4506-1 Rear Sight Guard

[pagansaint]

Just purchased a SW model 4506-1 from my LGS, and after bringing it home I realized this model doesn't have the rear sight base plate/guard that some others do. After doing a google search, it appears that the slide on my model is not milled to receive the base plate. Kind of a bummer as this is a feature that I wanted on my 4506-1.

Can anyone advise? Am I still able to somehow add the rear sight guard or will the slide need to be milled?

Why do some 4506-1 models have the guard, while others don't?

Thanks!

 

[UNCLE PAULY]

Two different guns. Best to sell what you have and find the one you want.

 

[4T5GUY]

There’s another option available if you wanted.

There have been some excellent 4506-1 parts/repair kits available. Both the adjustable and Novak fixed rear sight ones are showing up.

I felt the original to me in 1992 was in need of a fixed rear sight top end. I found one and all the parts are in about as new condition.

Jim

 

[pagansaint]

There’s another option available if you wanted.

There have been some excellent 4506-1 parts/repair kits available. Both the adjustable and Novak fixed rear sight ones are showing up.

I felt the original to me in 1992 was in need of a fixed rear sight top end. I found one and all the parts are in about as new condition.

Jim

Thanks for the heads up. I did a search just now and couldn't find any on Gunbroker but I did find a new one at gunscorp for $600. This seems like a pretty silly amount of money to spend for a mostly cosmetic feature.

May I ask why you felt you wanted the fixed rear sights instead?

Also would you be willing to sell your older slide with the adjustable sight?

 

[jsbethel]

Install an LPA adjustable sight on the current slide - LPA Ghilardi

 

[4T5GUY]

May I ask why you felt you wanted the fixed rear sights instead?

Boredom, changing from the original “winged” protected adjustable and wanting high condition replacement parts for stuff I have. Maybe the new guy/gal would like a choice that also came with supportive parts. (?)

Jim

 

[stansdds]

The LPA adjustable rear sight might be the lowest cost option, otherwise, search GunBroker and eBay for a 4506-1 slide with the factory adjustable rear sight.

 

[pagansaint]

I was looking yesterday on those sites to see if anyone was selling but no dice. I did however find a factory new one on gunpartscorp for $600. I really want the original gun that Alonso Harris had in training day but idk if I can justify my OCD at that price. Might
Hold out for a bit to see if someone lists a slide for cheaper

 

[Frank Black]

OP makes no sense.

S&W’s snaggy rear adjustable sight is a guber sight for lazy Sunday afternoons plinking at the range.

The 3rd Gen models were intended for hard street use, either as L.E. guns or for civy CCW, so the fixed sight models are where it’s at.

A fixed-sight 4506-1 is an awesome CCW gun.

 

[pagansaint]

OP makes no sense.

S&W’s snaggy rear adjustable sight is a guber sight for lazy Sunday afternoons plinking at the range.

The 3rd Gen models were intended for hard street use, either as L.E. guns or for civy CCW, so the fixed sight models are where it’s at.

A fixed-sight 4506-1 is an awesome CCW gun.

OP here. The main reason I want the adjustable rear sight is cosmetic. I want the same 4506-1 that Denzel Washington has in training day. If I were to carry any firearm, I'd choose one that was lighter smaller and had higher than 8rd capacity.

But in your opinion, you prefer the fixed sight models?

 

[Yendor357]

Fixed sights are just fine as long as the elevation is either right on, or less than 2 inches high. I can’t stand a gun that shoots low. I sent my fixed sight 4506 slide to Trijicon for the proper height front sight.

My 4506 is deadly. I once hit a 3 inch round steel target 11 times in a row from standing off hand at 25 yards before I missed. They are big, beautiful good shooting guns.

Oh, the LPA that sits in my parts drawer, The notch is way too shallow. And while I’m at it, the 745 looking rear sight that Jack First sells, that’s NOT a S&W part. The one I have on my 645 doesn’t fit quite right.

 

[BigBoss3006]

OP makes no sense.

S&W’s snaggy rear adjustable sight is a guber sight for lazy Sunday afternoons plinking at the range.

The 3rd Gen models were intended for hard street use, either as L.E. guns or for civy CCW, so the fixed sight models are where it’s at.

A fixed-sight 4506-1 is an awesome CCW gun.

This is incorrect. The winged adjustable sight was developed for the US Navy’s Mk22 Mod 0, specifically for hard military use by NSW units. I don't even love the design, but I cannot think of a more hardened adjustable rear sight than the one S&W adopted to 2nd/3rd Gen’s.

Fixed sights can also be prone to drifting in the dovetail, they aren't infallible. One of my fixed sight 659 slide’s has a dovetail that will straight up not retain a rear sight securely. Hard for that to happen to the adjustable sights, when the housing is dovetailed in and then screwed directly to the slide

 

[Frank Black]

OP here. The main reason I want the adjustable rear sight is cosmetic. I want the same 4506-1 that Denzel Washington has in training day. If I were to carry any firearm, I'd choose one that was lighter smaller and had higher than 8rd capacity.
But in your opinion, you prefer the fixed sight models?

Correct. Fixed sight 3rd Gen models, whether 9mm, .40S&W, 10mm, or .45acp. I have models in all those chamberings; none have adj. sights.

Pics attached of my late model S&W 4506 which IS in the carry rotation in the cooler/cold months …..

 

[Frank Black]

Fixed sights are just fine as long as the elevation is either right on, or less than 2 inches high. I can’t stand a gun that shoots low. I sent my fixed sight 4506 slide to Trijicon for the proper height front sight.
My 4506 is deadly. I once hit a 3 inch round steel target 11 times in a row from standing off hand at 25 yards before I missed. They are big, beautiful good shooting guns.
Oh, the LPA that sits in my parts drawer, The notch is way too shallow. And while I’m at it, the 745 looking rear sight that Jack First sells, that’s NOT a S&W part. The one I have on my 645 doesn’t fit quite right.

I hear ya …. Both my 2nd Gen 645 and 3rd Gen 4506 are awesome shooters.

Both are very accurate and hit to POA. But the new Trijicons I installed on the 4506 (green/orange tritiums with white outline dots) result in a better sight-picture for me than the 645’s red-ish “revolver”-type front sight against the white outline fixed rear.

Comparative pic attached ….

 

[Yendor357]

*I sent my 645 back to smith a few months ago. They put a 4506 safety on it for me at no charge.

I’m with you as far as the red ramp front sight. I don’t really care for it, but what do you do? I called Novak’s a few months ago. Do you remember when they’d mill the front sight off and then mill a dove tail in its place? The young-un that I spoke to at Novak’s didn’t know what a 645 was. Man, we didn’t know how good we had it in the 80sand 90s.