model 45" post office" info.needed

[jo64ohio]

i own the model 45,post office revolver.i am trying to find out all the info. i can about it.the model 45 is 22 cal. fixed site,4 in.barrell,blue finish,diamond magna's,all original and matching numbers,it is in the box with tools,no paperwork.i heard somewhere there were 1500 total model 45's produced.i would appreciate any and all info.and what the value may be,or if you know of any books with info.on the model 45.thanks.

 

[alaskavett]

Pretty scarce model you have there and of some decent value. Can you post photos of the markings, serial # and inside the crane as to -#? Some of these are marked with police department markings etc. Is there anything marked on the back strap? Photos of the nomenclature of the box will also be helpful. Or, you could send it to me for my seriously amateur unbiased valuation Kyle

 

[230grfmj]

i own the model 45,post office revolver.i am trying to find out all the info. i can about it.the model 45 is 22 cal. fixed site,4 in.barrell,blue finish,diamond magna's,all original and matching numbers,it is in the box with tools,no paperwork.i heard somewhere there were 1500 total model 45's produced.i would appreciate any and all info.and what the value may be,or if you know of any books with info.on the model 45.thanks.

Here are some pictures (which is a previous post I did several years ago) of some of these "Model 45 Post Office" guns that I used to own. For a variety of reasons, I've sold all of them and some of them are owned by another Forum member, and maybe he'll chime in with more information that could be helpful to you as well.

Regarding the value of your gun, it would depend in it's condition but as a rough guess it would probably be in the $1000 - $2000 range. Enjoy your gu. They are very nice & hard to find Smith & Wesson revolvers.

The letters from Roy Jinks indicate these guns were designed & manufactured at the request of the United States Post Office Department. They are sometimes referred to as the “Post Office” gun.

The letter also states that although these guns were made for government orders. When there were overruns, they were sold to distributors for general sale. The approximate total quantity made as stated in the RJ letter is said to be 1500 guns.

Shipping locations and dates are by each of the guns in the pictures.

The earliest of these are two four screw versions, and called a .22 M&P, which can also be referred to as a pre 45. They are not Model marked. The two pre 45’s are exactly 100 numbers apart.

Two of these guns are Model marked 45-2’s and are only 170 numbers apart. The two letters from Roy Jinks indicate they both shipped on April 26, 1963 to H.H. Harris in Chicago.

The last three guns here are particularly interesting, in that they are not Model marked. The Standard Catalog of Smith Wesson book states that 135 of these Model 45 guns made in 1978 were not model marked. The letters from Roy Jinks refer to these guns as a Model 45 (no dash) and the end label on the box indicates that too (45-). Roy’s letter also indicates that this last batch of guns was built from remaining parts in inventory, and since these were not cataloged items, it was not necessary for production to mark them with model numbers.

The very last revolver I have shown is the last Model 45 serial number known in the S&WCA Survivor Files.

Here are All Seven in different poses for the camera!

This .22 M&P (pre Model 45) revolver was shipped to Sutcliffe Hardware Co. in Louisville, KY on July 25th, 1958.

This .22 M&P (pre Model 45) revolver was shipped to H.H. Harris in Chicago, also on July 25th, 1958.

This revolver (marked 45-2) was shipped to H.H. Harris in Chicago on April 26, 1963.

This revolver (marked 45-2) was also shipped to H.H. Harris in Chicago in that same shipment on April 26, 1963.

This next one is one that is not model marked. Notice the lack of any model designation on the frame. It shipped to Gil Hebard in Knoxville, IL on June 12, 1978

This next one is one also not model marked. It shipped to Lathrop Shooters Supply in Tucson, AZ on June 12, 1978

This next one is also not model marked. It is the latest known serial number in the S&WCA survivor files. It shipped to Cake-Davis Co. in Sacramento, CA also on June 12, 1978

 

[jo64ohio]

thanks for the info. and great pictures.my model 45 is 98% at least, i have not seen a revolver any nicer.i have taken it to a few gun shows,some know a little about it some don't.one dealer really wanted it,but we did not talk price because it was not for sale,he did tell me he believes it to be only factory fired.my model 45 is marked model 45 on crane,serial # is C 429797,i wish i could post pictures but i am unable at this time.i have talked to a good friend and forum member about posting pictures and putting it up for sale,but that would be later on if i do decide to not keep it,it is the true meaning of safe queen.i plan on sending for the factory letter from roy soon.thanks again.

 

[rusty37874]

Here are some pictures (which is a previous post I did several years ago) of some of these "Model 45 Post Office" guns that I used to own. For a variety of reasons, I've sold all of them and some of them are owned by another Forum member, and maybe he'll chime in with more information that could be helpful to you as well.

Regarding the value of your gun, it would depend in it's condition but as a rough guess it would probably be in the $1000 - $2000 range. Enjoy your gu. They are very nice & hard to find Smith & Wesson revolvers.

The letters from Roy Jinks indicate these guns were designed & manufactured at the request of the United States Post Office Department. They are sometimes referred to as the “Post Office” gun.

The letter also states that although these guns were made for government orders. When there were overruns, they were sold to distributors for general sale. The approximate total quantity made as stated in the RJ letter is said to be 1500 guns.

Shipping locations and dates are by each of the guns in the pictures.

The earliest of these are two four screw versions, and called a .22 M&P, which can also be referred to as a pre 45. They are not Model marked. The two pre 45’s are exactly 100 numbers apart.

Two of these guns are Model marked 45-2’s and are only 170 numbers apart. The two letters from Roy Jinks indicate they both shipped on April 26, 1963 to H.H. Harris in Chicago.

The last three guns here are particularly interesting, in that they are not Model marked. The Standard Catalog of Smith Wesson book states that 135 of these Model 45 guns made in 1978 were not model marked. The letters from Roy Jinks refer to these guns as a Model 45 (no dash) and the end label on the box indicates that too (45-). Roy’s letter also indicates that this last batch of guns was built from remaining parts in inventory, and since these were not cataloged items, it was not necessary for production to mark them with model numbers.

The very last revolver I have shown is the last Model 45 serial number known in the S&WCA Survivor Files.

Here are All Seven in different poses for the camera!

This .22 M&P (pre Model 45) revolver was shipped to Sutcliffe Hardware Co. in Louisville, KY on July 25th, 1958.

This .22 M&P (pre Model 45) revolver was shipped to H.H. Harris in Chicago, also on July 25th, 1958.

This revolver (marked 45-2) was shipped to H.H. Harris in Chicago on April 26, 1963.

This revolver (marked 45-2) was also shipped to H.H. Harris in Chicago in that same shipment on April 26, 1963.

This next one is one that is not model marked. Notice the lack of any model designation on the frame. It shipped to Gil Hebard in Knoxville, IL on June 12, 1978

This next one is one also not model marked. It shipped to Lathrop Shooters Supply in Tucson, AZ on June 12, 1978

This next one is also not model marked. It is the latest known serial number in the S&WCA survivor files. It shipped to Cake-Davis Co. in Sacramento, CA also on June 12, 1978

June 12, 1978 must have been a good day for the elusive Model 45

I recently got back a batch of letter's, and one of them was for a Model 45, .22, shipped on June 12, 1978 to Lathrop's Shooting Supply, in Tucson, AZ. As reported in earlier posts, Mr. Jinks reported 1500 as the total number made.