Landed a 4596 to compliment my S&W 45 all steel collection

[d442]

fellow steel pistols collectors. Just landed a rare 4596 in mint condition with box and three mags today. I am including a few picks from my all stainless steel 45 ACP collection. I have a 4516-1 and there is not a big diffence in the feel but I couldn't pass on the 4596 it was an unobtainable that had a place of distinction in my safe. THey made just over 380 of them on the 121 first day of 1990, for Lew Horton. It was a fluke that I got it, alot of propspect buyers passed on it because they did not know what it was . It came from an estate auction .
Does anyone know wether most were square trigger guard or rounded? Also do you think the hogue grips were original to the gun?

 

[18DAI]

Very nice score! Congrats!

The few I've seen (always online never in person) have had the Delrin grips and a hooked trigger guard.

Yours is the first I've seen with the rounded trigger guard. Very nice.

The 4596 is on my list of "buy on sight guns". And its not a long list either.

So, is it for shooting or just for looking at? Regards 18DAI

 

[d442]

18DAI
Yeah that is definitely a buy on sight pistol. I had to bid on line at an estate auction and paid 680 for it which included the auctioneer fee. My high bid was 600 plus a 15% auction commission. There is really not much historical data on what these are worth since so few ever get to market , but it really doesn't matter what the price was. I am stoked that its in my safe.

 

[4506517]

This is the first 4596 with a round trigger guard that I have ever seen. After reading SCSW and based on discussions here, I was under the impression they were ALL square trigger guards.

I agree with everyone else....this is a buy on sight gun. I'm excited to see that they were made with the round trigger guard.

Awesome score! I'm jealous!

 

[4506517]

Is it marked 4596 on the frame?

 

[d442]

450617
Yes it has the model 4596 on frame with the serial number and when I took off the grips the serial number was again on the frame

 

[timn8er]

It may be a buy on sight gun, but first you have to see one, & I ain't ever seen one, so I guess I can't buy one! I Keed, I Keed!

So, what is it like compared to a 4516 or other 3rd Gens?

 

[d442]

Timn8er
The 4516 has the frame that holds a 7 capacity mag while the 4596 has the 4506 frame holding 8. Same barrell and sights. If you can find a finger rest mag for the 4516 you can grip the pistol and slide your pinky on the finger rest. The longer frame handle of the 4596 fits your whole hand easily.
Btw 18DAI it's going to be a shooter. I suspect it will shoot very similar to the 4516

 

[Zebulon]

Congratulations! Great Pistol!.....I hate you...... Zebulon

 

[nocents]

impressive addition to an already impressive .45 collection.....congratulations.....

 

[timn8er]

Timn8er
The 4516 has the frame that holds a 7 capacity mag while the 4596 has the 4506 frame holding 8. Same barrell and sights. If you can find a finger rest mag for the 4516 you can grip the pistol and slide your pinky on the finger rest. The longer frame handle of the 4596 fits your whole hand easily.
Btw 18DAI it's going to be a shooter. I suspect it will shoot very similar to the 4516

Thanks for the reply! Well, the Grail Gun List WAS starting to get a little short, and I ONLY have four .45's...Hey, I can rationalize with the best of them! I'm on a mission!

 

[18DAI]

$680 was a VERY nice price d442. I'd have guessed around $850.

I'm curious, does your 4596 have the dual recoil spring set up or a single recoil spring? I will look forward to your range report after shooting it. Regards 18DAI

 

[d442]

18DAI
It has a single recoil. I was thinking of going to wolf springs and increase it a few lbs
Zebulon
I have seen a few posts from you on this model. Ill keep you in mind someday when its time to liquidate

 

[4506517]

Dude you practically STOLE that thing! I would have broke my wrist whipping my wallet out!!!

Great .45 collection there by the way.

I hate to be the one to tell you, but this is how the disease starts......especially after your first 'rare' or uncommon one.....oh you'll fight it, but you won't win.....there will be another, then another.....then you'll start making excuses to buy one.....these guns are addictive!!!!!

 

[timn8er]

Dude you practically STOLE that thing! I would have broke my wrist whipping my wallet out!!!

Great .45 collection there by the way.

I hate to be the one to tell you, but this is how the disease starts......especially after your first 'rare' or uncommon one.....oh you'll fight it, but you won't win.....there will be another, then another.....then you'll start making excuses to buy one.....these guns are addictive!!!!!

"One of us, one of us, one of us"!

 

[Dogmann]

Very cool pistol. I've never seen or heard of this model.

 

[d442]

4506517
I have been " mainlineling" these S&W's for about three years now and I keep thinking that my collection is done until.... Now I have no more room in the safe and some pistols are just crammed in corners . If I get a new safe the little woman will think I am nuts.
btW , I had a 4506 and sold it recently. My 2nd gen 645 is just too cool . There is something about 40oz of stainless machined perfectly to fit and protect.

 

[Dogmann]

Well after seeing this thread - I just may buy that 4516 on gunbroker and take that slide and put in on a full size lower....

 

[d442]

Dogmann
I have seen a few thread s about that very same configuration and I think that depending on wether the 4516 is a no dash , 1 or 2 may have a bearing on feeding rounds. I have had the 4596 in one hand and the 4516 in the other and the 4596 just feels a tad bit better in terms of fit.

 

[nocents]

Dogmann
I have seen a few thread s about that very same configuration and I think that depending on wether the 4516 is a no dash , 1 or 2 may have a bearing on feeding rounds. I have had the 4596 in one hand and the 4516 in the other and the 4596 just feels a tad bit better in terms of fit.

do you recall which one of those 3 models uppers on the 4506 frame yielded the best results