Another member inquired if I was going to post another melonite 4566 thread. I originally wasn't, but as one of those with nothing to get excited about by S&W today, 
I figured why not.
While ugly plastic guns with lousy triggers and droopy dust covers are all the rage these days, there is a very good looking TDA S&W 45, still available NIB.
The original melonite 4566, rail free, with Novak night sights, was evidently made in a substantial number. I currently own RJF3114 and have another on the way to me. I'll post its serial when I recieve it. I've seen numbers as high as RJF3156 and one with an RJF30XX on an auction board.
I love mine. I originally aquired it in 2009. The officer I purchased it from told me he had purchased it "..six years ago to use as a duty gun, but wound up going with another pistol..". Mine is a tack driver. It has the usual 3rd generation reliability. Eats everything. It looked so good I was hesitant to put much wear on it. So I wound up qualifying and carrying my decock only spurless hammer stainless 4566.
Info from other folks indicates that these were done up from 1999 till 2001 in at least two batches. One batch evidently sat in the S&W vault till they were sold to distributors in 2009.
A kind member from Texas put me onto a number of these that were NIB in a store in Texas. The store advertises heavily on the net. I tried very hard and unsuccessfully to purchase a NIB melonite 4566 from them.
Evidently, even though the 4566's were in the display case at their retail store, they are only able to be purchased in the store. The store will not ship out of state. Store MGR : "Is the pistol on our website?" 18: "No." Store MGR : "Then you can't buy it." 18: "OK, list one on your website and I'll give you my credit card info." Store MGR : " We can't do that. Contact the website sir." 18: "So, you are telling me that you won't sell me a pistol that you have available for retail sale?" Store MGR : "Contact the website sir."
Long story short, these.......folks, would make a preacher cuss. The "website" wouldn't sell me the gun because the store in McKinney TX "...isn't connected to the web sales..". Whatever.
I located Antique Arms in McKinney TX. Mr Parker was more than happy to take my order and go down the street to fill it, and ship my melonite 4566 to NC. There are six left if anyone else wants one.
Now that I have a spare, I will qualify with the melonite 4566 in the upcoming May requals. It is a very nice looking, superb handling, tack driving 45. At $650 delivered, it doesn't cost that much more than the ugly plastic guns with the lousy triggers and droopy dustcovers either. Alot more gun for the money too! 
Regards 18DAI
I figured why not.While ugly plastic guns with lousy triggers and droopy dust covers are all the rage these days, there is a very good looking TDA S&W 45, still available NIB.
The original melonite 4566, rail free, with Novak night sights, was evidently made in a substantial number. I currently own RJF3114 and have another on the way to me. I'll post its serial when I recieve it. I've seen numbers as high as RJF3156 and one with an RJF30XX on an auction board.
I love mine. I originally aquired it in 2009. The officer I purchased it from told me he had purchased it "..six years ago to use as a duty gun, but wound up going with another pistol..". Mine is a tack driver. It has the usual 3rd generation reliability. Eats everything. It looked so good I was hesitant to put much wear on it. So I wound up qualifying and carrying my decock only spurless hammer stainless 4566.
Info from other folks indicates that these were done up from 1999 till 2001 in at least two batches. One batch evidently sat in the S&W vault till they were sold to distributors in 2009.
A kind member from Texas put me onto a number of these that were NIB in a store in Texas. The store advertises heavily on the net. I tried very hard and unsuccessfully to purchase a NIB melonite 4566 from them.
Evidently, even though the 4566's were in the display case at their retail store, they are only able to be purchased in the store. The store will not ship out of state. Store MGR : "Is the pistol on our website?" 18: "No." Store MGR : "Then you can't buy it." 18: "OK, list one on your website and I'll give you my credit card info." Store MGR : " We can't do that. Contact the website sir." 18: "So, you are telling me that you won't sell me a pistol that you have available for retail sale?" Store MGR : "Contact the website sir."
Long story short, these.......folks, would make a preacher cuss. The "website" wouldn't sell me the gun because the store in McKinney TX "...isn't connected to the web sales..". Whatever.
I located Antique Arms in McKinney TX. Mr Parker was more than happy to take my order and go down the street to fill it, and ship my melonite 4566 to NC. There are six left if anyone else wants one.
Now that I have a spare, I will qualify with the melonite 4566 in the upcoming May requals. It is a very nice looking, superb handling, tack driving 45. At $650 delivered, it doesn't cost that much more than the ugly plastic guns with the lousy triggers and droopy dustcovers either.
Alot more gun for the money too! Regards 18DAI
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