Found: a nice, gently used 4526!! Photos added 11/27!

[Terry T]

Was in the LGS a few weeks ago with my son, a CHP officer, and he spotted a very clean 4526. He liked it because he functions like his service piece which has a slide mounted, spring loaded, de-cocker. I thought it was unusual so worked the magic (card) and picked it up for $500 (plus fees) with it's box and one extra magazine.

Home to look it up in the SCSW, 3rd ed. - made only one year. Hmmmm. After wandering around this forum, I think the best production number I found was 1,365. Hmmmm. Must not be a common piece.
I found one additional mag. on E-Bay (paid too much) and 4 more at the Reno show (good price).

Did a function test of 18 rounds and it's shooting 'right on' for me!
I'm a revolver guy and this is my first full sized Auto. I think I like the way it runs - more like a revolver than an auto. (I have several .45 ACP revolvers.)
Near as I can tell from a search on this forum, I think I did OK on the price, especially since it was already in Ca. (it can no longer be brought in).
I think it's going to be a keeper!

Hope this doesn't start another line to collect but I'm thinking I need to start looking for more of these frame mounted de-cocker models.
Terry T
Photos added:

Terry T

 

[k22fan]

Great find!

I'd have snapped it up myself. I can't help with the quantity manufactured but I know it wasn't a lot. I've never seen one. The production numbers for the three 10 mm models with frame mounted decockers are in factory history letters so there's some hope the number of 4526s made will leak out the same way. If I'd been the lucky finder of your 4526 I'd spend the $50 for a letter.
My 3rd generation .45s are all steel like yours so their recoil is quite pleasant. More important, they feed anything, including SWCs designed for revolvers.

 

[4506517]

I would say you did very well indeed. I purchased a very clean one last year for almost $800. They take the common 4500 series mags, so don't let someone sell you "4526 mags". Check for the two dots under the decock lever to make sure it has had the factory recall modifications performed. You're gonna love it.

 

[ILLWIND]

Nice score! I have its little brother, a 4536. I too would like to know how many were made, but am too cheap for a letter. I have 4 guns i'd like lettered @ $50/ea thats almost another gun.

 

[Terry T]

Photos added 11/27/12
Terry T

 

[andrewb70]

Nice find. I would love one of those to go with my 4536.
Andrew

 

[k22fan]

To have paid $800 I think member 4506517 must have really wanted a 4526, but the least common 3rd gen. 10 MMs fetch quite a bit more and I've never seen a 4526 for sale, so what do I know?

I'm surprised it is wearing the straight back strap stock. Generally, while the full size frame 10 MMs left S&W with straight back straps the .45s got the arched back strap. Since, judging from the slip on rubber sleeve, you apparently like a little beefier stock, you might like the FBI palm swell version of S&W's arched back strap stock.

 

[Terry T]

K22fan,
This a .45 ACP, not a 10mm.
Not sure if they were standard with the straight back strap or not.
I have a small hand and don't want to add to the back of the grip but I did find the slip on grip sleeve added a bit to the side of the grip. I've not yet shot it with the grip sleeve so the 'jury is still out" on how I'll like it.
I handled a full size S&W 45 with the slide mounted de-cocker but with the hogue grips this afternoon in a LGS and did not like the swell on the heel of the butt.
I'm still feeling out the grip.
Terry T

 

[k22fan]

Yes, I know it's a .45. So far as I know all the full length .45 frames got the arched back strap unless a buyer special ordered a straight back strap.

Like you I also find Hogue's rubbers way too bulky, but I like the arched back strap. Hogue's increase trigger reach by enlarging the top of the grip which makes the DA first shot harder for me. All of S&W's stocks have the same short trigger reach.

I just target shoot with my full size 3rd gen. .45s. Hopefully a couple of the forum's LEOs that carry them will chime in with a little more expertise. One has posted about his 4526.

 

[Aegis]

The 4526 should have come from the factory with the straight grips. I changed mine out the the arched back strap model. Great gun, I thought that the production run was around 400,guess I should get a letter on mine also. My serial TFE555X.

 

[ILLWIND]

I bought a 4506 new in 1992? and in the box was an arched and a straight set of grips.

 

[dondavis3]

Congratulations -

I like it

 

[DonnieR]

I am looking for straight grips for my 4526.

I am currently using my 4526 as a duty gun, since my department doesn't furnish me a weapon. My last department of 20 years did

I like the 4526 and can shoot it extremely well with the curved grips but I think I will like the straight better.

Anyone know where I may get a set of straight grips?

 

[Ruger Nut]

I am looking for straight grips for my 4526.

I am currently using my 4526 as a duty gun, since my department doesn't furnish me a weapon. My last department of 20 years did

I like the 4526 and can shoot it extremely well with the curved grips but I think I will like the straight better.

Anyone know where I may get a set of straight grips?

Smith & Wesson Factory Grips Straight S&W 1026 1076 4526 4576

 

[Dann Fassnacht]

...Like you I also find Hogue's rubbers way too bulky, but I like the arched back strap. Hogue's increase trigger reach by enlarging the top of the grip which makes the DA first shot harder for me. All of S&W's stocks have the same short trigger reach...

You might want to give the Pachmayr slip-on rubber grips (with fingergrooves) a try, as they don't have the palm-swell that the Hogue Handall grips have, and don't feel bulky at-all.