Homemade 4596? Whos done it?

[18DAI]

I can't afford a real 4596. And I want one with a rounded trigger guard too, of which I've seen exactly one example here on this board. All the others have the hooked trigger guard.

I'd also like stainless controls and a black spurless hammer, but all that is down the road.

Right now, I've been offered a 4516 top end in trade. According to the owner it had a complete top end. Barrel with wide hood, slide, guide rod and single recoil spring. He says the decocker paddles are black. I asked him if it has TSW billboard markings and he said no, it is rollmarked.

So I'm thinking of trading for it and putting it on the frame of my 4506-1 "pawn shop rescue" gun. It is a 4506-1 early production, TYN serial prefix with flash chromed hammer and trigger. It is a revision 1.

Does anyone know what revision the 4516 slides were that were mounted on the 4506-1 frames to produce the real 4596 models? I'm guessing they were 4516-1 slides.

My 4506-1 is an R1. It is stamped as such in the bottom of the grip frame. So I'm thinking the 4516-1 slide will work on it. Anyone tried it? Anyone else get tired of waiting for a 4596 and build one themselves? Did you use a 4516-1 top end or something else? Was your 4506 frame early or late production? Thanks for any and all experiences! Regards 18DAI

Edited to add: For those viewers at home, DO NOT TRY THIS! If you don't match part revisions and have proper matching of barrels and slides you could do serious injury to yourself or others. Even though I own a kitchen table I am not a gunsmith nor do I portray one on the gunboards.

 

[6actual]

Just for giggles and grins I just switched a 4566 lower with a 457 upper. They went together like the were made that way and dry functions just fine. Very nice looking set up I might add. May just have to range test it as a forum crash test dummy
I will post photos if it works out well.

 

[BMCM]

Right now, I've been offered a 4516 top end in trade. According to the owner it had a complete top end. Barrel with wide hood, slide, guide rod and single recoil spring. He says the decocker paddles are black. I asked him if it has TSW billboard markings and he said no, it is rollmarked.

Something sounds off here... Wide barrel hood and blued controls scream dash2 or later while single spring says dash1. Missing a spring perhaps or mismatched parts?

Does anyone know what revision the 4516 slides were that were mounted on the 4506-1 frames to produce the real 4596 models? I'm guessing they were 4516-1 slides.

Quite certain they were made with dash1 uppers. In any event, the only variant that will NOT fit your 4506-1 frame is the no-dash 4516. A top end assembly from any of the other later variants will go right on with the following caveat. You must check the decock function for correct timing since the sear release lever in your 4506-1 frame was not fitted for the safety in the 4516-? slide.

And yep I did try it sort of. Made mine with TSW bits though

Cheers
Bill

 

[18DAI]

Thanks BMCM!

Yes I recall your 4596TSW.VERY NICE!

I won't get to lay eyes on the 4516 top end till the 28th at the local gunshow. Fellow has described it and I agree, something sounds off.

The price is right though. He wants a spare early production 5906 top end in exchange. Im not using it and immediatley thought about a homemade 4596. Thanks for the info! Much appreciated. Best regards, 18DAI

 

[6actual]

Something sounds off here... Wide barrel hood and blued controls scream dash2 or later while single spring says dash1. Missing a spring perhaps or mismatched parts?




Quite certain they were made with dash1 uppers. In any event, the only variant that will NOT fit your 4506-1 frame is the no-dash 4516. A top end assembly from any of the other later variants will go right on with the following caveat. You must check the decock function for correct timing since the sear release lever in your 4506-1 frame was not fitted for the safety in the 4516-? slide.

And yep I did try it sort of. Made mine with TSW bits though

Cheers
Bill

That just looks so good long live frankenguns!

 

[6actual]

A question

Any differences between S&W 4516 and S&W 457 barrels, barrel lugs hoods etc? I have a spare slide for a 457 but no barrel. I gotta quit reading 18DAIs posts now I too am lusting after a 4596 and just when I thought I had my 3rd gen addiction under control

 

[BMCM]

457 slide eh? Any wide hood 3.75" barrel will work giving the hood or tab is fitted or within tolerance for your slide . That wide hood short barrel is the one used in the 4516-2, 457, 457D and 4513TSW models. It was pn: 236950000. Shouldn't be too terribly difficult to scrounge one up

Cheers
Bill

Any differences between S&W 4516 and S&W 457 barrels, barrel lugs hoods etc? I have a spare slide for a 457 but no barrel. I gotta quit reading 18DAIs posts now I too am lusting after a 4596 and just when I thought I had my 3rd gen addiction under control

 

[6actual]

Thanks Bill, I'm looking at two barrels now, one for a 457 and one for a 4516, the barrel on my complete 457 doesn't quite go completely into battery on my current mock up on the 4566 frame by about a 16th of an inch. It looks like the barrel lug may be the culprit where it sits against the slide release's shaft. I was curious if maybe another model of barrel would negate any machine work on the barrel?

 

[BMCM]

Are you sure it's actually out of battery and not merely the rear of the slide proud of the frame due to the different contouring of the value line machining? Without seeing or handling your rig I'm not 100% certain but I suspect that's what you're seeing there. I've seen a couple rigs cobbled together where the value line slide is proud of the standard line frame by a 1/16" or more at the rear. The only thing to fit on those barrels is the hood/tab. Recutting that lug/ramp where it bears on the slidestop pin will move the feedramp forward in the frame too and cause all kinds of function problems.

Cheers
Bill

 

[6actual]

Well, since pics are better than words:






these show hopefully what I'm trying to find out about, it all dry functions fine, safety's seems operable, chambers, feeds & ejects snap caps 0K. What Im seeing in your photo and mine is that indeed the 457 slide is "rougher finished" if the 457 slide were to be carry melted to fit the 4566 frame it would look better but I think its functional as it now stands.

 

[BMCM]

Yup, that's exactly what I envisioned. The value line slide has more meat back there that was machined/contoured away on the regular production guns. Lockup looks good from what I can see. I've seen that very thing before when value line is mixed with regular production. I recall seeing a picture posted here a while back of a 5/6906? with a 908/9? slide fitted that had the same stickout at the rear. Might have been in one of those CCO threads.
Take it for a spin and let us know how it runs.

Cheers
Bill

 

[6actual]

Hmmm..I think thats what I will do. If it doesnt work out I will just need to change my forum name to Lefty or Capn Hook Now I just need to find a 4516 top end so it won't be so ugly

 

[BAM-BAM]

Any differences between S&W 4516 and S&W 457 barrels, barrel lugs hoods etc? I have a spare slide for a 457 but no barrel. I gotta quit reading 18DAIs posts now I too am lusting after a 4596 and just when I thought I had my 3rd gen addiction under control

I've always stuck to swapping complete uppers....... don't know that I'd be using a 4516 barrel with a 457 slide............seem to recall the barrel lock up is different...... or was that just the 910s.. without a barrel lug?

Didn't see anything in the SCS&W....................

 

[6actual]

I've always stuck to swapping complete uppers....... don't know that I'd be using a 4516 barrel with a 457 slide............seem to recall the barrel lock up is different...... or was that just the 910s.. without a barrel lug?

Didn't see anything in the SCS&W....................

Thats a good thought.
To borrow from 18DAI--"Edited to add: For those viewers at home, DO NOT TRY THIS! If you don't match part revisions and have proper matching of barrels and slides you could do serious injury to yourself or others. Even though I own a kitchen table I am not a gunsmith nor do I portray one on the gunboards."

 

[BMCM]

I won't get to lay eyes on the 4516 top end till the 28th at the local gunshow. Fellow has described it and I agree, something sounds off.

The price is right though. He wants a spare early production 5906 top end in exchange. Im not using it and immediatley thought about a homemade 4596. Thanks for the info! Much appreciated. Best regards, 18DAI

Well, let us know what you find out when you see it firsthand. So long as the barrel & slide are matched/correct and it's not a no-dash model it'll go right on your 4506-1 frame. The recoil arrangement can be sorted out easily if it's missing bits or mismatched and I'm happy to help if needs be.

Cheers
Bill

 

[BAM-BAM]

It's been a long while since I had a 4516 series........ any clues to help 18DIA tell the dash number on a upper alone? (given that it's the frame with the model #)?

Old style rails vs. box rails...... ???????

 

[6actual]

18DAI
If possible please post pics when you get yours together. I know you dont usually put up pics but perhaps you could make an exception on this one. Sorry if I hijacked your thread but it's a really fascinating project.