4506 ID

[Jtillery84]

I'm trying to figure out a few things about a 4506 I got off of gunbroker. It's laser engraved "4506" but bears all the features of a 4506-1" Rounded trigger guard, non-stepped frame, larger barrel hood, black MIM trigger and hammer.

I believe the laser engraving might make it a late production 4506-1 (03) . Unfortunately, I do not have the box it came in.

 

[ACEd]

TDN serial prefix most likely 1999 but best to ask SW for info - send model and SN to Smith Wesson Support [email protected] and ask for manufacture date and full model designation and the 6 digit product code. About half the time you will get model info incl Product Code in addition to manufacture date but half the time you have to respond to their response and ask again. I have about 90% success rate.

 

[jsbethel]

4506-1 (R4) "dash 3"

 

[stansdds]

18DAI was a treasure trove of information, he is greatly missed. As to the OP's Model 4506, sure looks like it is among the last of the 4506-1's produced by S&W.

 

[Token]

So how many versions of the 4506 do we have?

4506
4506-1
4506-1 (dash 03)
4506-1 R4 (dash 03)
4506-1 R4 (dash 03) MOD 4506
4506-1 R4 (dash 03) MOD 4506 3 line

Have I missed any?

Plus sub variants of each of those.

Looks to me like the OPs pistol is the second to last on this list.

T!

 

[Aegis]

The last of the run, laser 4506. (The dash -1)were marked 4506. I have one that was a LAPRAC. My recollection it was an officer order LAPD gun around 2001.This gun had a dubious history. The officer shot someone, was fired, he pawned the gun, got his job back but never went back for it. I had his name and tried to to locate more history.. The only thing I was able to find out that he did qualify with it at the academy range. I also have 2 4506's from Fresno County Sheriff and a 4566. The 4506's were issued to court deps and the 4566 to a patrol deputy. Helps to know a retired dep that worked the range.

 

[Ringerman69]

The last of the run, laser 4506. (The dash -1)were marked 4506. I have one that was a LAPRAC. My recollection it was an officer order LAPD gun around 2001.This gun had a dubious history. The officer shot someone, was fired, he pawned the gun, got his job back but never went back for it. I had his name and tried to to locate more history.. The only thing I was able to find out that he did qualify with it at the academy range. I also have 2 4506's from Fresno County Sheriff and a 4566. The 4506's were issued to court deps and the 4566 to a patrol deputy. Helps to know a retired dep that worked the range.

Here’s my 3 line 4506 Fresno NIB.

 

[Jtillery84]

Heard back from S&W, the Product code is 108163, the manufacture date 1999 and is M4506.
So, I was under the impression that the standard 4506 was discontinued when the -1 was introduced. Did the -1 just get dropped and the 4506-1 just continue on as a 4506 or were they produced concurrently?

 

[ACEd]

I believe the 108143 and 108163 are -1 with the C shaped trigger guard. I believe the original 4506 (no dash) with adj sights and D shaped trigger guard were 103723 and fixed sights 103xxx. Its possible by 1999 they were no longer marked -1?
If you got answer by email, respond and ask for model revision.

 

[CALREB]

I remember when the .45 cal S/W was first approved after the N Hollywood shootout. There were a few SW 45s in the Armory for loaner guns to SIS Detectives but that was it. The S/Ws required no testing as the SIS personnel had already done that some years ago and they had an excellent record. We got a rush order into S/W for the instructors so we could get a bit of experience and figure out a transition program as we got qualified ourselves. As the 45s were private purchase only, S/W cut a good deal. A 4506-1 with night sights and 5 mags for 425. Double pouch or quad pouches were approved. I still have mine.
The transition classes were hot and heavy for a few years. Around 2000 or so they started slowing to maybe 1 or 2 a month. I remember when LAPRAAC (LA Police Revolver and Athletic Club) gun store got in the "bill board" models supposedly the last order of 50 - 4506 models. I don't remember seeing any 3 liners. I think that if you could get together an order of 50 or so S/W would make them in those days. It would be interesting to know exactly when they stopped producing them.
By the way the only other make of .45 approved sometime after the S/Ws was the Beretta 8045. The only problem was the 8045 didn't come with a 4" barrel so could only be used off duty on in plainclothes. Beretta remedied that by making a 4"-barrel version and offering the 4" barrel for sale to LAPD officers only, who had purchased the shorter barreled guns.
So if you see one of those its a pretty good bet it was owned by an officer. They worked fine but were never very popular.

 

[T. McIntyre]

I have a no dash laser engraved 4506.

Mine is a decocker version, which I was told is uncommon. 18 DAI is the one who really filled me in on what I had when I was looking for info on what I had, as I was not familiar with the variations. He was a treasure trove of info.

Same with when I went to source info an a CQB 4563 from the Performance Center.

The 4563 with decocker is a fantastic gun. Shoots very well and is ultra reliable. For the time period, back in the 90s, one would have been hard pressed to find a better work gun than a 4506.

 

[Jtillery84]

Do you have any idea how common the laser engraved ones are?

 

[T. McIntyre]

I do not.

From what I was told, they were the last, or among the last runs. Initially I just thought it was an early one, since there was not a dash associated with it. It took a bit to realize it was laser engraved. Then I was told by 18DAI that they were the last ones produced.

He also said the decocker guns were very sought after and a number of guys at LAPD, both retired and some who were working wanted the decocker versions, as apparently they were a gun that was authorized for use.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Laser etching, and the blued trigger and hammer were later in the production, unfortunately I do not have a dates. An excellently designed and great to shoot pistol in any variation.

 

[Aegis]

Heard back from S&W, the Product code is 108163, the manufacture date 1999 and is M4506.
So, I was under the impression that the standard 4506 was discontinued when the -1 was introduced. Did the -1 just get dropped and the 4506-1 just continue on as a 4506 or were they produced concurrently?

It looks like the -1 was dropped on the last 4506's produced and laser 4506 markings..