Please help an Aussie date my 645

[J.D.]

Hi everyone,

I have had my 645 for sometime now (yes we can still have guns here in Australia ) & love this pistol but I'd like to know if one of you kind people could tell me it's birth date ?

Serial number is TBE8544

Unfortunately we don't see many of these 1st, 2nd or 3rd gen smiths out here, so when I got this one it was only the pistol, no box or information or anything else.

I have been lucky enough to get a set of pachmayr grips for it & a duty holster but not many companies or eBay members are willing to send to me here in Australia, which is a bit of a shame as this is a great pistol. I'd like to put a set of timber grips off a 745 on it so the hunt continues.

If you could help me with the date on my 645 that would be greatly appreciated.

Take care & stay safe.

JD

 

[rednichols]

Dedicated forum members will help with the s/n lookup. In the meantime I've had the very best success with getting eBayers in USA to ship to me, happy to help with the tactics involved, email [email protected], I have notifications turned off on this forum.

 

[Jim Watson]

Assuming the alphanumerics are alphabetical, 1987.
SCSW says TBC - TBL were made in 1987 without calling out TBE directly.

 

[ACEd]

If you call or text SW and ssk for Manufacture Date with model and SN they will generally provide year. Depending on tech who responds you may also get month and maybe day. I dont have email address readily available but its been posted many times

 

[Sevens]

I would guess that TBE8544 to be very, very late 1987 (think December) or possibly very early 1988.

I would love it if you update this thread after you have asked S&W what they show for a date.

 

[J.D.]

Thank you for all your help gents.

I will reach out to S&W & see if they can give me an exact date then let you all know.

Thanks again & have a good week.

 

[olds350rocket]

Glad to see you here Jason. I hope you're enjoying the grips.

 

[J.D.]

Glad to see you here Jason. I hope you're enjoying the grips.

I am thanks heaps Mate. Been here for a lot of years but have only just come back to this section

 

[cmansguns]

Your gun could be anywhere in 1986/1987 shipment.

Very nice looking gun OP, Hopefully Smith & Wesson may give you a date, either date of manufacture, or date of shipment. Too bad there was no box or docs because the barcodes on the box label gave the date of manufacture in those days.

My Model 745 is serial number TBF 2766, and the Julian date of manufacture code is 7307, which translates to November 3, 1987.
Dr. Roy Jinks confirmed that my gun shipped in the same month, namely November 1987.

I believe it is "logical" to assume that your gun with TBE "probably" was manufactured earlier than my TBF but alas only S&W knows or if you Lettered it.

As to the grips the wooden grips on my 745 APPEAR to have the same cut-outs and screw location as your 645. Do the American supply houses like Midway, Brownells, SARCO, Jack First all not ship to Australia or is it just E-bay sellers?

 

[J.D.]

That is a great looking 745 Charlie B & thank you for your input.

It is most firearms supply companies in the US won't do international shipping, apparently it has something to do with your laws. I have been lucky enough at times that some will but most won't unfortunately. There are certain things of course we can't get sent but grips, springs holsters & things like that are okay & when it comes to magazines, which I got from the US for my 645 I just have to apply for what we here or the police & boarder force call a B709 import permit & I'm good to go.

Take care & stay safe.

 

[Bloodhound]

Great looking 645! When I started work, I carried a M19 revolver, but within 3 months the Office transitioned to semi-autos and my first one was a 645...wish I still had that pistol

Thanks for sharing the pic of yours...Stay Safe

 

[J.D.]

I would guess that TBE8544 to be very, very late 1987 (think December) or possibly very early 1988.

I would love it if you update this thread after you have asked S&W what they show for a date.

I have just got an email back from S&W & they tell me my 645 was made in 1987.

Thanks again evryone

 

[Sevens]

Awww man, they did not give a month and day also?

 

[VASCAR2]

Hogue grips has numerous wood grip styles for sale for the 645 and if you look on the website they do international shipping. Here is a link. Click on international at the bottom of the page.

Hardwood Grips - 645 - Smith & Wesson - Handgun Grips - Products

Here is a link to the international page

International

 

[ACEd]

Assuming the alphanumerics are alphabetical, 1987.
SCSW says TBC - TBL were made in 1987 without calling out TBE directly.

As a general rule, particularly in early production, most pistol S/N may fall chronologically particularly within a single model. But unfortunately the Serial numbers are not always Alphabetical or even Numerical in order and S/N ranges may span multiple years. A few of the observed contradictions (SW dated). Best to email [email protected]

TCU57xx 1993, TCV20xx 1989;
TDF002x 1991, TDF005x 1989;
TDL52xx 1989, TDM56xx 1999;
TDT81xx 2000, TDUxxxx 1999 & 2002;
VJL38xx 2005, VJL40xx 2003, VJL72xx 2004, mult VJN 1998;
VJP356x 2009, VJP358x 1998

 

[J.D.]

Awww man, they did not give a month and day also?

No unfortunately not, they said if I require more information I need to contact the historical foundation.

 

[Moo Moo]

G’day JD. Nice to see another Aussie on here, not to mention a Cop/LE and living in NSW with a High Calibre Permit or Collectors Cat G Post 46 licence. Ticks all the boxes.

Your 645 wouldn’t happen to have been the one that was up for sale at Owen Guns in QLD? Chester’s Pick?

 

[J.D.]

G’day JD. Nice to see another Aussie on here, not to mention a Cop/LE and living in NSW with a High Calibre Permit or Collectors Cat G Post 46 licence. Ticks all the boxes.

Your 645 wouldn’t happen to have been the one that was up for sale at Owen Guns in QLD? Chester’s Pick?

Hey Mate,
got it on a high cal permit so I can use it
No mine wasn't from Owens. It was a NSW pistol, had it for about 5 years now.

Take care & keep on enjoying the shooting & remember if it doesn't start with a 4 & end in an BOOM it ain't worth shooting