are XS big dot sights for my 4506 ADJ, they dont list them on the Web sight just call them and they will set you up.
They did send me the wrong rear set screw it was too short, i called and they expressed me the correct longer screw excellent customer service.
found thread here with my photos
4506 Adjustable Night Sights?
Last edited by SemperFuzz; 02-28-2011 at 09:12 AM.
Reason: added more info
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02-28-2011, 10:40 AM
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You'll need to research this better, but it has always been my understanding that the blade in the rear adjustable auto sight is the same blade used on the revolver sight. Any revolver blade night sight should fit in your auto.
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02-28-2011, 11:06 AM
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Beautiful 4506-1 Denver Dick! I want one just like it!!
Anyone has one like it and wants to part with it, please PM me. Regards 18DAI
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09-17-2012, 11:19 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 18DAI
Beautiful 4506-1 Denver Dick! I want one just like it!!
Anyone has one like it and wants to part with it, please PM me. Regards 18DAI
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Try this related thread (with factory letter) on my LAPD special: Well, my recently obtained 4506-1 turned out to be an Special Order L.A.P.D.
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09-18-2012, 09:19 AM
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Thanks Denver Dick!!
Since my original post in your thread, I've obtained two of these AS night sight 4506-1's. Regards 18DAI
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09-19-2012, 01:02 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KurtC
You'll need to research this better, but it has always been my understanding that the blade in the rear adjustable auto sight is the same blade used on the revolver sight. Any revolver blade night sight should fit in your auto.
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This may or may not be true -- on any given brand.
Kerry with Meprolight told me their revolver sights were too wide for 4506s/1006s.
It looks as if Trijicon is the best bet.
I'm going to start another thread later requesting we not petition, but bombard TruGlo, Meprolight and Trijicon with requests for more options on these pistols.
Meprolight said they'd investigate -- since there's been such a resurgence in the fan base of 1006s, 4506s -- and all S&W 3rd Gen guns.
I pointed out to him that S&W had made some 12,000 1006s alone.
Kerry at Mepro said they'd stocked 1006 sights for years, but after the gun was discontinued from production, demand didn't just dwindle, it died cold.
So the company dropped the sights altogether.
He also told me that the company had considered making their own version of the TruGlo TFO (trititum fiber optic) sight, but TruGlo had an ironclad patented lock on the only workable process for that type of sight -- and couldn't find a way around it.
TruGlo also said they'd keep the option of making 1006 TFO sights open for the future.
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09-19-2012, 11:31 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 18DAI
Thanks Denver Dick!!
Since my original post in your thread, I've obtained two of these AS night sight 4506-1's. Regards 18DAI
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Are the Adjustable Night Sights dated 1997? How about some photos.
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07-19-2013, 06:49 AM
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Bumping an old thread. I just recently picked up a 4506-1. It has factory adjustable nights sights on it. They are almost dead. I am going to pester Trijicon and see if they will replace the tritium vials with new ones.
So far, your 4506 and mine are the only 2 I have ever seen with factory adjustable nights sights. Mine is a VZC S/N prefix.
Last edited by kihnspiracy; 07-19-2013 at 11:10 AM.
Reason: Added S/N prefix
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07-19-2013, 10:07 AM
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The factory adjustable night sight 4506-1's are perhaps the rarest of the 4506 variants. I bought the first one I came across.
I suspect they were all from an LAPD order. Mine is a VJP serial prefix.
Has anyone found out whether Trijicon will relamp these adjustable night sights? Regards 18DAI
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07-19-2013, 11:21 AM
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I just got off the phone with Trijicon. They said they could do it for $54. Go to trijicon.com, click support, click Return Authorization, fill out the form and submit. Seems pretty easy. I will update as it progresses.
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07-19-2013, 12:13 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kihnspiracy
I just got off the phone with Trijicon. They said they could do it for $54. Go to trijicon.com, click support, click Return Authorization, fill out the form and submit. Seems pretty easy. I will update as it progresses.
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I hope you are a patient person! I recently sent my 4013TSW slide in to have the vials replaced. when I sent it in, their website said two to four weeks. It actually took them about two months. They did a beautiful job, but dealing with them wasn't much fun. Nobody would give me updates, & when they did they were wrong. Rant over! Back to topic: I've never seen adjustable night sights on anything, so I found this thread very interesting.
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07-19-2013, 01:45 PM
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When I sent 2 slides in to Trijicon (albeit about 18 mos ago) for sight re-lamping, my experience was the opposite... they were done in about 2 weeks and they even sent an email to me advising they were going to be shipping the slides out, which coincided when I would be out of town.
I called them and no problem, they agreed to hold onto them until told I them it was ok to ship.
Maybe they've become swamped with relamp jobs stemming from all of the police trade in's that have hit the used gun market?
And to the OP.... a much belated THAT is one heck of a nice 4506-1!!
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Last edited by Gunhacker; 07-19-2013 at 01:52 PM.
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07-20-2013, 10:28 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gunhacker
When I sent 2 slides in to Trijicon (albeit about 18 mos ago) for sight re-lamping, my experience was the opposite... they were done in about 2 weeks and they even sent an email to me advising they were going to be shipping the slides out, which coincided when I would be out of town.
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Doesn't this depend on simply whether they have the sights in stock or not? I would like to get SA33's for my 4506-1 installed but it says 8 weeks for availability.
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07-22-2013, 07:52 PM
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I got my Return Authorization from Trijicon this afternoon. They quoted a 2-4 week turnaround time. I will be shipping my slide off to them tomorrow.
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07-23-2013, 04:51 PM
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I sent my slide off to Trijicon today, via Fedex. I will update when I get it back.
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07-23-2013, 10:40 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 18DAI
[...] I suspect they were all from an LAPD order. [...]
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I don’t believe LAPD was the only agency who ordered them. I bought my police surplus 4506 with adjustable night sights in 1996. The store I bought it had reequipped a sheriffs department with them. I’m not sure of my memory, but I think that department was in Nevada. The sheriff who chose the 4506s lost an election before most of the 4506s were issued. The new sheriff promptly traded the 4506s back in on 4006s. Mine was $400, plus tax, unfired, with its extra mag. It has forged internals.
Also remember this previous post from south GA.
Quote:
Originally Posted by brianc
WE have purchased 4506 with adj. nite sights A few times
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07-25-2013, 05:05 PM
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Getting ready...
I'm getting ready to put these same sights on my two 1006s. (Yeah, I've been dragging my feet...)
Anybody got any new insights on these sights? (Pardon the pun...)
Changing out the factory originals wouldn't seem that difficult.
Out of curiosity, why did you guys elect to send the slides back to Trijicon?
It would seem a local gunsmith could put them on with no difficulty while you waited (if he liked you...)
(I'm not talking about relamping, but replacing the blades...)
In fact, it looks as if it would be easy enough to do yourself...
Last edited by Outrider; 07-25-2013 at 06:39 PM.
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07-25-2013, 09:07 PM
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Couple of things.
Besides Trijicon you can also go through Tool Tech, Home to have sights relamped. And to the person suggesting the factory replaces the sights, no they replace the inserts/lamps, not the entire sight.
These couple of 4506-1 threads have brought back memories. When we were authorized to go to .45s the Smith was the only choice. Within just a few months Beretta jumped on the band wagon by rebarreling their 8000 series. The original .45 cal 8000 gun had a 3.9 inch barrel. The manual called for at least a 4.0 inch barrel for a holstered duty gun. Beretta put a barrel on that stuck out .1 inches, like their 92 series, to meet the book requirements.
I also remember more then one of those "Special" 4506s looked like it was made on an Saturday morning overtime shift. You could hold the slide up to a strong light and see the waviness in the machining. Give them credit Smith took those guns back and replaced them with the same serial number so officers did not have to pay DROS again.
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07-25-2013, 10:36 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Outrider
I'm getting ready to put these same sights on my two 1006s. (Yeah, I've been dragging my feet...)
Anybody got any new insights on these sights? (Pardon the pun...)
Changing out the factory originals wouldn't seem that difficult.
Out of curiosity, why did you guys elect to send the slides back to Trijicon?
It would seem a local gunsmith could put them on with no difficulty while you waited (if he liked you...)
(I'm not talking about relamping, but replacing the blades...)
In fact, it looks as if it would be easy enough to do yourself...
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I have changed out sights on pistols before. It's fairly easy to do. Trijicon quoted me $54 and change for new tritium vials. There isn't a gunsmith around who is gonna be able to match that price.
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07-31-2013, 02:39 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by k22fan
I don’t believe LAPD was the only agency who ordered them. I bought my police surplus 4506 with adjustable night sights in 1996. The store I bought it had reequipped a sheriffs department with them. I’m not sure of my memory, but I think that department was in Nevada. The sheriff who chose the 4506s lost an election before most of the 4506s were issued. The new sheriff promptly traded the 4506s back in on 4006s. Mine was $400, plus tax, unfired, with its extra mag. It has forged internals.
Also remember this previous post from south GA.
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That is probably true, but the factory letter on mine confirmed it to be one of the "Special Order Los Angeles Police" pistols shipped to the LAPD Police Academy. Here is the thread that I started after the original posting here regarding this pistol: Well, my recently obtained 4506-1 turned out to be an Special Order L.A.P.D.
By the way, I chose to keep the LAPD pistol as is and not replace the lamps because they may change the marking on the sights and I don't want to do anything that might effect any collector value the pistol might have, if it has any. But, hey, that's just me.
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08-02-2013, 11:12 AM
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Sight life?
How long do Trijicons last before they start getting noticably dim?
One has to wonder how much brightness sights lose while sitting around on shelves -- waiting for a home.
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08-12-2013, 03:58 PM
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Trijicon emailed me this morning. My slide is done. Only cost $54. That's a pretty good deal. Took slightly over 2 weeks to hear from them.
Last edited by kihnspiracy; 08-27-2013 at 07:06 PM.
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08-12-2013, 04:50 PM
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I purchased a 5904 slide with burned out adjustable night sights. I don't know if it was the original configuration but everything looked to be the same age. Yes, Trijicon lists the rear blade and front sight as SA02. Yes, they are easily changeable but you will need to replace the windage screw and nut. They are staked on installation and break on removal. I don't know if Trijicon will either relamp or replace the blade and post if sent in without the slide. Most folks don't want to mess with drifting sights or changing sight alingments and therefore prefer to send in the whole slide. If anyone here has any experience with Trijicon and just the blade and post, please reply. Thanks. John.
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08-27-2013, 07:05 PM
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I got my slide back today. I put my 4506-1 back together. Trijicon did a really nice job. Took slightly over 30 days. Not bad for $54. I can't wait to shoot it this weekend.
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