645 or 4506?

[Cuda]

Hoping I can get a little more information on a recent acquisition...

Found it on Armslist; basically, it was represented as a 4506 marked as a 645...the price was good for either model, so I decided to get it, particularly since I've always wanted one of these big Smith .45's.

Spent last night going down various rabbit holes...the serial number is TBU26XX, and is clearly marked 645 on the frame. However, everything I'm seeing is that a 645 should have red ramp front sights, and this has got 3-dots, more like a 4506...the grips also seem to be more 4506 as well.

So I wonder if I've got either a department gun that got reassembled with the wrong slide, or a gun that went back to S&W and had the slide replaced...nothing terribly special.

Then I see in the book that there's about 200 645 marked 4506's...and I get a little excited, but not much, as I don't think I'm gonna get that lucky...but, you never know.

So, I figured I'd ask.

Let me know if there's any other pictures I can take, or markings to look for...I just would like to know what I have...

 

[Aegis]

Looks like a transitional gun to me the improvements from the 645 to the 4506-1 at the end.. A lot of changes made to the gun from its original design. Changes like the stepped frame were eliminated, rear sight,decock lever, larger ejection port. The basic gun is still solid. I have 4 4506's one of my favorite 3rd gen's..

 

[TNZ71]

I vote Transitional, looks too much like a 645, the wrap around one piece grips are the only discrepancy.

 

[surfgun]

Elongated 4506 trigger Guard. It is a transitional model. 1989 production. Stepped frames stuck around till the 4506-1 update.

 

[Cuda]

Thanks all. I appreciate the help.

 

[Sevens]

If you had the original box with end label intact you would likely find that the box says "6450" as the model number. My best guess is that S&W fully intended to move to a four digit model numbering system... but they hadn't refined exactly the system they were going to use.

You probably have a pilot gun. These are basically the early 4506 guns but are marked 645. To answer your obvious next question... YES, they can be "collectible" but they are only collectible to the specific group of folks that chase them. And those folks are looking for 98-100% and almost always need the original box with that end label, which is key.

For the most part, if you have one of these and nice condition but not dead mint and no box... shoot, own, enjoy.

 

[Cuda]

If you had the original box with end label intact you would likely find that the box says "6450" as the model number. My best guess is that S&W fully intended to move to a four digit model numbering system... but they hadn't refined exactly the system they were going to use.

You probably have a pilot gun. These are basically the early 4506 guns but are marked 645. To answer your obvious next question... YES, they can be "collectible" but they are only collectible to the specific group of folks that chase them. And those folks are looking for 98-100% and almost always need the original box with that end label, which is key.

For the most part, if you have one of these and nice condition but not dead mint and no box... shoot, own, enjoy.

That's pretty much what I have; no box, not mint...and I intend to shoot and enjoy it.

Thanks much!

 

[TTSH]

Elongated 4506 trigger Guard. It is a transitional model. 1989 production. Stepped frames stuck around till the 4506-1 update.

Bingo.

 

[sousana]

I've got loads of smith 3rd gens, with it being heavy on 5906/4506/1006 models and varients.

I've yet to find another model that can cycle and eject an entire magazine of spent casings.

 

[Beachcomber]

I thought the original 645 had flat polycarbonate stock panels and the 4506 had a wrap around stock?

 

[amazingflapjack]

Looks just like my 4506 no dash-spittin' image.

 

[sousana]

Some of the early 4506's had 2 piece grips.

 

[damienph]

I can't say either way but I would like to have any of the large frame .45s. I have a 39-2, 439, 59, and a 669 but so far have not been able to find a nice 645 or later series for a reasonable price.

Shoot the heck out of it and enjoy doing so! I certainly would.

 

[stansdds]

Some of the early 4506's had 2 piece grips.

That appears to be a Hogue rubber grip for the 4506/1006. The design of the Hogue grip replaced the pin at the base of the stock grip with a fixture that allowed the Hogue grip to be attached with a single screw on either side. The 645 grips used two screws per side, similar to a 1911.

The 645 that I briefly owned several years ago had a 4506 receiver that was stamped Model 645, the slide had a dovetailed front sight, the rear sight was the pre-Novak style.

 

[Cuda]

That appears to be a Hogue rubber grip for the 4506/1006. The design of the Hogue grip replaced the pin at the base of the stock grip with a fixture that allowed the Hogue grip to be attached with a single screw on either side. The 645 grips used two screws per side, similar to a 1911.

The 645 that I briefly owned several years ago had a 4506 receiver that was stamped Model 645, the slide had a dovetailed front sight, the rear sight was the pre-Novak style.

It sounds like the 645 you had is the same as what I have now...

 

[sousana]

That appears to be a Hogue rubber grip for the 4506/1006. The design of the Hogue grip replaced the pin at the base of the stock grip with a fixture that allowed the Hogue grip to be attached with a single screw on either side. The 645 grips used two screws per side, similar to a 1911.

The 645 that I briefly owned several years ago had a 4506 receiver that was stamped Model 645, the slide had a dovetailed front sight, the rear sight was the pre-Novak style.

Actually, those grips are attached with their own individual screw, and yes, it is a 4506-1

 

[BAM-BAM]

Some of the early 4506's had 2 piece grips.

Those are Hogue aftermarket grips ........ never factory.

 

[Silversmok3]

I thought the original 645 had flat polycarbonate stock panels and the 4506 had a wrap around stock?

It is so. The example I have came with Pachmeyr stocks.

OP-are the sides of the slide and frame polished stainless with the dust cover and slide top on bead blast? That's the 2nd Gen finish style,so if the pistol is all-bead blasted I'd call it a transitional piece. The right side safety is definitely 4506-spec.

 

[4506517]

I think this pistol is 100% awesome.

Sometimes you just luck into something cool.

 

[Skinman]

What you have is a transitional model or a pre-production piece. I have also read that there were 200 of them made. Mine is sn tbu2597 and I don't have the box either. I think they are very cool.