As a S&W 3rd generation fan, I've gathered information on them over the years. Some of the information I gathered here. Some of those early 2000 to 2005 45XX threads are no longer available. I still have some meager records of information relating to the 45XX series and will post it here as I come across it. It may be of value to those of you who appreciate/collect/accumulate the 45XX series pistols as I do.
The 4506-1 is a fine pistol, by any standard. I've found (through my experiences and those of many others) that there is a subset within the 4506-1 series that bears mentioning. The 4506-1 "dash 3".
4506-1 production "officially" ended around 1999 when the 4506-1 was removed from the catalog. S&W continued to produce batches of 4506-1's though, for LE orders. Orders ranged in size from 50 to a few hundred. S&W referred to these guns as 4506-1 revision 4. Shooters/collectors/accumulators have called these 4506-1's "dash 3's" by virtue of the "03" in the upper right hand corner of the label on their boxes.
The label on the box being the surest identifier as there is some variation within this subset of the model 4506-1. These dash 3's appear to have started around 1998/99. All that I have seen had MIM hammers and triggers, black in color. All I've handled and shot have been particularly accurate with excellent triggers right out of the box. VERY good triggers and AMAZINGLY accurate actually. While neither myself nor anyone else, to date, has been able to verify it, it would appear that these dash 3's either had more attention during contruction or were machined to tighter tolerances than previous 4506-1's.
IIRC, there was a 2005 thread where members Wolfy and 45CQB related seperate instances of firing examples of these 4506-1 dash 3's. Both members commented on how nice the triggers were and how surprised they were at the inherent accuracy of these examples. They also pointed out the 03 in the labels. At the time, Lew Horton had a batch of these for sale as well. NIB 4506-1 dash 3's. LE contract overuns is what we were told.
There are three different types of 4506-1 (R4) dash 3 observed. All have the larger barrel hood. The early variants have roll marks on the slide and frame. These have been observed with "V" serial prefixes. VAV, VJP, VLN have been some that I've seen. This variant of the dash 3 was produced with both fixed Novak sights and adjustable sights. The rollmarks on the frame were two lines - serial number and "MOD 4506-1".
The next is very similar but includes factory night sights. The scarcest variant being a 4506-1 (R4) dash 3 with factory adjustable night sights AND rollmarks vice laser etching. Many of these were made for the LAPD and IIRC a member here lettered his and showed us where it was sent to the LAPD revolver and athletic club.
Then there is the 4506-1 (R4) dash 3 with laser etched markings. These markings consist of "Smith & Wesson" and "Springfield MA" with the S&W logo laser etched on the slide. On the frame is a two line laser etching of the serial number and model number. The model number however is not "4506-1", it is simply "MOD 4506". The very final 4506-1's produced were all of this variant. The final examples having three lines laser etched on the frame. The 3rd line being a repeat of the S&W address and, IMO, making the markings look.......too busy......cheesy?
Anyways, I hope this info is of some interest to those 4506 fans. If anyone has pics or additional info, please post it/them. Thanks!
Regards 18DAI
The 4506-1 is a fine pistol, by any standard. I've found (through my experiences and those of many others) that there is a subset within the 4506-1 series that bears mentioning. The 4506-1 "dash 3".
4506-1 production "officially" ended around 1999 when the 4506-1 was removed from the catalog. S&W continued to produce batches of 4506-1's though, for LE orders. Orders ranged in size from 50 to a few hundred. S&W referred to these guns as 4506-1 revision 4. Shooters/collectors/accumulators have called these 4506-1's "dash 3's" by virtue of the "03" in the upper right hand corner of the label on their boxes.
The label on the box being the surest identifier as there is some variation within this subset of the model 4506-1. These dash 3's appear to have started around 1998/99. All that I have seen had MIM hammers and triggers, black in color. All I've handled and shot have been particularly accurate with excellent triggers right out of the box. VERY good triggers and AMAZINGLY accurate actually. While neither myself nor anyone else, to date, has been able to verify it, it would appear that these dash 3's either had more attention during contruction or were machined to tighter tolerances than previous 4506-1's.
IIRC, there was a 2005 thread where members Wolfy and 45CQB related seperate instances of firing examples of these 4506-1 dash 3's. Both members commented on how nice the triggers were and how surprised they were at the inherent accuracy of these examples. They also pointed out the 03 in the labels. At the time, Lew Horton had a batch of these for sale as well. NIB 4506-1 dash 3's. LE contract overuns is what we were told.
There are three different types of 4506-1 (R4) dash 3 observed. All have the larger barrel hood. The early variants have roll marks on the slide and frame. These have been observed with "V" serial prefixes. VAV, VJP, VLN have been some that I've seen. This variant of the dash 3 was produced with both fixed Novak sights and adjustable sights. The rollmarks on the frame were two lines - serial number and "MOD 4506-1".
The next is very similar but includes factory night sights. The scarcest variant being a 4506-1 (R4) dash 3 with factory adjustable night sights AND rollmarks vice laser etching. Many of these were made for the LAPD and IIRC a member here lettered his and showed us where it was sent to the LAPD revolver and athletic club.
Then there is the 4506-1 (R4) dash 3 with laser etched markings. These markings consist of "Smith & Wesson" and "Springfield MA" with the S&W logo laser etched on the slide. On the frame is a two line laser etching of the serial number and model number. The model number however is not "4506-1", it is simply "MOD 4506". The very final 4506-1's produced were all of this variant. The final examples having three lines laser etched on the frame. The 3rd line being a repeat of the S&W address and, IMO, making the markings look.......too busy......cheesy?
Anyways, I hope this info is of some interest to those 4506 fans. If anyone has pics or additional info, please post it/them. Thanks!
Regards 18DAI
