Difference in 4506 and 4506-1
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VTHokiesDuckHunter
Member
I cant answer the first part of your question, but as someone who has owned and shot both trigger styles (albeit in the 5906/4013/4014 models - I'd say:
The more squared type (really rectangular if we want to be accurate- or maybe we should say "squared off") trigger guards are easier to access with gloved fingers and let you rest your off-hand finger on the front trigger strap if you shoot in that style:
Rounded style looks slightly better overall (IMO) and of course makes for a more compact design, and slides in and out of many holsters better.
Although I like both styles a lot and think its a good idea to own a few of each if you can!
The more squared type (really rectangular if we want to be accurate- or maybe we should say "squared off") trigger guards are easier to access with gloved fingers and let you rest your off-hand finger on the front trigger strap if you shoot in that style:
Rounded style looks slightly better overall (IMO) and of course makes for a more compact design, and slides in and out of many holsters better.
Although I like both styles a lot and think its a good idea to own a few of each if you can!
HOUSTON RICK
Member
SCSW 3rd Edition, page 309 lists them as the same gun. That is good enough for me.
Hammer and trigger are steel on both models on the -1 they just changed from flash chrome to a black coating, some are MIM though. The frame on the 4506-1 was changed to the 1006 style without the cuts to lighten it that the 4506 has on the dust cover. Also the barrel hoods are different, the 4506 is narrower than the -1 so they will not interchange. Those are the changes I am aware of.
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FNG W 4506 question
New to the 4506 (and the forum), just purchased one two weeks ago. Love the pistol! My question, however is why my pistol is stamped 4506-1 but has a square trigger guard. I'm not seeing things, and have googled this to the point of a migraine. Can anyone help me out? The "-1" looks a little wonky, so I'm wondering if a previous owner decided to "Mall ninja" the frame and stamp the -1 on it, or if it is in fact a "-1" with a square trigger guard.
Either way, it shoots like a dream and is built like a tank.
Thanks in advance!
S
New to the 4506 (and the forum), just purchased one two weeks ago. Love the pistol! My question, however is why my pistol is stamped 4506-1 but has a square trigger guard. I'm not seeing things, and have googled this to the point of a migraine. Can anyone help me out? The "-1" looks a little wonky, so I'm wondering if a previous owner decided to "Mall ninja" the frame and stamp the -1 on it, or if it is in fact a "-1" with a square trigger guard.
Either way, it shoots like a dream and is built like a tank.
Thanks in advance!
S
Sharpshooter,
Can you put a pic of the whole pistol?...like to see the rest of the frame and slide.
It does seem to have the square trigger guard, but it doesn't have the lightening cut that is made on the frame from the trigger forward which was on the 4506. Changes from flash chromed parts to the black finished parts came later and isn't a "-1 design change."
So, IMO, a true 4506-1 but one of those "transitional" ones.
Changes from 4506 to 4506-1 were frame, slide, and barrel. This was to standardize these parts with the 10xx series. There was a lot more machining of the 4506 slide and frame done than the later 4506s. Those lightening cuts do make a difference.
When holding a 4506 in one hand and 4506-1 in another at the same time the weight difference is noticable to me.
Can you put a pic of the whole pistol?...like to see the rest of the frame and slide.
It does seem to have the square trigger guard, but it doesn't have the lightening cut that is made on the frame from the trigger forward which was on the 4506. Changes from flash chromed parts to the black finished parts came later and isn't a "-1 design change."
So, IMO, a true 4506-1 but one of those "transitional" ones.
Changes from 4506 to 4506-1 were frame, slide, and barrel. This was to standardize these parts with the 10xx series. There was a lot more machining of the 4506 slide and frame done than the later 4506s. Those lightening cuts do make a difference.
When holding a 4506 in one hand and 4506-1 in another at the same time the weight difference is noticable to me.
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full size pic
KPSqured,
Sorry about the delay. Here it is. Everything I've found points to this being a 4506. Steel v/ plastic key components, squared trigger guard, etc.
Thanks
KPSqured,
Sorry about the delay. Here it is. Everything I've found points to this being a 4506. Steel v/ plastic key components, squared trigger guard, etc.
Thanks
ldp4570
US Veteran
The difference is I own a 4506-1
Can't say that about a 4506...
Sorry, couldn't resist
Thats exactly what I carried as a Deputy in Georgia, I hated it when they shoved the G22 down our throats. I was the last one to have to turn mine in, an we couldn't even buy our old ones. Thats OK, cause I have a 4566 that shoots just as well!!
KPSqured,
Sorry about the delay. Here it is. Everything I've found points to this being a 4506. Steel v/ plastic key components, squared trigger guard, etc.
Thanks
That looks like a square trigger guard 4506-1, most likely a transition model using up older frames. Need a picture of top of slide showing the barrel hood to be sure. Look at the photo of a 4506 in this post and note how the frame is stepped in front of the trigger:
http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-semi-auto-pistols/104162-pic-my-early-4506-a.html
And here are photos of the barrel hood difference notice the -1 is quite a bit wider:
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Like Mack said, I think thats a 4506-1 with a square trigger guard...and I think that's pretty neat.
The slide and frame (except the trigger guard) looks like 4506-1.
Frame has lightening cuts, the slide has a pronounced rib on the top are good visual clues. Also, like Mack says, look at the barrel hood. The front of the slide, where the recoil spring tunnel is, is also different between the pistols.
4506 like Macks:
The slide and frame (except the trigger guard) looks like 4506-1.
Frame has lightening cuts, the slide has a pronounced rib on the top are good visual clues. Also, like Mack says, look at the barrel hood. The front of the slide, where the recoil spring tunnel is, is also different between the pistols.
4506 like Macks:
It is common when engineering changes take place that there is a transitional period when S&W mixes and matches parts to use up supplies of older version parts... Most of the -1 changes took place in the slide, the frames of the 4506 were perfectly good, economically S&W's attitude was/is why ash can a usable frame just because the new engineering change calls for a round trigger guard?
There are even some really early transitional versions running around where 4506 model marked frames had a 4506-1 slide slapped on them.
There are even some really early transitional versions running around where 4506 model marked frames had a 4506-1 slide slapped on them.
Icopy1
Member
Seems odd that the -1 was electropenciled and not stamped. Have you called S&W? They can run the serial # and tell you exactly what model it is or should be.
Either way, you have a fine pistola.
Either way, you have a fine pistola.
Philip Marlowe
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OK, I read this thread pretty fast, so maybe I have it wrong here.
It can't be a situation of using up old 4506 no dash frames since the no dash frames are all stepped. His frame is not stepped, so it has to be the newer 4506-1 ( 1006 style frame) ,
So, it looks like a 4506-1 gun with a squared trigger guard. Could it be an early production 4506-1 that had the squared 4506 trigger guard or could it be a custom trigger guard on a 4506-1 that someone had done?
Oh, and all black triggers and hammers are MIM. The older 4506 and older 4506-1 have the flash chromed triggers and hammers, the newer 4506-1 have the black MIM triggers and hammers
It can't be a situation of using up old 4506 no dash frames since the no dash frames are all stepped. His frame is not stepped, so it has to be the newer 4506-1 ( 1006 style frame) ,
So, it looks like a 4506-1 gun with a squared trigger guard. Could it be an early production 4506-1 that had the squared 4506 trigger guard or could it be a custom trigger guard on a 4506-1 that someone had done?
Oh, and all black triggers and hammers are MIM. The older 4506 and older 4506-1 have the flash chromed triggers and hammers, the newer 4506-1 have the black MIM triggers and hammers
The 4506-1 slides will not work in the older 4506 frames. The 4506-1 frame dustcover has grooves on the top of it that match with the front of the slide to help reduce side by side play when cycling.
My 4506 has a rub mark on the slide (on the recoil spring tunnel) similar to what you see on a lot of 1911s. This design change to the frame and slide prevented that.
My 4506 has a rub mark on the slide (on the recoil spring tunnel) similar to what you see on a lot of 1911s. This design change to the frame and slide prevented that.
wdan
Member
pace40 That is a beautiful pistol. I love the 40 's and 45 's also!
bulletproof-791
Member
we had a few issues with the 4506..way back when they 1st came out ..our P.D had issues with frame (hair line ) crack do to the "step down frames"
see photos
see photos
Seven For Sure
Member
I realize this thread is old and under most circumstances I would not do this but this seems to be a great source for 4506/4506-1 info. So here it go's...
I have a pristine 4506 that looks exactly like sharpshooters, even the same letter prefix on the serial #. It has silver trigger, silver bobbed hammer, square TG and no lightening cuts. The hammer looks factory bobbed. It has the silver rear sight shroud.
It also has the upside-down 'T' like on KPSqured's pistol on the sam side but up higher, higher than the front serrations on the front of the trigger guard.
One more identifying feater is a 'P' stamped on the very bottom of the barrel lug.
I am unsure of what the difference in the recoil rod tunnel and/or hole os from the pictures as well as the difference in the top of the slides from the pictures still on this thread. I will take pics of the pistol later but don't have the time or patience right now, sorry.
Also, can I get the contact info and price for a history letter thos and other S&W pistols and revolvers I own. This is the only one I have that came with no box. Thanks.
I have a pristine 4506 that looks exactly like sharpshooters, even the same letter prefix on the serial #. It has silver trigger, silver bobbed hammer, square TG and no lightening cuts. The hammer looks factory bobbed. It has the silver rear sight shroud.
It also has the upside-down 'T' like on KPSqured's pistol on the sam side but up higher, higher than the front serrations on the front of the trigger guard.
One more identifying feater is a 'P' stamped on the very bottom of the barrel lug.
I am unsure of what the difference in the recoil rod tunnel and/or hole os from the pictures as well as the difference in the top of the slides from the pictures still on this thread. I will take pics of the pistol later but don't have the time or patience right now, sorry.
Also, can I get the contact info and price for a history letter thos and other S&W pistols and revolvers I own. This is the only one I have that came with no box. Thanks.
