4046 Factory Melonite?

[skjos]

Cruising the net and came across this one.

It is a 4046, but has a melonite finish. Now the real interesting part is that the serial number is RJF1734 which sort of aligns with the 4566 models that have a melonite finish, see this thread:

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-semi-auto-pistols/579418-rjf-prefix-melonite-4566s.html

Now to make this a real mystery the box label is missing the finish code section that would truly identify this as a factory finish.

What we should see is similar to this 4566 melonite box:

But what we see is this:

Any thoughts on this interesting 4046?

 

[4506517]

Not to hijack your thread, but I have a Melonite 5946TSW that I have never been able to find out much about.

I posted a picture here and no one seemed to have a clue.

The 3rd edition of the Standard Catalog had no info either.

Little seems to be known about these guns.

 

[vigil617]

Steve, that's an interesting pistol. Given the finish and the serial number, I'd guess that it was perhaps either a single or part of a small group of samples for a law enforcement agency to consider. Noting just recently that Brinks issued 4046 pistols for a while, I wonder if it might have to do with those, or maybe another LE agency that issued 4046 guns. I don't know how common that model was with LE, though, and I don't remember ever seeing references to the 4046 with a particular department.

Maybe it wasn't uncommon for S&W to send models to whoever did their Meloniting, especially at a time when the more durable finishes were "the latest thing," so there would be examples that could be sent for consideration in contract proposals.

All this is just a guess, and I'll be interested to follow this thread and see what others think.

 

[18DAI]

My guess would be that it was part of an LE order - 50 guns minimum - or a sales sample - < dozen or so - for LE agencies to T&E.

In any case, it is a scarce bird. I would not waste the money lettering it, as you are likely to only get the standard 4046 boilerplate. Nice gun! Regards 18DAI

 

[skjos]

Not to hijack your thread, but I have a Melonite 5946TSW that I have never been able to find out much about.

I posted a picture here and no one seemed to have a clue.

The 3rd edition of the Standard Catalog had no info either.

Little seems to be known about these guns.

I believe the RCMP used, or at least tested, 5946TSW's with the melonite finish. A search of this forum for "RCMP" should bring up a few examples.

 

[4506517]

I believe the RCMP used, or at least tested, 5946TSW's with the melonite finish. A search of this forum for "RCMP" should bring up a few examples.

I've heard that speculation before, but I don't think that's the case here. From what I've been able to gather, most RCMP pistols are/were stainless with their logo/emblem laser engraved in black.

When I first got the pistol, it had "skateboard tape" on the grip front strap and back strap. The sights have been changed out to a "hi-viz" type.

Work schedule has been a little crazy past couple of days (protest call outs), but I will try to post some pictures in the next few days.

 

[skjos]

Stay safe out there.

Post #15 has some interesting information:

A Rare 5946 Found (black)Melonite with Rail, Not a TSW though (PICS)

 

[4506517]

Great info in that thread. Mine looks a little different. No logo, and the markings are not laser engraved nor goldfish in color. Mine has the old style rolled markings.

I would love it if we figure mine out.

 

[skjos]

Updating this thread after member Ringerman69 share some photos of his new 4046 with a Melonite finish. Some interesting things to note:

- This finish on the primary label shows "S", but the secondary label shows "BLK".

- The SCSW does have this model listed, although the entry may have a typo. The product code should have its own line, but it is tacked onto the end of product code 108597; and the date shown is 1991, I believe this should be 1999 (I don't think S&W was doing Melonite in 1991).

This is what it should look like:
148512 4" Black finish, Special 1999

And finally the pictures:

I've added a 4046 (-M) entry to "the list", but the web update may take awhile. The Complete 3rd Gen Model List

 

[SmithNut]

Neat gun....

So, in this thread I see two s/n's for this model, RJF1581, RJF1734, I have one that I bought from someone on this board a few years back, the label is in bad shape like the photo in the first post, but the gun (and label) is RJF1506.
I wonder how many were made, has someone lettered theirs? (this thread is a couple years old so I'm hoping....)

I'll need to get pics taken and posted here, but interesting enough, I shot mine for the first time last week, and it didn't disappoint... it's a shooter.... but it's a third gen DAO and shoots like all my others..... so no surprises there.

Thanks for pulling this thread back, I missed it back in 2020.