4046 Tactical Brinks

[toddstang]

Local Pawnshop has one, like-new condition for $600.

Said they could get it down to $550 cash.

I don't know much about the Brinks model and if it makes the value worth the extra $$

Wanted to check here before I take the dive.

 

[Old_Cop]

A Brinks gun in like new condition, $550, maybe. Only you can answer that question. There is no normal pricing across the country.

 

[fmflorida]

I mean "like new" I guess could make it more valuable but I can find those all day long on GunBroker for $300-$350 shipped.

They may have a bit of holster wear/scuff marks but thats up to you to determine if its worth $200+/- for a like new.

 

[just plain joe]

I have one of the Brinks .40 pistols. It is a good solid firearm. I replaced the recoil spring and the magazine springs with those from Wolff. I have shot my 155 grain and 180 grain reloads along with 155 grain HST Federal factory rounds. Operation has been flawless. I have approximately 500 rounds down-range. Not a large sample, but I'm satisfied.

It came with factory (I believe) Trijicon tritium sights. They are the "three-dot" type with white outlines and no longer glow. It's not a show-stopper for me but nonetheless I am considering sending them back to Trijicon to be re-lamped. You may want to think about this when deciding on a price if your pistol needs similar attention.

Speaking for myself, if the pistol is in like-new condition and has the box and documents, I'm willing to pay more.

Jm2c

JPJ

 

[toddstang]

I mean "like new" I guess could make it more valuable but I can find those all day long on GunBroker for $300-$350 shipped.

They may have a bit of holster wear/scuff marks but thats up to you to determine if its worth $200+/- for a like new.

Do you have a link to any of these auctions?

 

[toddstang]

I have one of the Brinks .40 pistols. It is a good solid firearm. I replaced the recoil spring and the magazine springs with those from Wolff. I have shot my 155 grain and 180 grain reloads along with 155 grain HST Federal factory rounds. Operation has been flawless. I have approximately 500 rounds down-range. Not a large sample, but I'm satisfied.

It came with factory (I believe) Trijicon tritium sights. They are the "three-dot" type with white outlines and no longer glow. It's not a show-stopper for me but nonetheless I am considering sending them back to Trijicon to be re-lamped. You may want to think about this when deciding on a price if your pistol needs similar attention.

Speaking for myself, if the pistol is in like-new condition and has the box and documents, I'm willing to pay more.

Jm2c

JPJ

Thanks for your input.
Not sure if documents were in the box but it's not a deal breaker.
It's getting harder to find 3rd gens anymore and I'm kicking myself for not getting a CHP gun last year when they were plentiful and cheap, now even those are hard to find and more $.
I'll sleep on it tonight but I'm leaning on picking it up tomorrow.

 

[xfarfuldog]

Brinks 4046's came with Trijicons. This model is DAO. They were replaced by the M&P 40 nationwide only because the price of the stainless gun was much higher.

The only difference in a Brinks gun and a regular 4046 was the Brinks winged strongbox on the slide.

 

[Baxter6551]

And then they replaced the M&P with FN509s.

 

[Redcoat3340]

I picked up a "Brinks" 5946 that was DAO. Sent it down to a member here, BCMC who does wonderful work on Smith semi-autos. He cleaned it up, replaced what needed to be replaced, and then converted it to DA/SA. It's now one of my "best" Smiths. (He also worked on my CS9, CS45 and 4513TSW and all three are carry guns that must be reliable, he does very reliable work.)

And, it don't take nine months to get it back and he doesn't charge the national budget for his handiwork.

I think I'd pass on that particular gun at that price. But if you do a search on the big auction site for just "4046" (like I just did) you might find one at a "Buy Now" price of under $300. (Frankly, I'm tempted to buy it myself and send it off...except I have a 4006TSW CHP, SW99, and Sig 226 in 40 and don't really need another full-size 40. But it is tempting.)

Good luck.

 

[Jon651]

I own a Brinks 4046TSW in .40 cal. When it bought it, it was filthy - looks to have spent a lot of time in a holster and not so much time on the range. A few years back, Shoot Straight had dozens of them in both .40 and 9mm, your choice for $350 with 2 mags. They still show up on occasion but the prices are creeping up. Only you can decide if the price is right.

A little bit of elbow grease, new recoil springs and new Hogue grips turned a corporate surplus pistol into a sweet shooter. Honestly, unless you see one so abused it has a cracked frame or bent slide lock lever it would be hard not to want to add one to any collection. 3rd Gen S&W semi-autos are built like tanks.

 

[Dave Baird]

I've noticed some are TSW and some are not. If what the OP is looking at is a TSW in like new condition, I think it's a good deal. Not many for sale now are TSW.

 

[ACEd]

Local Pawnshop has one, like-new condition for $600.

Said they could get it down to $550 cash.

I don't know much about the Brinks model and if it makes the value worth the extra $$

Wanted to check here before I take the dive.

Check the big auction sites - lots of 4046 and 4046TSW out there.

I bought a Brinks 5946TSW and 2 Brinks 4046TSW when they first showed up and paid $400+ thinking I got a good deal based on the 4006TSW prices in the $700 range.

5946TSW turned out to be a deal, but there seems to be a glut of both the Brinks 4046TSW and plain Brinks 4046 right now - many under $300.

If it is in LNIB condition with original matching labelled box, it may be a $550 gun, but I can make one of my 2 4046TSW look pretty nice and buy a $20 factory hard case for a bunch less.

 

[Dave Baird]

I guess I am blind but I can't find any of the TSW's........

 

[ACEd]

I guess I am blind but I can't find any of the TSW's........

Looks like no 4046TSWs currently listed - but I can account for at least a dozen 4046TSW sold $262-360 last 2 months. Similar number of regular 4046 in same price range sold but some of those still listed.

From personal perspective, I would like to see the 4046TSW dry up and increase in value since I have mine.

The non-Brinks marked guns seemed to be going higher - perception that they were less severely used / better cared for.

My Brinks guns were filthy when I got them - cleaned up OK and replaced grips and springs, but concern is that they were allowed to get into that condition.

 

[Dave Baird]

Well rats, I was hoping you could find some for sale! haha I always seem to miss the good surplus pistols. The only one I remember finding early was one of the Illinois 640's and it was terrific!!! Thank you.

 

[Jon651]

One of the things to look for in a surplus Brinks pistol is if the accessory rail under the dust cover is riveted on or machined in as one piece. I would have preferred the fully-machined rail but when I was buying beggars couldn't be choosers so I had to settle for the riveted version. Just make sure that the rivets are still tight and you should be good to go. If the rail is loose then you would have to ask one of the gunsmiths here on the forum about bringing it back to spec.

 

[xfarfuldog]

I don't believe any Brink TSW's ever had rails. I could be wrong. California and some high risk areas got the TSW's years before most states. When it finally came time to issue autos to everyone, Brinks stayed with S&W. The powers that be would have chosen the TSW for everyone. But the high cost of stainless steel made the TSW cost prohibitive.

Some states would not allow private security to use a "police caliber" gun. They were issued 9 MM TSW's. After M&P's were used I believe those states got 9 MM M&P's.

The national director of training had been a deputy at some CA sheriffs office. Brinks followed closely what CA law enforcement used. There was a lot of resistance to autos among branch managers. One large Ohio citie's branch manager hid the M&P's from his employees in their vault. Employees discovered this and complained to the home office. The branch manager received an ultimatum to issue the M&P's.

The troops received the FS guns. Managers and some inside personnel got compact 40's. Many inside employees were female. They had problems qualifying. We would issue them the FS guns instead.

A few years after the TSW, the national director retired. The new director changed a lot of the training. Brinks then issued the FN509. It was a much easier gun to shoot. Employees were offered their old (or a branch unissued) gun for purchase. They were trying to sell them to employees at a higher cost than you could buy them for online. At my approximately 45 member branch only 2 or 3 bought them.

Your issued gun must be turned in every night. You are not allowed to take it out for practice. If you are not working it stays in the vault. You can only sign it out for yearly state qualifications. Most employees just use a personal auto for qualifying.

Brinks eliminated the once mandatory 2 to 3 quals a year for economic reasons.

 

[Jon651]

I don't believe any Brink TSW's ever had rails. I could be wrong.

If you look at the pictures I have on post #10 you will see my Brinks 4046TSW with the accessory rail. It's a little hard to see because it was the riveted style and it is painted flat black, but it is there, the roll mark for the model clearly states TSW, and the Brinks logo is still visible.

I keep it as my dedicated truck gun. It shoots beautifully.

 

[ACEd]

I don't believe any Brink TSW's ever had rails. I could be wrong. California and some high risk areas got the TSW's years before most states. When it finally came time to issue autos to everyone, Brinks stayed with S&W. The powers that be would have chosen the TSW for everyone. But the high cost of stainless steel made the TSW cost prohibitive.

I have 3 varieties of Brinks marked pistols - a non-TSW 4046 (EKZ82xx dated 5-1999 per SW) with no rail, a 4046TSW (VJL40xx dated 9-2003 per SW) with riveted rail, and a 5946TSW (BDK38xx dated 3-2006 per SW) with riveted rail.

I don't believe there were ever any 4046TSW with the CHP style 4006TSW integral rail (circa 2006-2007).

 

[ACEd]

Your issued gun must be turned in every night. You are not allowed to take it out for practice. If you are not working it stays in the vault. You can only sign it out for yearly state qualifications. Most employees just use a personal auto for qualifying.

Brinks eliminated the once mandatory 2 to 3 quals a year for economic reasons.

That might explain why my Brinks guns were filthy as if they had never been routinely cleaned.