4506 extractor source

[brushy bill]

Recently obtained an exceptional 4506 (no dash) from Big 45 on this forum. Great gun ANIB and I'd been looking for awhile.

As 4506 is out of production and this will be my house gun, I've purchased a few replacement parts. Thought this may be prudent as I've seen some posts on the forum indicating S&W may not produce parts much longer.

Does anyone know a good source for extractors? Seems S&W only provides them as a shop fit to the slide and the one on this gun doesn't need replacement.

I've tried Brownell's and Midways with no luck. Appreciate whatever insights you can provide. Thanks much in advance.

Bill

 

[KurtC]

It is the same extractor as used on all the DA .45's - 4506, 4566TSW, 457, CS45, etc. Your grandchildren will still be able to buy them from the factory, if needed.

 

[brushy bill]

KurtC,

Appreciate the feedback, and maybe I don't understand.

When I look at the S&W Website, it shows an @ symbol for the extractor which translates to factory install only. I don't want to have to send the slide back to have the extractor installed. There is nothing wrong with existing extractor as far as I know. Just want a spare.

From what I can tell from S&W website, if you just want to buy the part you can't.

Please let me know if I'm off base.


Thanks again.

 

[KurtC]

Your not off base, but the extractor on 3rd generation pistol is not a drop in part. It often needs to be fitted, and there is a guage that is used to test new installations.

Just removing and reinstalling one is a a royal pain in the arse. You can get some more input if you read FastBolt's replies in this thread: http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-smithing/73850-3rd-gen-extractor-pin.html

 

[Fastbolt]

Like KurtC said, S&W will have extractors available for their 3rd gen pistols for many years to come ... and will be able to fit them.

LE armorers are able to order the parts, although it's not uncommon for a customer service person to ask if the armorer has the required tools needed to fit the extractor.

It's not that it's particularly difficult to fit a S&W pivoting extractor. Yes, it does take some knowledge, training and it helps to have some experience beyond just having done it one time in an armorer class. It's just that in order to properly fit one to any particular pistol's slide the person doing the work has to know how to file the extractor's adjustment pad so the hook's reach falls within the required tolerance range regarding proper fit.

The tolerance (and progress of the filing) is checked with a bar gauge (Go/No-Go) with the extractor inside the slide. (It also used to be checked with a flag gauge, as well, which checks for a different dimensional tolerance.)

The extractor spring tension is checked with a force dial gauge.

The cost of the bar gauge & force dial gauge runs around $220 combined, give or take, not counting shipping & applicable tax, which is a lot to invest just to replace an extractor. It's probably really only a worthwhile investment if you're going to be supporting a fair number of guns over the span of some years. Believe it or not, some LE armorers don't bother to buy the gauges and simply ship a gun back for factory repair if an extractor ever breaks or the spring becomes too weak.

Something else to remember is that while the bench checks are important (using the gauges), the final test for proper fit & function takes place out on the firing line.

FWIW, if you're interested in trivia ... in some of the very early production .45's, like the transitional 645 model, armorers were trained how to file and create some clearance for the extractor spring under the extractor's tail, if necessary, in an occasional gun.This was in addition to filing up front on the extractor's adjustment pad surface. Tolerances were a bit looser, it seems, in some of the guns produced on older equipment.

Over the years since the 3rd gen models were introduced there have been any number of design revisions, as well as production & manufacturing changes, when it comes to various parts.

 

[XTrooper]

I thought it would be helpful to relate my recent experience regarding 3rd Gen pistol extractors, so here it is.

I was having an extraction problem with my well-worn Model 1076 Kentucky State Police Contract pistol. After learning from Fastbolt that the extractor was not a "drop-in" part (thanks again, Fastbolt), I sent my pistol back to the factory for a new extractor and extractor spring. I returned the complete pistol because they need to test fire it for final check of extractor function.

Four weeks, three days, and $74.00 later ($60 + $14 shipping), I received my old warhorse back and it's running like a Swiss watch again! It's become my everyday carry pistol and is utterly reliable.

All 3rd Gen 10mm models have been out of production for over 15 years and S&W still services and repairs them today, so it should be a long time before you need to worry about getting your 4506 worked on.

My 1076 with new extractor and new grip installed

 

[brushy bill]

KurtC, Fastbolt, and XTrooper,

Thanks much. Lot of good info here. More than answered my question. Appreciate the help.

 

[K96771]

I recently got the same info from S&W when I called about an extractor for my 5906. I mailed it to them and got it back in a few week; no charge for part, repair or return mail. A class operation.

 

[Mack]

brushy bill,
I am thinking along the same lines as you, I would like to have a spare extractor fitted as a "what if". I haven't done it yet but I am thinking of removing the extractor, springs etc. from my 4516 and sending it in for a new one. That way I will have a new one fitted to the gun and still have the used servicable one that is fitted to the gun. Just an idea.

m.

 

[oldRoger]

If you are determined, I really don't think you would have a problem convincing S&W to fit new parts and send you the old ones.
Tell them you are going into the brush in Alaska and want to have all necessary parts on hand. I have a spare extractor for my Colt 1911 A1, have had for 20 years, still the same spare.

 

[Sargeyork]

My story

I had 2 extractors break in 2 months and the gunsmith who replaced the first one installed the second one free and polished the chamber which apparentely was the real problem and went through the whole gun which he did not do the first time because I asked him if he could fix it while I waited because I had a match the next day and attributed it to the fact it was a used gun and I did not know how much use(round count) was on the pistol. The second time he insisted on having the gun for a week or more so he could really find out what was going on and like I said he did all that work for free and the 5906 has been trouble free since except for an Eagle brand 17 rd mag which always causes malfunctions. While I was waiting for it to be fixed I found a spare extractor on Gunbroker just to have in an emergency on hand, maybe you should try that.