Messed up getting a 4505, I think ?

[4T5GUY]

This post is two fold.

The first part is to assure that I’m not always making the best purchases for great prices.

The second part is about a 4505 I got. I paid way too much but I wanted one. I’ve done amazingly good on acquisitions lately and figured I could pay “a bit more” this time. It is as new with matching box, all paperwork and unopened tool kit. I plan on keeping it regardless.

The problem is it has a 4 1/2” barrel/top end. The slide is period correct and perfect as is EVERYTHING. I can’t figure out where this blued top end came from. There were no blued 4566’s, (4565’s ?,) right?

It’s obviously a very nicely balanced .45 in this combination, just like my 4566 but blued. (Real blueing not like my CQB45.)

Again thanks for any and all thoughts and/or replies.

Jim

 

[WTN1271]

Did SW ever offer a SSV version like in the 5900 series?

What codes are on the box label?

 

[Echo40]

Actually, there were some 4566TSWs which which had a Melonite FNC treatment on the slide/frame, which is black. The West Virginia State Police issued a Melonited 4566TSW, for example.

 

[jsbethel]

There were no blued 4566’s, (4565’s ?,) right?

It may be the top end of a 4567.

 

[4T5GUY]

Nope, not Melonite, and not whatever S&W started calling “blued.”
It is early ‘90’s beautiful S&W blued.

The original matching box says 5” barrel but it is 4 1/2”. Really.

Jim

 

[4T5GUY]

It may be the top end of a 4567.

Yes, I think you got it.

I just looked the 4567 up and the night sights on my “4505” are marked exactly like the ones on the 4567. No year like my other Trijicon’s. Looks like the same top end for sure.

Maybe I just partially blew it on this one. I don’t care cause I think I’m gonna like it regardless of it not being a “real” 4505.

Thanks
Jim

 

[jsbethel]

I just looked the 4567 up and the night sights on my “4505” are marked exactly like the ones on the 4567. No year like my other Trijicon’s. Looks like the same top end for sure.

The year is probably on the bottom of the sight - 4566 Trijicon How could I know?

 

[4T5GUY]

Thanks all for not reminding me it is a 4 1/4” barrel NOT a 4 1/2” one.

I was pretty bummed when I saw it wasn’t a real 4505. Not much of an excuse for missing that 1/4”.

Jim

 

[18DAI]

Congrats on a nice score!

I can't wait to see it. A polished blue "4566" would be a thing of beauty. Look at it this way, you paid less than you would have, back in the day, for a custom 4505. Regards 18DAI

 

[jsbethel]

I looked at the auction pics and that is probably the best Frankensmith I have ever seen! A sign something was amiss was the stainless guide rod - I would get it blackened and be happy to have such a unique pistol.

 

[4T5GUY]

Thanks John.

I do NOT want to send it back but I really wanted a 4505 at some point.

I do like that family size for sure. Makes sense to me also.

Stupid, (real,) blued pistols are impossible to photo.

Jim

 

[18DAI]

Gorgeous! Too bad they didn't have those as a regular production item. Regards 18DAI

 

[4T5GUY]

I looked at the auction pics and that is probably the best Frankensmith I have ever seen! A sign something was amiss was the stainless guide rod - I would get it blackened and be happy to have such a unique pistol.

Of course you did, I say embarrassedly. That is EXACTLY why I didn’t really want to post the box label.

I still think the “best” Frankensmith is my Shorty 40. Poop into ice cream. (Well sort of.)

Jim

 

[jsbethel]

I wonder who out there owns the 5 inch 4567?

 

[stansdds]

Even though it is not a real Model 4505, it is a handsome pistol and would be a bit easier to carry.

 

[JohnHL]

Congrats, Jim on your very rare Model 4565.

John

 

[4T5GUY]

Congrats, Jim on your very rare Model 4565.

John

I'm glad I originally posted all this. Now some can feel better about a bad pistol decision they may have made. If you were having a terrible day you could laugh or at least smile.

I want everyone to keep their eyes out for a 4567 that's missing its original top end. I know where it is.

Jim

 

[vigil617]

Jim, what you have there is the barely-known, one-off salesman's sample 4505SSV that had eluded capture in the wild ever since it mysteriously disappeared from the factory safe sometime in the early 1990s after a still-questionable decision by management to not continue with production of the series. Be sure to pass the information and photo to Jim Supica for the next edition of the Standard Catalog.

Now that we've cleared that up, it's obvious that your only error, my friend, was in setting aside that old maxim about buying the gun, not the story, and plunking down your money for a pistol just for its very significant cool factor. No harm, no foul!

 

[BAM-BAM]

If it will save you some embarrassment I'll pay shipping to take it off your hands.

Don't know "how much too much" you paid... but I'd take it as a win. I had a 4505 for a short while......it was too nice and too big to be anything but a safe queen..... two trades later I got the "best in breed" a 4566...... which I still have and use.

I've also had early 4516,4513 six shot and a PC CQB.45 (hated the billboard)........

As to box labels IIRC the early Shorty-9s or SD-9s were labeled as 5906s

 

[JohnHL]

Back in the day, there were no "commander" length, all blue 45 S&Ws.

It looks like a very nice fitting.

Perhaps someone sent it to the factory to have it "correctly" modified.

I'm not advocating for a "letter", but I'd sure like to know the history of that pistol (IF the records are still available), before I'd write it off as "home built".

John