1989 4506 + questions

[marcus99]

I found an early production TDA-prefix 4506 from 1989 - square trigger guard, stepped frame, bladed rear adjustable sight (perhaps my favorite 1980’s look) and chromed trigger/hammer. Original S/N’d box with [most of?] the paperwork too. Only one mag unfortunately, and while I have extra 4506 mags none of them are the yellow follower variant that this came with which I believe is period correct.

The grips are replacement Hogue, and quite large. I’ll find a pair of original grips to swap back on. Is the rounded or straight backed grip correct for 1989 production, or both?

It’ll go nicely with my 1987 645:

 

[SMSgt]

Both, I believe.

 

[GaryS]

Which ever one fits your hand. It's not a Concours d'elegance, it's a handgun. The judges won't deduct points because you don't have the proper period correct grips.

 

[marcus99]

Thank you, be straight back to grip, fits my hand better, so I’ll find one of those. A few other things I have noticed:

- The decocker when gently engaged fails to drop the hammer. If engaged in a normal manner the hammer will drop. I believe this is the result of a worn sear release lever? Or perhaps the gun is just particularly dirty?

- Was S&W known for sloppy machining of the rear slide? The gun seems perfectly machined but-for the back behind the rear sight, check out the angle!

- There is a noticeable engagement between the trigger and drawback that hurts what is an otherwise very nice SA trigger pull. Was this common on 4506’s or do I have a fitment issue or worn part(s) issue? See video below with audio, you can both see and hear the step between the parts engage:

Imgur: The magic of the Internet

 

[jsbethel]

Is the rounded or straight backed grip correct for 1989 production, or both?

- There is a noticeable engagement between the trigger and drawback that hurts what is an otherwise very nice SA trigger pull. Was this common on 4506’s or do I have a fitment issue or worn part(s) issue?

The earliest 3rd gen catalog shows the 4506 with curved grips.

The trigger play spring may be broken - http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-...ger-click-now-what.html?572248=#post140203863

 

[jsbethel]

- The decocker when gently engaged fails to drop the hammer. If engaged in a normal manner the hammer will drop. I believe this is the result of a worn sear release lever? Or perhaps the gun is just particularly dirty?

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-...k-anymore-now-what.html?571201=#post140185780

 

[marcus99]

Thank you jsbethel, very informative. The trigger play spring is completely broken off, and while I haven’t disassembled the frame I imagine the sear release lever is slightly worn, so I’ll just order both new parts and replace them.

Indeed the curved grips seem to be on every early 4506 that I’ve seen, and in the interest of trying to preserve the originality of the gun I think I mag try those. My 6906/5906/645 are all straight in the back of the grip so it would be nice to have a little variety too.

 

[stansdds]

I could be mistaken, but I think the straight grip was introduced with the Model 1006, which would have been in 1990. As for the machining on that slide... ehhhhh... someone must have been having a bad day.

 

[marcus99]

I could be mistaken, but I think the straight grip was introduced with the Model 1006, which would have been in 1990. As for the machining on that slide... ehhhhh... someone must have been having a bad day.

Yep my thoughts as well. I found a listing for another TDA-prefix that appears to have also been machined at a similar angle, but it’s hard to tell. In any case, since it’s a stainless slide I’m wondering whether it’s possible to have it machined down without the finish being noticeably different in that area afterwards?

 

[Doug M.]

Search for member BMCM. Make contact. Take his advice. If thinks he can address it, send it to him.

 

[Trooper224]

The curved backstrap was standard on the no-dash guns. The flat backstrap became standard on the -1s.