4506-1 for duty

[DanRod_LA]

Hi guys, just wanted to post some pics of my 4506-1. Currently on the wait list for my departments (LAPD) de-cocker school, which is a transition course from striker fired (M&P, Glock) to de-cocker type pistols, including Beretta's. Had some trouble sourcing one of these local, so I turned to the internet. Unfortunately the pistol was delivered the magazine disconnect safety disabled. LAPD's armorers hardly have any parts available for third gen guns, so officers must source parts on their own. I was able to find the disconnect (plunger) on Midway.

As the armorer installed the part and inspected my gun, he found the sight base screw (adjustables) had been sheared off. Armorer turned down working on the pistol, afraid of causing further damage. He recommend sending the gun to the factory. After several weeks I finally received back a fully functioning 4506!

 

[DanRod_LA]

The pics also show my current duty gun, an M&P9 Pro series, and LAPD's current duty ammo Federal HST 230 grain (non +P)

 

[kff41]

Very nice. Have one and a pleasure to shoot. And Way prettier than that old black thing.

 

[nocents]

congrats....45056-1 pics never get old........AND it has the awesome adjustable sights

 

[magicmanmb]

Carried a 4506 & a 4506-1 most of my career once we switched to semi's. I keep 1 glock because its a required issue, a Walther P99 in 9 & 40as due to them being issued for 6 months with a new chief. I've gone back to hammer fired metal frame. Just want to find either a 659 or 5906 locally. Love gen 3 Smiths.

 

[18DAI]

An identical 4506-1 was my duty gun for many years. Bet your life reliable and tack driving accurate. Enjoy yours!

And good luck at the school! Regards 18DAI

 

[BAM-BAM]

Sweet.......great score.......haven't seen one for sale locally in years.

I was lucky enough to score a 4566 about a decade ago.

For a carry .45 that would be about 4th on my list...................it's a big hunk-0- steel.............I max out at the 4566 or 5906

1 W German Sig 220

2 Sig 245/220 compact

3 S&W 4566

4 S&W4506

 

[Texas40]

Nice I recently acquired a nice NIB 4516-2 that is a nice lil gun. My shield had an "issue" and was sidelined a couple weeks so I carried the 3rd gen. A little heavier but for a steel compact and compared to the shield (also a45) ot a lot different in size.

I am not a LEO but out of curiosity what/why decocker school is required?

Be safe out there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[TheLt]

I have a 4006 and love it. The only thing I don't like about it is it's weight. It is a heavy pistol. But, for accuracy, trigger pull, etc... I don't think it can be beat. I normally carry (concealed) either my Glock 22 in .40 or my Makarov 9 X 18. Every now and again, just for kicks, I'll carry my Model 66, 2.5" barrel.

 

[Arik]

So what do you do if something else breaks? Go back to the M&P while you wait for parts? Or do you have to take another class for decocker - striker?

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

 

[Old_Cop]

No school like old school. It's heavy, it's a tank and parts are unlikely to fail. The issues with your gun were the result of "tinkering."

 

[its_Dale]

nice find! Im on the exact same wait list... heard it might get cancelled this year

 

[DanRod_LA]

Thank guys for all the support. And I hope it doesn't get cancelled but heard they're really pushing for more 1911 schools, so de-cocker school is once a year now.

As far as if something else breaks I'd have to source the parts and carry my M&P until its fixed, or find another 4506. Officer here blew out a barrel not too long ago, had trouble finding a replacement.

And the de-cocker school is more CYA. The manual of arms and manipulations is different, also the double/single action transition takes practice. After the school you must qualify every month for a year to make sure you're well aquatinted with the firearm.

Purchased a used safariland holster similar to my issued one, makes the transition easier. Still looking for a good off duty one, may have to go Vic Mackey style for those who know !

 

[TTSH]

Sweet.......great score.......haven't seen one for sale locally in years.

Found a fairly decent Model 4506-1 in a shop today in my travels. Unfortunately, the shop is not in Massachusetts... meaning significant extra expense and complexity if I decide I want it.

It was a Model 4506-1 (R4) dash 3 with 2-line laser etched slide markings. 2 old yellow follower magazines, no box or papers. Last one I found like it was in pretty tough shape but this one was acceptable albeit far from pristine perfect.

If it were in-state, I probably would have swallowed hard and bought it... putting myself so far down into debt after last week's truck tranny bill that I better start looking for a part-time job or a bankruptcy attorney.

 

[Denver Dick]

You might be interested in this 4506-1 that I purchased on consignment from Greta's Guns in Simi Valley in 2008. The owner of the shop is a retired LAPD detective and many of his customers are current or former LAPD guys.

What struck me about it was that it had what appeared to be factory adjustable night sights. In addition, the wear pattern on the pistol appeared to be from a duty holster. Frankly, I collect S&W 3rd Gens I had not seen one with factory adjustable night sights. Then I saw the '97 date on the night sights and I felt that the pistol may have been one of those ordered by LAPD officers after the February 1997 North Hollywood shootout (aka the Battle of North Hollywood). Many officers who felt they were sorely out gunned in that shootout, sought approval to start carrying .45 ACP autos. The 4506-1 was one of the .45s approved.

So, I purchased the pistol and immediately requested a factory letter from S&W. You will note in the factory letter from Roy Jinks that he states my 4506-1 is a "Special Order Los Angeles Police, caliber .45 ACP" and was shipped in May of 1997.

I note that yours seems to have what appear to be factory night sights. I'm wondering if the serial number is close to mine and if the night sights are dated '97?

It's a great pistol.

 

[DanRod_LA]

Hey sir thanks for the reply and thats an amazing find. Theres still alot of Officers carrying these and it's developed a cult status. Mine happens to be older than yours, manufactured in 1994. Still in amazing shape, and surprising how accurate it is for a production gun.

I wasn't lucky enough to find one with adjustable night sights, but I found some replacements on optics planet. They're listed under 1006 parts. Unfortunately the armory didn't wan to take the chance to replace the sights. So I had to send mine back to the factory, had all the repairs done and sights done at once.

 

[S. Kelly]

I had the exact same one with 8 mags, bought it because it was the Vic Mackey gun. HAHAHA. Great gun, it was like shooting a .22, but carried like a giant piece of steel. It's a tank. I sold it for a crazy sum with 3 mags and sold off the rest-I bought 2 Glocks.
What's LAPD issuing these days? It was the Glock 22, with Glocks in 9/40/45 approved. Same with the S&W M&P series? Seems a S&W M&P45 would be the way to go if you're a S&W man.

 

[JRC332]

I carried a 4506-1 as my duty weapon for 7 years. When the department transitioned to the Sig P226 in 2006, we had the opportunity to purchase our 4506's, which I did. Mine is very similar in that it has the adjustable sights, but has a flash chromed hammer and trigger. It's built like a tank.

 

[Aegis]

I have a 4506-1 that was special order LAPD serial# VJC01,, laser etched If I recall correctly it was made around 2002. I found it in a pawn shop in So Cal. Gun supposedly has a dubious past. Officer was in a shooting with this gun and was fired and he pawned it. Some time later he was re hired but never went back for the gun. I had his name and I used to work with many LAPD in an off duty job. I talked to at-least twenty different officers and none of them knew him. I also have a 4566 that I got from a LAPD motor when he switched to a 1911..

 

[BAM-BAM]

Thank guys for all the support. And I hope it doesn't get cancelled but heard they're really pushing for more 1911 schools, so de-cocker school is once a year now.

As far as if something else breaks I'd have to source the parts and carry my M&P until its fixed, or find another 4506. Officer here blew out a barrel not too long ago, had trouble finding a replacement.

And the de-cocker school is more CYA. The manual of arms and manipulations is different, also the double/single action transition takes practice. After the school you must qualify every month for a year to make sure you're well aquatinted with the firearm.

Purchased a used safariland holster similar to my issued one, makes the transition easier. Still looking for a good off duty one, may have to go Vic Mackey style for those who know !

MY Performance Center DPA 5906 is a de-cocker only........ wonder if you can get parts to modify a 4506??? or a 4566....Hummmmmmm!