Melonite 4566 KJF prefix

[18DAI]

Roger that 4506517!

I was sitting in the local book store while wife 2.0 was shopping the other day. I was perusing the gunrags and came across a photo of another interesting 4566.

This one is owned by gun scribe Leroy Thompson. He says that it was part of a small order with the Performance Center for "..extremely accurate 4566s...".

The 4566 pictured was melonite finish with forward slide serrations and a TSW rail tacked on under the dustcover. Being it is a PC gun I assume it has a Briley bushing, though I could not see the muzzle. MIM hammer and trigger and Im guessing decock only as all my "special order" 4566s are.

The serial prefix was Thompsons initials followed by some zeros and a very low number. Im guessing that this is one of the small order mentioned by SWCS members that was the subject of an article in their Journal. Would love to see a copy of that article, but those folks up on Mount Springfield dont share much info with the great unwashed. Regards 18DAI

 

[vigil617]

Tacking that rail onto that special 4566 should be a hanging offense.

On the bright side, 18, you have another version of the 4566 to aspire to.

 

[18DAI]

Believe it or not vigil617, that one with the cheesy luggage rack attached didnt do anything for me. My Melonite 4566 looks better, to me.

Having downsized the herd sometime back and sold off all the doubles of certain 3rd gens to folks who were looking for those models, I can only think of two or three that I would buy should they present themselves.

Two are LAPD 4566s. One is the 4566 issued by the city to S.I.S. and engraved with their logo. I dont know how many of those were done up or what became ofvthem. But I would love to aquire one.

The other LAPD 4566 Id like to find is one of the 18 4566s done up for the firearms unit. They were two-tone with Briley bushings and match grade barrels. My friend CALREB told me about them and posted some pics here of his. They were done up prior to my PC 4566 45CQB.

And the last gun I would be inclined to buy, should it cross my path, would be a 4566 gone over by Novak's. They did great work on 3rd gen guns back in the day. And despite my efforts to get them to do one more, I havent got to experience a 3rd gen Novak's Custom.........yet. Regards 18DAI

 

[Dogmann]

This guy made a video of his

SMITH & WESSON 4566 45 ACP - Rare or Not? - YouTube

 

[Dogmann]

Also a few 4566 melonite's On GunBroker but I've never seen one with fwd cocking serrations.

 

[18DAI]

There were only 15 to 25 made of the black 4566s with forward cocking serrations. They were salesmans samples for LE Reps to show to agencies hoping to get them to place an order.

I have only ever seen 3 of them. The 3rd was the one I purchased after searching for one for almost 20 years (Thank you again Paddlingman!! ) All had the KJF serial prefix. Regards 18DAI

 

[mbliss57]

I have one but it's an RJF prefix. I don't have it available but it must be the " newer version" ? Does anyone know how many of these were made? It's possible I have the S//N prefix wrong too.


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[18DAI]

mbliss57 they are two different models of Melonite 4566. The RJF guns have no forward slide serrations - 200 to 300 of those made.

The KJF guns have the forward serrations. 15 to 25 of those salesmen sample guns.

But the total numbers on both Melonite 4566 models are unconfirmed, to date. Estimates are based on known serial numbers and the recollection of former employees who were involved with the pistols during their development, or sale. Regards 18DAI

 

[18DAI]

I have been shooting and spending some quality time with my KJF prefix Melonite 4566 lately. So I thought I would add to this thread rather than start a new one.

I have been rehired at the local indoor public range as an instructor. So I have been shooting A LOT more. We are experiencing problems in getting ammo, like everyone else. But I bought quite a bit of ammo when I wasted a few years selling guns at the local high end gunshop. Ammo was cheap and plentiful so I put back a bunch. Just in case. Now I can burn up some. And I also shoot the range ammo and customers ammo during instruction. Yeah, I can't believe they pay to do it either.

I picked up a 4563TSW recently to use there. But shooting it and some of my other aluminum framed 45 guns, frequently, has started aggravating my shooting hand. Ome of my customers who is a Doctor examined my hand and opined that I may be developing arthritis in my strong hand. He suggested more 9mm shooting and less 45s to lessen the effects.

I found that if I shoot my all steel 45s, I have less problems. Nothing an Advil can't cure anyway. So I broke out my old duty gun, LE Special order 4566 with spurless hammer, PC 4566 45CQB and the Melonite KJF Prefix 4566. Spectacularly accurate pistols that are fun to shoot. With the standard bet your life reliability I have enjoyed from my 3rd gen guns for decades now.

And I have really been enjoying the KJF 4566 in particular. It is particularly accurate and easy to shoot well. With all the practice I have been getting, it will shoot sub 3 inch groups out to 25 yards. Even smaller groups in close. Even with the garbage range ammo.

The fellows I work with are all younger and all former/Current MIL/LE. Their experience is vast and so are their skill sets. But prior to my coming back there, none of them had any exposure to TDA metal framed 3rd gen guns. They have it now. And they like them too. Enough that we recently bought and put into the rental case a CHP 4006TSW. And the guys are shooting that one regularly. In fact, one purchased a 5906 and another is wanting his own 4006TSW.

They have all shot my 45s listed above too. And are frustrated that those models are out of print and the particular variants I own were made in such small numbers. The PC 4566 45CQB is one they all wanted to find and purchase - till they found out there were only 91 produced.

The KJF Melonite 4566 ws another big hit with them. Particularly with a couple of the former military guys who had used 45s while assigned to special units. One had shot HK45s and liked the added weight of the 4566. He shot the KJF 4566 like a laser.

Anyways, I am still very grateful to my friend paddlingman for putting me together with this fine 45! I am still thrilled with it and have started carrying it again. One of the nicest 45s they made. Regards 18DAI

 

[paddlingman]

I believe it brought me nearly as much joy connecting you with this example as it did for you in acquiring it! You've always been such a patient and thorough 3rd gen historian that it surely belongs in your hands. I am happy to hear that it is a favorite of yours. Happy holidays, old friend.

 

[18DAI]

I still hope to someday return the favor paddlingman!

Have a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year my friend! Best regards, 18DAI

 

[RedCardinal]

"There were only 15 to 25 made of the black 4566s with forward cocking serrations."


That said, the rest of us have to get very lucky or find an alternative. Here is my KSP 4566TSW all stainless. With its Decocker Only, Night Sights and no rail configuration, I will just have to live without front cocking serrations and Melonite finish.

 

[18DAI]

Beautiful KSP 4566TSW RedCardinal!

I am always looking out for one of those. That is my favorite configuration for the 4566 - spurless hammer, decock only, rail free (I don't hang things on my handguns).

My old 4566 duty gun is configured similarly. With Novak night sights. It was part of a large order by the State to equip a couple of University Police agencies. My agency piggy backed on the order. It was given to me when I retired. Great 45! Regards 18DAI

 

[mbliss57]

18DAI it is good to hear that LE and military veterans, that use firearms daily, but are younger than us older folk, find these 3td Gen guns to be excellent firearms. When talking to most guys at the range I get a "deer in the head lights" look when I mention any 3rd gen gun. So much so that I start to wonder if I am just stuck back in time. This is helpful to validate my perception and the reality that S&W 3rd gen pistols are some of the best out there. (I do like the older Sigs Sauers too)