4566TSW Replacement Rail

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On a slightly related subject, I have a late 3953TSW with holes for rail filled with rivets but no rail. Rivets look professional and it appears to have never had rail? I have seen this on several late TSW pistols in various calibers.

Wondering if this was really a factory option or was rail removed and holes plugged? If so, I would be interested in removing an ugly damaged rail on my 5946TSW if cost is not prohibitive.
 
I am looking at a 4566TSW without the rail but the rivets are there. Is this factory?
 

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I am looking at a 4566TSW without the rail but the rivets are there. Is this factory?
I will defer to experts, but like my 3953TSW, there is no evidence (scratches or marks where rail would have been, particularly on an Aluminum frame like my 3953) that there was ever a rail.

So I am guessing Factory Delete like the block off plates on radio delete on 60's-70's Police cars. But I would really like to know for sure.
 
IIRC, back when the TSWs were still in production, an owner could send his pistol to S&W and they would remove the rail and install plugs.......plastic rivets...??? in the holes in the dustcover. This service ended around the time the TSWs were removed from the public sales, to LE agency sales only.

Alternatively, an agency could place an order for rail free TSW pistols - minimum order was 50 guns, again IIRC. Those guns have frames shaped for the rails, but no holes in the dust covers. I believe all TSW models were available made like this as I have seen 3913TSW, 4006TSW, 4003TSW, 5906TSW ect made without the rail. And I own a 7- round 4513TSW (Thanks Martya!) and 4563TSW (Thanks vigil617!) made without the rail installed. No holes in the dust cover.

Back then, some folks didn't hang **** on their guns. Some still don't. ;) Regards 18DAI
 
IIRC, back when the TSWs were still in production, an owner could send his pistol to S&W and they would remove the rail and install plugs.......plastic rivets...??? in the holes in the dustcover. This service ended around the time the TSWs were removed from the public sales, to LE agency sales only.
Not sure if my "rivets" plugging holes are metal or plastic - will have to check next week. But my recollection is there are no scratches or marks indicating rail was ever present - wondering if they got an order for less than 50 without rails if they might have just plugged rail holes and delivered smaller quantity like that.

Also, my understanding is that earlier TSW pistols generally were not available with rails but later production defaulted to the railed configuration - My early 4013TSW (1997) has no rail, no holes, no LCI port - while my late 4013TSW (2005) has rail and LCI port. Are you saying there were also unique changes to dust cover geometries to accommodate rails.
Best, Ed
 

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Are you saying there were also unique changes to dust cover geometries to accommodate rails.
Best, Ed

Yes.

I'm not interested in railed TSW's, (:rolleyes:,) and its hard to find the "non-railed" railed ones.

Thanks again to 18DAI's heads up I'm good with the .45's, still looking for the others. They are super nice pistols on par with my like PC examples. Really.

Jim
 

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Sorry for reviving an old thread, but I am so glad I stumbled across this. I acquired a 4566TSW (Bobbed/Flush hammer, decock only/no safety) back in 2014. It had no rail but had the rivets in place. No evidence that I rail ever existed but I wondered for the longest time if it was a factory option, if it had a rail and this was local gunsmith bubba work with rivets....I feel much better that it appears that the rivets are factory. This pistol has the smoothest and lightest DA trigger of any of my DA/SA guns including Sig Legion guns.
 

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